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Prostate Cancer Sucks-But good to celebrate victories big and small
I just had my post-surgery pathology consult with my doctor today after my radical prostatectomy surgery four weeks ago. Talk about apprehension and worry.
The doctor entered and asked if I had read my pathology report, which posted on MyChart earlier. I said I had, but didn't know if I was reading it correctly.
With a big smile he said, "This is as good as it possible could be." Negative margins, tumor was organ confined and seminal vesicles are negative for carcinoma.
So, a huge sigh of relief and a huge hug for my wife, who has been amazing through this journey. She admitted that she felt like she might able to breathe again.
I was also worried that my post-surgical PSA wasn't as close to zero as I hoped (it was <0.064). But, he said not to worry and that anything under .1 is a great place to be. I haven't been able to figure out what specific lab is actually processing my PSA results (used to be Abbott, but it looks like my local clinic has changed vendors).
I know I’m incredibly fortunate and I feel so indebted to everyone on this forum who has helped me navigate the emotional tsunami, as well as help me make a decision on what treatment path to follow. And then, the surgery recovery period has been a real adventure. So much advice. I feel so connected to everyone.
Things I'm still sorting out; stress incontinence, which is definitely an ordeal. I got a referral for Pelvic Floor therapy...so hoping that helps.
I also had a pre-existing inguinal hernia that definitely feels bigger post surgery. So, still looking for advice on how not to make that any worse than it is.
Prostate cancer sucks. I've had small victory moments....figuring out how to navigate catheters, overcoming rolling waves of intense abdomen pain, post-surgical bowel issues that were a big challenge, huge emotional turmoil about my surgery decision when a support group moderator (not a doctor but calls himself a doctor because they have a phd) who pushed me hard not to cancel my surgery (just four days before my surgery date),....or figuring out how to overcome intense muscle aches induced by Tadalafil,....and more.
But, I'm going to celebrate because this one seems like the big one. Feeling very grateful!
What was a surprise to me was that my staging didn't change at all. I was pretty convinced that it would come up worse because my final surgeon said the earlier trans-rectal biopsy under-sampled (even though they took 24 cores) because the location of my tumor was in a position that the trans-rectal probes couldn't reach.
I was also surprised that since my Decipher score was .61 that the pathology didn't show more serious cells than the "Prostatic adenocarcinoma" in the report. This topic is probably more complex than my limited knowledge.
Here is a section of my pathology report:
Final Diagnosis
A. Anterior fat pad, excision:
One lymph node and mature adipose tissue, negative for carcinoma.
B. Prostate, radical prostatectomy:
Prostatic adenocarcinoma
Gleason score 3+4=7 (Grade group 2, with 30% Gleason 4 tumor).
Tumor is on the left as a 1.2 cm dominant nodule.
Tumor involving 2% of prostate tissue examined.
Tumor is organ-confined.
Both seminal vesicles are negative for carcinoma.
All surgical margins are negative for carcinoma.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, weighing 66.9 grams (including carcinoma).
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@pamperme Many thanks @pamperme! Happiness always is amazing goal. I'll take moments of no extreme worry and drama and use that to define happiness moving forward. I do have two grandbabies being born this summer, so that will provide lots of happiness.
Thank you so much and good wishes to your family too!
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3 Reactions@guybe Woot! Thank you thank you! I'm wishing relief, comfort and victories big and small for everyone else too.
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1 Reaction@fritzo Well, experienced with PSA testing, yes. But like you said, we learn as we go, and medical research keeps evolving as well. Always seems to be a moving target. There is always something new to learn.
For the most part, I do roll with it, but the day before the PSA test, and then waiting or the results is always a period of some anxiety. I’ve learned not to fight it, nor to make it worse than it is. It passes, and then it is back to worrying about normal life stuff.
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6 Reactions@fritzo
The sling doesn’t work for some people and it’s not a good option if you need radiation in the future. Better to get ProACT than a sling, but it has the same problem if you have radiation.
You really need to let this go for a while and work on it. They do say wait a year after surgery to get incontinence issues resolved.
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5 Reactions@jeffmarc Yeah, I was thinking that it's a great option down the road when nothing else will work. More of response to @diverjer who was wondering how soon you could get one.
A year-well, the fun continues. But, can't complain because I know it won't help. Thanks for the info. Never had heard of the ProaCT before.
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3 ReactionsI have got to get more positive! It just seems I am getting more down and afraid to go anywhere. I did make it to church last week, but was just scared to stand up or stand and visit with friends. When had an ankle replacement, it didn't bother me at all, ran around on crutches and visited with everyone, stood and had a good old time- even though was in whole lot of pain. Ankle replacements are the worst joint replacements. Something about peeing yourself, just is different! I rather be in pain, I guess because I know it will go away and it's not embarrassing. Wife did want to go put flowers on her parents grave yesterday and visit her brother. About 70 minute drive and 3 hours of visiting, but I did it. Got to think about someone other than myself. Just want to see some improvement- some light at end of tunnel. Then having more stress, building a new house next to me and we found out the builder of this house we bought but my sprinkler system, gutter pop-up and turf on another persons vacant lot. So having to deal with that and I can't physically dig up and move it myself. Am working with builders of this our house and new builder to work things out. Just another stressors I don't need. Okay, I will quit whining, does make me feel a bit better 🙂
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1 Reaction@diverjer I completely understand...we have an injury that doesn't get sympathy and people don't understand...so we certainly don't want to share what we're going through....which just makes it harder.
Spew away-we're here for you and will always care.
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4 Reactions@diverjer
Carry an extra pad with you and a plastic bag you can put a wet one in. That way you can change it If you really have a problem. I wear black pants, Black jeans in particular, for almost everything. I do have a pair of black dress pants as well. With black, you don’t have to worry about it getting wet, people won’t notice unless it’s really bad, And you can change a pad before that happens.
Hard to believe the builder, put turf and sprinklers on land that wasn’t part of your property. That’s something they should be responsible for if they built the place. They didn’t take property lines into account? Strange!
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3 Reactions@diverjer Don’t stress over that at all. Sprinklers are so freakin easy to fix, move and reroute; it’s just plastic tubing buried in a shallow ditch.
The bitch is that you’ve been paying for water on someone else’s property; but maybe not enough even to matter, so don’t stress.
Imagine how much worse it would be if your builder actually put part of your foundation on the lot next door!!😩
Phil
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