Thank You

I started this blog in august of 2008. I want to that you all for each of my three thousand hits.

Three weeks out. – SO WHATS CHANGED?

Well on 5/18/10 it will be three weeks since I had my prostate removed. First I want to startby saying that I believe I made the right decision to go with the DaVinci procedure for removal. For those who have not read my previous blog entries I am referring to having it removed laparoscopically. I have five keyholes which are close to being healed up and will be barely  noticeable. Even in my beach atire and would be camouflaged by my spare tire anyway. Has there been a downside to my prostate cancer surgery? In a word yes!. I promise not to get too graphic but my first issue comes from wearing a catheter for almost nine days post. But As a first timer in that procedure the warnings given are warrantable. Getting the plumbing back on track is coming around slowly. It has kept me tethered to ground zero for some time now. I have also been informed of http://www.kegelexercisesformen.com/ in order to get me back on my game. It’s  still too early to divulge or elaborate on any further achievements in this area.

I have one more nagging issue from surgery day. The top of my right thigh is numb 24/7 since I returned to my hospital room. It is not anything that is affecting my day to day routine. However in the evening the same area have waves of vice gripping pain to compliment my numbness. The surgeon tells me that no nerves going to that leg area are near the prostate area? I’m not 100% confident that it is the case. However an explanation that sounds plausible was given. I was rolled from my hospital room to the O.R.. Once there I was shuffled from that bed to the operating table which the last I remember was they were putting arm extenders to support my arms to administer the anestesia. That’s the last I remember. What is the importance of this information? The position on the bed which was not really built for my hight and weight for this procedure is suspect. The fact that the robotic procedure I endured taks close to three hours. So if I was laying motionless on the nerve that is affecting my numbness for the duration – BINGO!

I’ll be in contact with my primary to deal with the issue. I am open to answer any questions anyone who is or is fighting the seek out for a need for treatment. Get checked guy get it checked early. I am hoping that all future tests will show beyond all doubt that I, like my wife, am another cancer surviver.

First Post-OP Follow Up

Today I had my first post-op follow up appointment. Over all I feel fine. I will over share for just a bit. I had been carrying a bulb that was attached to a drain tube. I was also sporting a catheter which those who have been fortunate to have experienced this knows what that is like. For those who have not, ask someone. Well, they were both removed today along with the staples from all six of my abdominal incisions. I carried these appendages around for nine days under loose fitting clothes. A small price to pay to rid my body of cancer. The removal is not a comfortable experience but let me say the quicker the better but there is no good way to do it.

So the report from pathology was not bad but not all the words I was expecting to hear. I am told not to worry but we are going to have to watch and see. I will be continuing to go for PSA tests to keep an eye on things. When I had my biopsies done in December only three of the twelve came back positive. However I was told that pathology found that my prostate contained a large volume of cancer cells. So the news being so different from Decembers news surprised me. The other news I received was that pathology says that, and pardon my quick crude drawing, microscopic cells exist at the location of incision. Now the DaVinci cuts and cauterizes and the microscopic cells may not survive because of the high heat. I was told that my M.D. was sending my prostate to John Hopkins Medical pathology for further study.

I am told that we will watch closely. I should not go home and worry. Worse case scenario would be that radiation would take care of any return or growth of cancer cells. I like the news but only because we don’t live in a perfect world. In a perfect world it would have resulted in a few follow up PSA tests over the next couple years then go away we are done go live your life.