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Posted 9/22/2008 4:55 PM (GMT -5)
 

Hi everyone I am new to this forum my wife has been on the Hepatitis forum since she was diagosed with autoimmune hepatitis and found it a great source of information and comfort.  Well now I am a member of the Club.  I am scheduled for surgery on Oct 30th and the waiting is killing me I just want it over, the doctor said I needed to wait at least 8 week for the date of the biopsy but it is just too much time.  Once I found out about the cancer and the doctor told me that it is a very aggressive form I just want it out.  Hope to be on the other side of this soon talking about my recovery.

Jerry

Posted 9/22/2008 9:22 PM (GMT -5)
We welcome you here. I agree, the 45 days I waited were the longest of my life. You can use the time to your advantage though, learn about the disease, surgery, and life after the procedure, you can never arm yourself enough, but the time will allow you do learn a lot. Also, you can prepare yourself physically be walking or whatever form of exercise you choose. I walked 3 to 4 miles a day prior to being diagnosed, so I extended that a bit before surgery, and honestly think that helped with continence, along with Kegels, which help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Post any question or concern you have here, this is a fantastic site, and you will be rewarded with honest, real life answers from those of us who have gone before you. Remember, worrying won't change anything, only make you fearful. Before you know it, the surgery will have come and gone, and you will hopefully be cancer free!!!
Randy
Posted 9/23/2008 7:45 AM (GMT -5)
Jerry,
Hang in there. Everyone here has been in the same place you are standing right now.

I would suggest (even though I know it's hard to get out of the mind) that you continue doing all that you are doing and then some. Things will change post surgery. In fact, knowing that you have a convalescent time coming I would take advantage of this space before the surgery and fill it up.

Post surgery is not that bad, but it does usher in a new path of life. It is good that you are talking here to others who share your similar experience. If you have someone locally that has been down the path I encourage you to talk to them. I have two friends that I knew that both had surgery more than 15 years ago. It was amazing how open and interested they were in conversing with me about it, and it was a great encouragement. If you know someone like that - talk to them. Blessings and comfort to you.

RB

Age 61
Original data - pre-operation
PSA: 5.1
T1C clinical diagnosis, Needle biopsy - 10 cores, Gleason 7 = 3+4 in 1 core (40%), 7 cores Gleason 6 = 3+3 ranging from 5% to 12%
All scans negative
Lupron administered 4/9/2008 for 4 months (with idea I would undergo external beam radiation followed by seed implants - then I changed my mind).
Robotic DiVinci surgery - Dr. Fagin (Austin) May 19th
Post operative - pathology
pT2c NX MX
Gleason 3+4
Margins - negative
Extraprostatic extension - negative
seminal vesicle invasion - uninvolved
1st Post PSA .04
Posted 9/23/2008 8:40 AM (GMT -5)
Hello Jerry,

The wait from the point of my biopsy/diagnosis to surgery via da  Vinci method was about 9-weeks.  My surgeon recommends a six-week interval, but I contracted sepsis as a result of the biopsy, was hospitalized and wanted longer to recuperate before the surgery.  Surprisingly to me, I approached the surgery relaxed; I traveled to Rio de Janeiro, Bfazil for a weeks vacation just prior to the surgical procedure.  The surgery itself was almost a "non event" for me - I remember nothing, have really have had no after-pains, but some post-op issues have been a challenge to deal with - not insurmountable, though.  All of this has been made easy for me in large part because of the excellent information available on this forum from people going through the same thing and I was so confident in my personal physician and surgeon that I left the worrying to them.  I can remain calm because my post-op reports have been perfect - all cancer taken away, no nerve bundle damage, etc.  Best wishes for an excellent procedure and speedy recovery afterwards.

Mavica

Posted 9/23/2008 9:24 AM (GMT -5)

Thank you all for your encouraging words it is great to talk to people that have gone through the same thing with all the ups and downs.  I am staying very active I played tennis for 2 hours 6 days a week.  My wife has been after me to walk more to strengthen my pelvic muscles but am really tired after tennis does the walking really make a big difference even though I am active?

I have done a lot of research and the internet and this forum is a wealth of knowledge.  I really do not know how people made these kind of decisons before the internet I guess you just had to go along with whatever your Doctor recommended.  I also watched the Da Vinci operation on the internet with my wife so we know what we have to deal with and the recovery.  I have been very lucky in my 69 years and never had an operation or serious illness so not quite sure what to expect physically from my body.  I have always been strong and healthy and do not feel like I ams 69 I worked until I was 66 in Construction and now expected to retire to Fl and play tennis and stay active and then get hit with the cancer word.  I know from reading all your stories that there is the other side of this journey and I guess we get to appreciate everyday we have and stay strong.  I know most of you on this forum are much younger and your decisions for what type of treatment must have been mind blowing.  I know I have sons your age and have told them to make sure they all go and have a PSA test and exam since their father, grandfather, and Uncle all had Prostrate cancer.  I admire you all so much for your strength and courage.

Jerry  

Posted 9/23/2008 10:20 AM (GMT -5)
The wait can seem interminable,but I'd suggest you fill up your time with as much activity as you can to distract you from the anxiety of waiting.  Also, make sure you're in the best physical shape possible before your surgery, especially your abdominals, which take the biggest hit from surgery.  Take care and hang in there...Tim
Posted 9/23/2008 5:01 PM (GMT -5)
If you are playing two hours of tennis nearly every day, then I think you can skip the walking. However walking is good for those who would otherwise be couch potatoes.
Posted 9/23/2008 8:09 PM (GMT -5)
Tennis is definitely a strenuous workout, especially for quads and cardio, I am not sure that you are isolating the pelvic floor though, might want to investigate. I would add Kegels though, very easy to do and can be done almost anywhere, even while posting on HealingWell !!!
Posted 9/24/2008 7:31 AM (GMT -5)
Jerry, you will still be able to retire to FL, play tennis and be active. you'll have a detour as you recover from surgery. I ditto what others have said about doing kegels which certainly can't hurt, and have a lot of sex (intercourse)! that's from a wife's viewpoint. :) kat
Posted 9/24/2008 8:03 AM (GMT -5)
Jerry,
My advice is to remain active and busy as much as possible. The more you ponder on the the surgery the worse it gets. My Surgeon before I went under said you have been through your hardest part on waiting and getting to the or table. Truly it was the hardest part from a mental standpoint. Also helped me was removing caffeine from my diet completely, helped tremendously with anxiety. Good Luck and LIVESTRONG!!
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