Update

dwna1a

dwna1a

Well-Known Member
PLATINUM Sponsor
Apr 23, 2012
5,981
James River
Boat Info
88 Weekender 300 "Seahorse"
Engines
Twins 350
As some of you know I am the very first steps of testing for prostrate cancer. Before all this started with this bug I was in the ER and they found this issues. A secondary look has me at a pretty good chance that I do have cancer. While I'm worried and concerned I'm not letting it consume me. As my best friend says "it is what it is"

All testing has stopped. Two of the nurses have gotten sick at the offices so all of the office is closed. It will be three weeks before they reopen. Doctor doesn't want me in the hospital for testing due to the dangers there. He is doing what's best for he and his staff, as well as myself.
 
What Sons said ..best of luck. I’m betting you likely have caught it early and it will be a manageable situation. I’m sure not being able to be in there right now doesn’t help your mental state. Again ..best wishes.
 
dwna1a, I'm a couple of months ahead of you in this prostate cancer game. When I first heard my urologist say the word "Cancer" it scared the bejesus out of me. It took me about 3 days before I could even bring myself to say the word cancer.

I was pissed at the VA for not doing the PSA test when they drew blood but was more pissed at them because they didn't tell me they had stopped doing the test. Had I known they stopped I could have requested it and my cancer would likely have been found 2-3 years earlier.

I started a thread on here about my experiences in going through this with the chemo and all the other stuff. If you want, read through it and PM me if you have any questions you want answers to but don't want it on the forum.

http://clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/you-check-your-oil-have-you-checked-your-psa-lately.96731/

Sign me: Been there, done that, got the t-shirt and the bald head to show for it.

Tina and Jay Buhner .jpg


Mike
 
A PSA only identifies the presence of the prostate specific antigen. The definitive test for prostate cancer is a biopsy. Get your self to a good urologist who has the capacity to do the biopsy in his office rather than a hospital setting. Not pleasant, but it is tolerable and over in a few minutes. If the cancer is confined to the prostate, the biopsy lets the urologist know how aggressive the form of cancer is and the degree of your infection. From the results, the urologist can determine the best form of treatment so you can quickly make an informed decision on how you with to proceed which can range from doing nothing but monitoring, to radiation, to radioactive seed implantation, to surgery.

It is scary, but a lot of us have been where you are. Hang in there......and good luck with it.
 
I have been thru prostrate cancer back in 2013...where you are right now with a lot of unknowns is the worst part... Lots of options to solve the problem if contained.... I came out of it with no issues... best of luck to you.. Reach out if any questions ..I did robotic surgery down in Florida with Dr. Vipul R. Patel... he is a world leader in the procedure and teaches other surgeons
 
While the office biopsy is the most common there is a more accurate way available. An MRI done with a 3T machine will identify the likely areas of the cancer. Then an MRI guided biopsy will get the samples. The office procedure usually takes around a dozen samples and it is possible to miss the malignancy. The guided biopsy goes right to the affected spots. As few as two samples are usually taken.
 
fr8dog said:
While the office biopsy is the most common there is a more accurate way available. An MRI done with a 3T machine will identify the likely areas of the cancer. Then an MRI guided biopsy will get the samples. The office procedure usually takes around a dozen samples and it is possible to miss the malignancy. The guided biopsy goes right to the affected spots. As few as two samples are usually taken.
Click to expand...
That's exactly what I did. The biopsy was done while I was on the MRI table and was painless. Less painful than the anesthetic shot they gave me to numb the area.

I'm VERY fortunate to have a great cancer center right her in the Tri Cities. It is connected with the Seattle Cancer Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (also in Seattle) and Washington State University Medical Center.

I go in for my third chemo treatment next Tuesday. If it's anything like the last one it'll be a piece of cake.
 
Gofirstclass said:
That's exactly what I did. The biopsy was done while I was on the MRI table and was painless. Less painful than the anesthetic shot they gave me to numb the area.

I'm VERY fortunate to have a great cancer center right her in the Tri Cities. It is connected with the Seattle Cancer Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (also in Seattle) and Washington State University Medical Center.

I go in for my third chemo treatment next Tuesday. If it's anything like the last one it'll be a piece of cake.
Click to expand...

In the small world category my father and Hutchinson were childhood friends in Seattle.
 
The plan was another PSA. Once he got those numbers and compared those before it. Then the MRI and biopsy.

GFC, I've been reading your post every time I get a little down about this. Thank you for the insight of what may be coming.
 
dwna1a, I obviously can't promise your mileage will be the same as mine but I can bet I was as down/afraid of it as you are now. If I'd known then what I know now I'd have been a lot braver instead of just putting on a brave face for my wife.

I don't know what the future holds. The doc said I'd never be cured or that it would never be in remission, but he did say that after 6 chemo treatments I'd probably be changed over to a monthly pill and a quarterly shot.

I can live with that.
 
dwna1a and GFC... I just want to add to what others have already said and wish you both the best. I'm now 12 years in remission from non-hodgkins lymphoma... while this is not the same as what you guys are going through, I'm throwing it out as a way of saying that although the news is terrifying, it is possible to beat it. I've beaten the odds by 7 years now and I've never felt healthier than I do now.

Listen to your doctors, lean on your friends and family, and keep a positive outlook... you can get through it.

Thoughts and prayers going out to both of you... you got this.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,170
Messages
1,427,750
Members
61,079
Latest member
capeharj
Back
Top