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My husband and I live in California. My husband was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. His Gleason grade is 8. One week after his biopsy, his doctor calls him at work and tells him he has cancer and it's bad. It seemed like our world ended that day. We spent the next week thinking he was going to die immediately. Then I had a chance to talk to his case manager, who is an RN. She was wonderful. She explained everything to us, and we know now that prostate cancer is not an automatic death sentence. He has a doctor's appointment coming up and will be scheduling his treatment. We hope he is a candidate for the DaVinci robotic surgery.
I found this website by accident, and I'm so glad I did.
As a Californian you and your husband have access to the first hospital to offer proton therapy in thr U. S. (i. e. Loma Linda) This treatment option is not for everyone, however, anyone who has Pca should at least be aware of its capability. My journal has evolved as a mini-primer on the subject; check it out at http://protondon.blogspot.com/
Aloha Mel,
During the discussion with the doctor, keep asking questions until you understand what that doc is saying and how the treatment will affect your husband. It is important that you understand what is going on and you should get second opinions especially on the biopsy results. Getting second opinions on the treatment would also be good as the different docs all have their own brand as they are trying to sell what they want. The robotic surgery is only as good as the doc that actually does the surgery (docs in training will supposedly work under the supervising doc - NOT GOOD). Done by compentent docs, open surgery is as good or better than robotic. The higher the Gleason & the more biopsy cores do not mean that surgery is the best choice. In my case high Gleason, 12 of 12 cores, surgery was not an option. Too much chance of PCa outside the prostrate.
All treatments have side affects. Be sure you ask questions. Then read the stories of the men on this site who chose your choice of treatment. Then go back and ask the doc more questions.
Read, read, read, communicate, understand the consequences of your choice.
Joe
Mel,
It sounds to me like you two are on a good track now, after the initial shock and sadness. I can sure recall those initial heartbreak feelings myself.
It's easy for us who have already walked this road to offer advice based on our own perceptions. But I don't think that's what you need. Now that you are finding your footing you'll surely use all your faculties to navigate the choices that lie ahead. I'll bet there will be some high moments and some low ones still to come.
As fellow travelers our warm feelings go with you.
Sorry to hear of your shock news, Mel, but as BillG says, it certainly seems that you are recovering well and that you will proceed at a speed you're comfortable with to make the decision that suits you.
Good luck and if there are any specific questions you'd like to raise, go ahead. The only dumb questions are those that are not asked - and none of us knew anything about our prostates at one time. we all had to learn:-)
I am in Southern California and had a robotic prostatectomy last September. My surgery was performed at the City of Hope by Dr. Mark Kawachi, and I had none of the common symptoms such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction. I attribute this to the number of surgeries that Dr. Kawachi has performed with the DiVinci robot. I had some excessive bleeding after surgery and developed anemia, however today after 11 months I am back to where I was physically pre-surgery without having experienced a single day ot the aforementioned side effects. As of today, I am cancer free and highly recommend the robotic surgery. Best of luck to you and your husband.
