Just set a surgery date.

Hello all,

Brand new to the board, been lurking around and appreciate the information and positive support, I hope that I can be one of those success stories one day to inspire and cheer on others.

A little background...  I am 49 years old (way too young for this crap), and still pretty scared (I went through the anger stage, and mostly over that).  Gleason 8 (4+4) in two cores, PSA 3.9.  I also have bladder cancer (but that is another story altogether)  My father is 11 years post prostectomy.  Mother died of lymphoma at 62.

I have a loving wife of 27 years who is being my strength through all this, and three kids who are all concerned, and it absolutely broke my heart when I found my 12 year old son crying (the only biological one of the three) not only for me, but he asked the question that we all dread, "Grandpa had this, now you, does that mean..." he didnt have to finish, I knew what he meant before he finished.  I gave him the best positive answer I could, "You're at risk, but now you know that you have to look for it early, and that is an advantage".

I've met with 3 surgeons and a radiation oncologist, all of whom agreed that radiation is not an option, and that I should have a radical prostatectomy.  After talking to them and doing my own research I've decided on the robotic surgery and picked a surgeon. 

November 10 is the surgery date.

No question here, but just wanted to know that I appreciate all the support that this group offers.

Rich (from New Jersey)

Hi Rich,

Welcome to our fraternity no man has to rush to join. Sounds like you have done your research and are making the right decision. In here the right decision is  only the one you make for yourself.  I am almost 5 months post RALP and I am doing really great. It was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be and I honestly feel better now than I have for years. It was hard on my family but it also brought my wife of 40 years and I closer than we have been in years. My 36 year old daughter also cried when I told her and it has scared the scrap out of my 34 year old son as he may have to face this down the road. He had his first PSA and DRE 2 months ago and he will closely monitor his PSA from now on. The surgery was a piece f cake, I slept through it, my wife had to wait in the hospital waiting room for almost 6 hours and she had the hard part. Good luck and let us know if you have an questions as the surgery approaches.

Terry The Water Guy

just bumping this up to say hello again to Tenpin - sometimes the number of postings get lost in the shuffle -

HW can be a great source of information after diagnosis and prior to surgery or other forms of treatment for PCa - as well as after surgery.

I discovered HW after my surgery and it has been a great help to me - and has helped forge a wonderful extended family and brotherhood ( and sisterhood - this site does has a link to "ladies only" support for wives/spouses/relatives of men with PCa).

sincere hugs,
Bronson

Rich,

Good luck to you on your upcoming surgery, so sorry it hit you at such an early age.

Please keep us well posted of your journey, we are here for you.

David in SC

Rich, I am 52 with a son who is 15 and I feel your pain. As hard as it is for us with the Pca, it is harder on children who's brain isn't fully developed to fully process what this means. I am a Gleason 9, had a RRP on April 27 and was so reluctant, anxious. Now it has been six months from the surgery and life is calmer on the recovery side than pre-surgery side. Do some fun activities with the family before Nov 10. Your surgery should go very well and you will be back home in a day or two and you will be surprised at how fast recovery begins (I am amazed at the DaVinci stories of just a few days out and they feel so good).

Plan on taking lots of naps and getting your rest to heal.

Report in often with your progress and you will have new questions to ask about the various stages of healing that we can all pitch in and help you with. Have as much intimacy that you can cause you never know if you will be able to come out of surgery with a nerve sparing procedure or not.

By the afternoon of November 10th, you will experience a huge relief to be on the other side of surgery.

Enjoy every minute before and then dedicate yourself to healing and taking great care of yourself.

Good Luck in your journey.

Hi Rich,

You're right in that your definitely too young for this crap. My dad passed away in his early 60s and I can identify that thise definitely gives cause for reflection. On the more positive side, there are also some encouraging success stories that I've encountered from mentors at the prostate support group who are relatively well 20 plus years out after being struck with cancer that had spread well beyond the prostate.

Just wishing you the best in your upcoming surgery and best wishes to your family as well.

Thanks everyone for your info, and words of encouragement.