There are NO “dumb questions!” Ask everything that comes to mind, write them down when they come to you so you don’t forget.

When you hear the word “Cancer,” becoming worried sick is normal and automatic. There are good stories; I went from “Cancer? Me?” to “It’s all gone? Really?” in six months during 2022.

Yes, get the book by Patrick Walsh. Read the “highlighted in gray” bits at the start of each chapter to determine whether you want to delve further into that chapter.

I had a PSMA scan, my Urologist was happy to say it was covered by insurance. This showed that my cancer was confined to the prostate gland.

I had an biopsy, revealing some (Gleason scores) of 3+3 , 3+4 and 4+3. Learn about Gleason scores.

I spoke with a Radiation Oncologist and with a surgeon to help me understand upsides and downsides to each therapy.

Read all the relevant articles you can from reputable sites such as MayoClinic,com, Cancer.org, MyClevelandClinic.org, to name a few. Print and compile into a binder is helpful.

After researching, I chose RALP from a surgeon, Dr Aaron Laviana, here in Austin TX, one my Urologist has worked with. When I informed my Urologist, Dr Trotter, in Austin TX, of my decision, he said that’s the choice he would have made in my case.

I chose surgery, as I read that radiation after surgery can be beneficial if needed, but, surgery after radiation is not a very viable option.

Weeks prior to the surgery, I spent several weeks of PT/Kegal exercises and I was fully continent after catheter removal, which was 10 days post-surgery.

My Urologist told me that the Pathology report indicated that the gland had another “node” of cancer that would have survived radiation.

Right after detection, I received a shot of Lupron, to slow/halt cancer growth. I had “hot flashes” due to that but got Venlafaxine 37.5 2x daily to control those.

When this began, in March 2022, I was 72 and had a PSA of 19.8. Now it is undectable.

Holler back with questions.