Who would have thought, a year ago....

Mel, while I'm sorry you were a candidate to be a member, at the same time it's wonderful to have your wisdom, candor and sensitivity to lean on.

Sheldon AKA Sleepless

Mel, life is indeed fickle and often fragile. Just goes to show that none of us knows what is around the corner.

While I'm sorry about your PCa diagnosis, on a personal level I'm glad you are part of our family. You bring wisdom and humor to this board, and start some very interesting threads (LOL)!

Mel, I hadn't even thought about it, but this Saturday the 26th will be one year ago that I was diagnosed. Sure has been a busy year, yet here I am; Prostateless, ED rehabing, experienced in IMRT and upcoming METS radiation scheduled.

A more profound appreciation for life, my wife and I fully retired and proud owners of an RV we plan to run the wheels off of.

And mostly and thankfully, a whole bunch of new, supportive and caring friends, brothers and sisters.

Thank you for the reminder,

Sonny

Me too, my trip was started with a elevated psa and a postive biopsy last Oct. But unlike you, PC had been on my radar as that was my second biopsy following a slow rise over few years from in the two's to finally six. My date with the robot was 12/15 at Tulane, Dr. Lee.
Still, just thinking about PC is not like having it or actually having the treatment(s). Coming to this forum is for me, scary and at the same time comforting. Scary to see that often things can go wrong with the "cure" and comforting to see how others are dealing with it and continuing on.
Oh, and congrats on your last zero, I know you wanted <.01 ,but hey, .02 and is in the noise range of your last.

At 74 years old PC did not surprise me all that much as I've read that a great number of older guys "have it" and aren't even aware nor take advantage of PSA's and live a full life dieing from some other malady. For years (every three) received the fickle finger from a flight surgeon along with a PSA and when I hit 4.0 the biopsy's began. After two with a urologist who "did not do" numbing for the procedure I skipped a year and a half doing just the PSA with my internist but when I hit 6.7 (PSA could have gone to 9.0 due to prostate size) he suggested it was time to get serious and gave me the name of a Dr. Kernen out of Troy, Mi....A 12 sample biopsy WITH NUMBING found 2 0f 12 cores @ 30% and 70% - Gleason 3+4=7. CT and bone scans suggested the PC was totally prostate contained. Had known for years I had a biggie at 106 grams which led to my choosing removal vs. other treatment options. My wife had been researching options for a few years so I / we decided to go with the DiVinci prostatectomy @ Henry Ford Vatikutti institute - Dr. Peabody 02/10/2010. I was the second patient of the day and the procedure took four hours largely due to my enlarged prostate. Nerves spared, margins, lymph nodes, seminal vesicles all clear - Penile and abdominal catheters out the following afternoon before I went home, Pubic catheter out ten days later. Gave up on night pads in about a month wearing one during the daytime, tried female light day pads for a few weeks and at around ten weeks gave up on pads altogether. Leaks - mornings are better then afternoons and lifting heavy objects can produce a dribble as can a hard sneeze or trying to sneak out a stinker. When out and about I do have warnings and have adequate time to seek out a restroom. My three month PSA was .06 and my latest (just last week) was less then .06. Next appointment with Dr. Peabody on 7/7. No regrets with the route I / we chose.