It almost seems anti climatic. I have just passed 5 years cancer free. No hint of my prostate cancer. No serious effects of the surgery.
In light of current reports suggesting that no one be screened via PSA, I must say, " I'm glad I was screening and I am thrilled to have made the choice I made." I can't imagine living everyday knowing that there is a cancer eating away at me at and unknown rate. A veritable sword of Damocles, threatening to break loose at some unknown time, for some unknown reason and falling upon me.
That would make me something that I have never felt that I am, a victim. I feel like a heart attack survivor and now a Cancer survivor. But I have never felt like a victim.
The minutia of a very lucky fellow in the battles of life.
Blog Archive
Links That Relate
About Me
- Greg
- Wauconda, Illinois, United States
- A young man, suddenly very, very old who will never see 150.
Followers
Saturday March 31, 2007
About two years ago I had an elevated PSA (prostate specific antigen) result, which led to a biopsy. It was negative. Since then I have had PSA re-run every six months.
In November of ’06 it was elevated again and I was referred to my urologist again. He was reluctant to do another biopsy since he did the last one. We ran a course of broad spectrum antibiotic to cover the chance it was caused by prostatitis. It was only of minor impact and he did another biopsy two weeks ago.
Well, Sally and I are facing another test. Wednesday I was diagnosed with Prostate Adenocarcinoma (prostate cancer). Doctor Goldrath said it is “a good cancer” to have.
The doctor is rather certain it is localized and of medium grade. We are weighing our options for treatment now. He said I was young (imagine that) for prostate cancer and should consider going for a cure now. The leading option (it seems to me) is a radical prostatectomy. It’s like an appendix; I don’t need it for anything.
If it is actually contained within the prostate envelop when they operate I will likely be cancer free, at least from the prostate aspect. If in the future I have a recurrence I will have more options after surgery than from External Beam Radiation or Seeding or Cryosurgery.
Although I really trust my urologist, I am going to get a second opinion in due diligence. Hopefully that can be done quickly and we can get scheduled right away. We will keep you up to date with our progress, if you like. If you prefer not just let us know. I tend to not see these things as big secrets and share in hopes that others can be familiar with how we find these things. I have worried in the past about how I would know if I had heart disease, skin cancer or lung cancer. We just don’t talk about our symptoms, or how we are feeling. If it is TMI (too much information) just say so; but take care and be watchful. It is good to catch these things early.
In November of ’06 it was elevated again and I was referred to my urologist again. He was reluctant to do another biopsy since he did the last one. We ran a course of broad spectrum antibiotic to cover the chance it was caused by prostatitis. It was only of minor impact and he did another biopsy two weeks ago.
Well, Sally and I are facing another test. Wednesday I was diagnosed with Prostate Adenocarcinoma (prostate cancer). Doctor Goldrath said it is “a good cancer” to have.
The doctor is rather certain it is localized and of medium grade. We are weighing our options for treatment now. He said I was young (imagine that) for prostate cancer and should consider going for a cure now. The leading option (it seems to me) is a radical prostatectomy. It’s like an appendix; I don’t need it for anything.
If it is actually contained within the prostate envelop when they operate I will likely be cancer free, at least from the prostate aspect. If in the future I have a recurrence I will have more options after surgery than from External Beam Radiation or Seeding or Cryosurgery.
Although I really trust my urologist, I am going to get a second opinion in due diligence. Hopefully that can be done quickly and we can get scheduled right away. We will keep you up to date with our progress, if you like. If you prefer not just let us know. I tend to not see these things as big secrets and share in hopes that others can be familiar with how we find these things. I have worried in the past about how I would know if I had heart disease, skin cancer or lung cancer. We just don’t talk about our symptoms, or how we are feeling. If it is TMI (too much information) just say so; but take care and be watchful. It is good to catch these things early.