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Bryan Caldwell
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- Normal, IL
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I Have A Dilemma (Part 2)
Replied 1 day ago
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John,
I completely understand the deep troubling concern and fear you are confronting concerning the prospect of having PCa. Not one person on this site or who has heard the words "You have cancer" will not understand how frightening this is.
You…
Steve,
Excellent that you have already nailed the doc down on his level of involvement in the procedure. I can not agree with you more on the ED and continence piece. In my case I was trusting God that he would get me through the surgery O.K. but i…
Steve,
Sounds like you have made your decision! Open and nerve sparing. Amen for the nerve sparing!!!! You are so right when you talk about being comfortable and feeling good about the surgeon that you choose. I feel surgery has the numbers behind…
Steve,
Agree with Arnon on this. Once you have opted for surgery WHO does it is the primary question.I had robotic surgery in Aug. of this year just got my first post-op PSA of 0.01, have a minimal continence issues and had IC with my wife a week a…
Dale,
Understand about finding out "where" everything is on the site! You have the right attitude about issues in life! One has to roll with the punches. As I stressed before if surgery is the option you are thinking about and incontinence is a maj…
10:04am on November 14, 2009, Bryan Caldwell said… Dale,
Sorry to hear of your recent DX of PCa. It is at times scary and confusing but you have found a great place to be encouraged,informed,and understood about what you are going through.
With PCa…
Profile Information
- Have you been diagnosed with prostate cancer?
- Yes
- What brings you to the New Prostate Cancer InfoLink social network?
- info. support
- Would you help us grow the network? Would you tell others about it?
- Yes have told many and given out the link as well. excellent resourse.
- About Me:
- At 46 just found out July 5th I had PC. PSA 1.5 3+3=6 Gleason less than 5% involved. 24 cores taken with only known involvement on the right side. No family history of PC.chest xray,cbc,ct scan all O.k.Results from bone scan showed no cancer spreading at this time .No other known illnesses.Not on any meds. for anything. Not overweight. Work out at least 2 times a week.
Hadn't been to the Doc for 9 years went in for 2 reasons. Weird mole on my back and a few years of slowing when I urinated. But otherwise 2 missed days from work in 28 years for being sick. Mole turns out to be Melanoma and was successfully excised. Thank the Lord for that. Then just 2 weeks later Prostate Cancer. That will teach me to go to the Doc......ha.
Anyway have gotten three opinions on surgery from Uros. as a solution, robotic method. Have sent the path report to be re-read at Mayo clinic, they agreed with the first report. And have a referral to Barnes in St. Louis on the 27th of July and a local Rad. Oncologist on Fri. July 17th. He also recommended surgery given my age. He did not feel for long term success and mitigating permanent side effects that Rad. was the best choice for me. I have spoken with the nurse of the Doc. we are going to see in St. Louis and I asked her how many robotic surgeries he has done and how many this week...he is doing 9 just this week and has done over 500 since 2003. Feeling good about that.
The stats on survival are very good as I understand them....This was caught unbelievably early as it seems now,,,,Big concern... effects and recovery from this surgery and desire to retain my sexual function and continence is HUGE. Help. No disrespect in anyway at all but I don't look like any of the guys on all the pamphlets about this cancer. THIS SUCKS.
---------------------------------------UPDATE----------9/2/09---------------------------------------Had the Robotic Radical Prostatectomy performed at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes Jewish Hospital. Operation performed Weds. Aug. 19th 2009. I am now 14 days post -op and doing very well. My post surgery path report showed no lymph system involvement or any cancer in surrounding tissue.Prostate showed it was full of High Grade PIN but organ confined.
Thanking God for His grace and early detection. Surgery pain minimal,continence is pretty good only 2 days post catheter,using pads from depends...the "manguards" I can them "manpers".....ha. To early to say on the ED front but have already experienced "something" during the night. So am hopeful. Trying to take it slow at work. Went in for afew hours. Do wear out quickly need to watch myself. So far so good.
HUGE warning to those preparing for surgery...Do everything possible to avoid constipation. I thought I had taken every precaution...soft foods...stool softener...backed off of pain meds...plenty of water. I would suggest a daily dose of milk of mag. or Musilex. Of course obey YOUR doctors orders but I felt I didn't receive a stern enough warning. Believe me a mild case of the "runs" is FAR more tolerable than the torment of an impacted bowl...which was my experience. Had it not been for this unfortunate side effect my surgery experience including 12 days with a catheter would have been very tolerable. If one poor soul is spared this trauma my suffering will have some meaning.
--------------------------------------UPDATE-------9/26/09----------------------------------------
Trying to keep things updated as they happen. Surgery was 5 1/2 weeks ago. My recovery has gone quite well. As a christian I believe in Gods guidance and His ability to effect real life circumstances as a result of His grace and compassion and love for me as well as the prayers of my family and friends.
The incontinence is still somewhat of a problem. I have pretty good control when I'm rested and not doing anything strenuous but when I get up or exert
myself I dribble. In the sexual area things are going great. My wife and I had IC 2 weeks ago.
Comment Wall (38 comments)
- At 10:47am on December 20, 2009,
Richard Damashek said…
- I'm looking for information from people who have used Dr. Catalona or Dr. Zagaja.
- At 2:56am on November 22, 2009,
Jan Puzio said…
- Bryan,
Good luck with your appointment with the doctor tomorrow , I guess you won't get the Psa result for another few days, still providing the post op histopath was favourable lets pray all will be ok.My catheter is due out on tuesday, its been a close friend ,but I won't miss it!
Hope all is well
take care. Jan
- At 9:55pm on November 15, 2009,
Kenneth Harper said…
- Thanks for the timely response. I didn't even know about the davinci method until today. It is available in only one place in New Mexico. I wonder how important this procedure is available to someone with an enlarged prostate like myself. My urologist said that orthoscopic surgery wouldn't work because of the large prostate. I will keep in touch as things progress for me. Thanks again
- At 1:24am on November 14, 2009,
Jan Puzio said…
- Bryan,
Great to be back,Had some drainage problems on waking this morning so I just pushed the catheter in and out of the bladder and brought it back into the neck of the bladder and hey presto.
Intend to do a few walks today. Catheter due out tuesday week. As far as work is concerned, in on monday!, I'm lucky in that I am a senior partner in my equine veterinary hospital so I can pick and choose. Monday and tuesday we have some bone scans to do so I can sit at the computer and take the recordings without any physical involvement.
Thank god life is for living, so lets rock and roll.
Appreciate the support, hope you are well and getting life back on track.I cant remember but have you had follow up PSAs and how often are they suggesting?
Best wishes ,
Jan.
- At 1:58am on November 8, 2009,
Jan Puzio said…
- Bryan,
Thanks again for the support and prayers. Yes am all ready for the scalpel,have to report to the hospital at 7am UK time on tuesday.Spent a week in Florida last week chilling out swimming and running so am now relaxed?, no thats a lie I'm very apprehensive about the surgery and what follows. Still all you guys have been through it so thats been a great help.
I've been watching several videos of the procedure so if anything does go wrong I'm sure I could step in to help!
Anything thanks for the posting, speak on the other side.
Stay happy and committed,
Jan
- At 9:45pm on November 1, 2009,
Barbara said…
- Bryan,
Here's hoping that my husband's surgery and progress will proceed as well as yours. He has decided (albeit reluctantly) for surgery (diVinci) and is scheduled for mid December. He is finally telling close friends about his diagnosis - but is still astonished that this is happening to him. Sure hope that my husband will sound as upbeat as you - post surgery!
Barbara
- At 11:48am on October 18, 2009,
Barbara said…
- Bryan,
Thanks for taking the time to respond to our dilemma. You had asked about more specifics on our situation...my husband's resolve on the treatment method changes daily. His drawback to the surgery is the incontinence....but I believe both of us feel that the surgery will provide more answers in the short term (e.g. the ability to get confirmation of the initial biopsy diagnosis and will be able to get the cancer OUT) and provides a "do-able" Plan B if the cancer does return ...however the incontinence - since the intensity/severity cannot be predicted is his real worry. If you don't mind answering, how severe was your incontinence?
Barbara
- At 3:58pm on October 17, 2009,
Jan Puzio said…
- Bryan,
Life is full of hurdles and challenges and I think one has to take them as they come along. There is no cause for bitterness and questioning why me?.I take the view that God has maybe thrown down that challenge and it is up to me to respond. If I can do the best I can,with the help of dedicated medical teams and have a bunch of laughs along the way then life must be OK. I always keep the view that unfortuneately there are millions of poor souls in far worse predicaments than me.
Hey, Keep smiling,
and thanks for the thoughts and prayers,all are reciprocated,
Jan
- At 1:27pm on October 17, 2009,
Harry said…
- To jean and Bryan,
Thanks for the welcome. I am feeling pretty darned good but I have been following doctor's orders and want to recover as quickly as possible without over doing it. To let you know, I had clear margins and CA was contained well within. Doc said that he was able to do all the nerve sparing work but it doesn't feel like that today, lol. I seem pretty good at night and while sitting but that darned leaking tends to start up when i stand. I did manage to do well yesterday right up until about 4 in the afternoon...then things seemed to go down hill. I guess it happens...
Regards,
Harry
- At 10:42am on October 14, 2009,
Jan Puzio said…
- Bryan,
Thanks for the advice, all taken and absorbed.
Op now been deferred for a week, now on 10 nov, clinic said there was a Christmas rush!? I did ask if there was any special deals., but there was a sense of humour failure..ahh well, thats life.
I'll keep you all posted,
Take care,
Jan
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