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Just to add my 2 cents worth. My PSA had climbed to 4.3 as of late last year so primary care physician referred me to urologist at UC Davis (fantastic care).
For background, I am 52 years old, had no traditional signs of prostate issues. Pretty healthy, run 3-4 miles/day and bike 15-16 miles every other day.
Biopsy confirmed cancer with Gleason score of 3+4. Underwent MRI and scheduled surgery. MRI indicated the left side nerve bundle was not involved, but right side could not be excluded. Went into surgery knowing reasonable chance that at least 1 nerve bundle would have to be removed.
I had surgery 3/11. Everything went as planned. Pathology reports:
PROSTATE SIZE WEIGHT 61.8 GRAMS SIZE 4.7 X 4.7 X 4.4 CM
HISTOLOGIC TYPE ADENOCARCINOMA, ACINAR NOS,HISTOLOGIC GRADE
PRIMARY PATTERN GRADE 3
SECONDARY PATTERN GRADE 4
TERTIARY PATTERN NOT APPLICABLE
TOTAL GLEASON SCORE 7
TUMOR QUANTITATION
PERCENTAGE OF PROSTATE
INVOLVED BY TUMOR
BETWEEN 5-10%
EXTRAPROSTATIC EXTENSION NOT IDENTIFIED
SEMINAL VESICLE INVASION NOT IDENTIFIED
MARGINS UNINVOLVED BY INVASIVE CARCINOMA
TREATMENT EFFECT ON CARCINOMA NOT IDENTIFIED
LYMPHVASCULAR INVASION INDETERMINATE
PERINEURAL INVASION PRESENT
PATHOLOGIC STAGING
PRIMARY TUMOR (pT) pT2c: BILATERAL DISEASE
REGIONAL LYMPH NODES pN0: NO REGIONAL LYMPH NODE METASTASIS
NUMBER OF NODES EXAMINED 6
NUMBER OF NODES INVOLVED 0
Post op, minimal pain, 1 night in hospital. The catheter was the biggest (mental issue). Once I overcame the mental part it was not that big of a deal (but certainly happy to have it removed).
I did swell up, it was like carrying a very large grapefruit between my legs. That started about 4 days post op, went away about 12 days post op.
Now dealing with incontinence. Not too difficult until about 2PM or if on my feet for a long period of time. I can make it through the night with hardly any leakage as I lay on my back.
I worked from home for 2 weeks and this week returned to the office.
I've had some erectile response, not a full erection but showering with my wife the other day I got 1/2 way to full erection. I don't know if that means anything, I'm forever hopeful!
Just thought I'd share my experience in hopes that it might ease others concerns and/or worries.
Prayers for all with similar issues. We'll get through this together.
Congrats Adam on your good results! Sounds like you are well on your way to as good as it can get. Not many are so fortunate. You caught it early enough that you will hopefully be able to forget the whole episode someday. It is always a catch -22 situation but I am convinced early detection and treatment is the answer even though it often means many more years of dealing with the side effects - the key words being many more years! Quality of life is important but there is a lot more to quality of life than just the sexual part of it. It is an important part also but not worth dying for. Jon.
