Post by: grampster on May 23, 2005, 05:46:46 PM
Every year the doc orders one to pee in the bottle and serve up some blood. Tests you know....couple days later the nurse's call comes...all is ok. This time the nurse doesn't call. It's from Art. Funny, I thought his first name was Doctor.
I always wondered about how I would feel when the fantasy call became reality.
Pretty calm, I guess. Everybody that doesn't have a nasty disease always offers up that, well, "they have lotsa ways to fix than, pretty routine you know." I said it myself. But it also seems pragmatism comes easy when you're 61 and your kids are approaching middle age and your grandkids are teenagers. One is struck by the thought that maybe one got more than he deserved in that regard.
I've been watching my friends, associates and aquaintenances over the years get one disease or another. Some have passed on...too many have passed on. One measures his odds watching this happen, is comforted by "the other guy's" misfortune; works the odds in one's favor. Surprise!
Friday's Cat scan of the pelvic area only shows a hairball that will be coughed up tonight with a little luck and some with the assistance of some brandy and wine swirled together in a proper glass. (For those of you in Loma Linda...Cat scan?...hairball?..get it?) Had an MRI of my brain once. I have been fond of saying they "found nothing". Same thing with the Cat scan. That means the cancer has stayed local in the prostate gland. That is actually a good thing.
Imagine, the treatment for that only brings impotence and incontinence is preferable to the alternative. Perhaps a fair exchange for bladder, spine and pelvis tumors. In retrospect, not a bad exchange, afterall.
Well, I go to the doc this Thursday to discuss options. Trying not to query the internet too much because of sensory overload. Senses are overloaded quite enough already.
Another upside: SWMBO has been more tolerent of my aberant (sp?) behaviour the last couple weeks. She REALLY does love me. (Those of you with truly low self esteem know what I'm talking about.)
I've also discovered just about everybody male either has prostate cancer, had prostate cancer, or knows somebody that does or has. What in the world is this all about?
Well, sorry to blather about this. Well, no I'm not. It actualy feels pretty good to do this. Do they call this self actualization? Actually maybe it's too much wine. Gonna get me another one now. As Arnie is fond of saying, "I'll be back".
Post by: Ben on May 23, 2005, 06:07:09 PM
Sorry to hear your number came up on this. The bright side (if there is such a thing in these matters) is that you made the regular visits to the Doctor and they caught it early. This was the same situation with my dad, who got it at 62 (14 years ago).
He opted for the surgery. He cussed like a sailor for the first half year over the incontinence, but time and resolve made it a non-issue for him. After a couple of years, the worst he had to deal with was a few drops coming out now and again, so take heart that the "Depends" stage is not necessarily permanent.
Anyway, he goes in for yearly checkups on it, and no signs of recurrence and he has a low PSA. I like to kid around with him that the worst part of his ordeal was the fact that I had to start going in for yearly finger probes long before the "normal" time because of the heredity factor.
Best wishes and Godspeed to a speedy recovery!
Post by: Nightfall on May 23, 2005, 06:19:25 PM
Quote
Another upside: SWMBO has been more tolerent of my aberant (sp?) behaviour the last couple weeks. She REALLY does love me.
If your wife tends to frown on gun expenses, use the sympathy to pack your house to the brim with firearms, unharassed. Best wishes and hopes for you, grampster.
Post by: Stand_watie on May 23, 2005, 06:21:22 PM
Post by: Standing Wolf on May 23, 2005, 06:27:25 PM
Post by: grampster on May 23, 2005, 06:46:08 PM
Curiosity sometimes overpowers reality. Regarding guns...I don't have anymore room in my safe. Crap!!
Post by: duck hunt on May 23, 2005, 07:45:48 PM
Post by: Unisaw on May 23, 2005, 08:21:25 PM
Post by: Antibubba on May 24, 2005, 06:57:49 AM
My thoughts are with you.
Post by: Fjolnirsson on May 24, 2005, 07:31:14 AM
Post by: Stetson on May 24, 2005, 08:31:08 AM
Quote from: grampster
Regarding guns...I don't have anymore room in my safe. Crap!!
Time for a second safe
Post by: BillBlank on May 24, 2005, 09:48:56 AM
Best wishes grampster, you damn well better beat this, if only so I get to chortle at your wry comments about grown men and incontinence pads. I turn thirty in a couple of months so I get to start checking mine soon. As another man said, time for another safe.
Hope your wife and family are coping too and may you have many more years of traipsing round Florida dressed in a similar manner to the cast of Cocoon. Which I'm afraid is how I picture you
.Bill
Just gonna pop downstairs, pop open a good bottle and raise a glass to your health. Then I'm going to cuddle my wife, which will confuse her and earn me earache for opening a bottle of the good stuff.
Post by: grampster on May 24, 2005, 10:27:42 AM
Are you saying that there is something wrong with plaid shorts, contrasting plaid shirts, tall black socks, wing tips and a knitted budweiser beer can hat? Huh? Do ya? Huh?
Post by: BillBlank on May 24, 2005, 11:59:53 AM
On a nosy note, you'll have to let us know if you go batty for a few hours after the removal of the prostrate (if it is removed). A nurse friend of mine told me that and I've always wanted to know if it was a wind up.
Your's, in the spirit of never allowing anothers pain and discomfort to get in the way of his terminal nosiness (I'll be asking you to stream a video of the op next),
Bill
Post by: Penman on May 24, 2005, 12:49:11 PM
Post by: XLMiguel on May 24, 2005, 12:58:15 PM
Do your homework on alternatives, there's been a lot of progress in this area. A good friend of mine (mid-60's, found it early) did the rediological thing with excellent results. He was only out of sorts for a few weeks, back on the golf course in about 6 weeks, and he's still 'raising the flag'. Locally, the Geo Washington Medical Center (in DC) has been adverising a minimally invasive robotic procedure to deal with this that doesn't have the usual incontinence/impotence side effects. Good luck
Post by: Antibubba on May 24, 2005, 01:58:17 PM
Three times a week, three altercockers (elderly men) would meet in the park to talk. Inevitably, the discussion would turn to their various ailments.
The first guy said, "Oy, every morning I get up to pish, I stand there, ten, fifteen minutes, before anything happens".
The second guy says, "I should have it so lucky-it takes me half an hour to tinkle at all!"
The third guy says, "I envy you both. Every morning at seven I go, regular as clockwork".
The other two just stared at him and said, "What's wrong with that"?
The third guy sighed and said, "I don't wake up until eight".
Post by: P95Carry on May 24, 2005, 07:29:39 PM
I carry on tho - enjoying what I can while I can but let me say - having in a sense ''known you'' quite some time - my most positive of thoughts are going your way as a friend. One thing you can pretty much depend on - is the ability to come in here and blow smoke when you need to. This is a peripheral family.
Post by: Guest on May 25, 2005, 12:43:36 AM
Post by: Happy Bob on May 25, 2005, 04:50:01 AM
Post by: grampster on May 25, 2005, 10:16:41 AM
I've been thinking that since so many men seem to be contracting this critter, that maybe I might post a blow by blow in the interest of disseminating a little first hand knowledge as this thing moves along.
Early diagnosis is important. I've already discovered that most doctors don't even recommend PSA test and digital exam till one is 50. But most men that I have been talking to that have had this situation are saying that the 30's are not too young and one should insist on having it done, especially if there is a history in the family.
Mike in VA..The laporascopic prostatectomy is also being done at U Of M in Ann Arbor. You can google "laporascopic prostatectomy, u of m" navigate a bit and actually watch the procedure. They are supposed to be the 2nd best teaching hospital with regard to prostate problems. That procedure intrigues me if surgery is the best option.
On the other hand, I have an HMO, so the only thing that might be available to me is having a wino do the surgery under the Newaygo bridge using a broken bottle of Mad Dog 20 20. My best hope is that I can get to drink the Mad Dog before they break the bottle. Film at 6.
Post by: Azrael256 on May 25, 2005, 11:01:41 AM
I say that not as one who has been there. My grandfather had it, and he's fine, but that's the closest I've come. I say that as someone who doesn't worry about anything, since I know it's not going to do any good. I also say that as one who read all the literature on the subject when grandad had his "procedure." You caught it early. You'll be fine.
You mentioned something about this affecting pretty much all men, and that is right in line with what I've read. Almost every man (close enough to every man as to make unaffected men statistically negligible) will develop at least a few cancerous cells in their prostate. The only question is whether or not it will form into something noticeable in their lifetime.
For you guys more my age, go get the PSA done at your next physical, even if you're well under the recommended age. Actually, if we could start with just getting a regular physical, we'd be doing well. Most guys my age and older are unwilling to spend the two hours a year it takes to get checked out for a whole host of diseases. Early diagnosis of little things can save you money, and big things can save your life. I'm lucky enough to have insurance that makes the whole physical, including all the "boy exams" (as my mother, the nurse, calls it) run about $10. The doctor said he would be astounded if he found anything even remotely abnormal at my age (23), but it cost nothing, and it never hurts to establish a baseline. I read of cases in 35-ish men, so this age 50 thing is BS.
Post by: Ben on May 25, 2005, 01:58:25 PM
Quote
The doctor said he would be astounded if he found anything even remotely abnormal at my age (23), but it cost nothing, and it never hurts to establish a baseline. I read of cases in 35-ish men, so this age 50 thing is BS.
My best friend contracted prostate cancer at age 42. He was the youngest his doctor had ever diagnosed. He was doing the "every two years" prostate check as recommended in some circles from age 40-50 (yearly after 50). In the two years between 40-42 the cancer had spread far enough that surgery was his best option. He can no longer do the Wild Thing. Bummer when you're still in your 40's. The few minutes of discomfort once a year for an exam and PSA test are well worth it, considering the potential alternative.
Post by: larry_minn on May 26, 2005, 10:17:37 AM
Sept. was my last exam (less this) so a full physical is my 06 resolution
Please keep your spirits up. Remember if the flag won't fly it is likely temp. I (lost) the ability for almost 3 months (even got scanned down there looking for trouble) after my injuries. Now everything works fine. (it did depress me esp when in 30s and never done it (without a rain coat)
Now trying for kids. No joy yet but fun to practice.... I did do a check and count is slighly on low side of normal but not bad.
Post by: grampster on May 26, 2005, 05:54:28 PM
The doc explained the various treatments available and what success they generally had as well as comparing my particular situation to the grade and the stage. Surgery, my case, for a number of reasons seems most efficacious.
There is a fairly recent advance using laproscopic surgery using the da Vinci system, a robotic contraption controled by the surgeon that removes the prostate and samples surrounding tissues and lymph nodes. Urologist, who does not use the system, is quite impressed with it. I'm going to see if I can go to U of M in Ann Arbor, or a hospital in Detroit that deals with this surgery. I'll compare that to the typical surgery that has been done for years.
I called a friend of mine today, who is the same age as me, 61, whom I gave a box of pampers to when we turned 50. I wondered if he still had some, as I might need a few. As for potential ed, well, I've sown a few oats in my day, so maybe its time to put the field into the soil bank for a time. Given the alternatives, not a great loss.
Maybe I'll chime in on this again somewhere down the line, if the info might be of some value. Anybody interested otherwise, e mail me if you want any knowledge that I might pick up along the way.
Post by: P95Carry on May 26, 2005, 06:27:07 PM
We'll be rooting for ya - of that you can be sure!
Post by: Guest on May 26, 2005, 11:59:54 PM
Post by: Sean Smith on May 27, 2005, 06:36:45 AM
Quote from: grampster
I've also discovered just about everybody male either has prostate cancer, had prostate cancer, or knows somebody that does or has. What in the world is this all about?
My dad recently had prostate cancer surgery. Apparently almost every male eventually gets it, but for most it is slow enough that they never notice it before they die of something else.You REALLY need to make sure you get a top-notch surgeon for this. Done right, the operation itself takes forever, but avoids damaging *any* significant nerves, and you can recover from it really, *really* well. As in, everything works in a matter of months. My dad is setting some kind of land speed record for recovery, but his surgeon was really top-notch. Some surgeons are relatively lazy or backwards in how they do it, and results in nerve damage and a very slow recovery.
Post by: grampster on May 27, 2005, 07:02:36 AM
Give your dad a "thumbs up" from me.
Post by: Guest on June 25, 2005, 01:12:45 PM
Post by: Nathaniel Firethorn on June 25, 2005, 05:11:27 PM
My dad died from that crud. My grandfather had it too. It's the reason I get the rubber glove massage once a year.
Glad they caught it early. You've got a good chance to make it farther than either of them did.
- NF
Post by: grampster on June 25, 2005, 05:20:21 PM
Right now, on vacation till July 12th. Work for couple weeks. Surgery at U of M on July 28th, home on 29th. Recuperation takes about 2 weeks, malinger for another week, minimum, err, maybe two. Other than the obvious side trip to Ann Arbor, seems like a got a summer vacation I haven't had since grade school.
I actually feel pretty good. It's not a thing that generally gives one any discomfort unless it's advanced. (My little invader is not) After awhile the shock sort of wears off. I actually don't think about it much and when I do, I have a sense of calm confidence tempered with a sense of wonder.
I did catch myself looking at a package of Depends for Men in the drug store this morning, heh heh heh. SWMBO is not feeling so sorry for me anymore either, so my free pass on an extra cocktail or two and a jelly donut has been revoked..sigh.....
Post by: RevDisk on June 25, 2005, 05:33:33 PM
Post by: BillBlank on June 27, 2005, 02:54:38 AM
So I googled "Men in nappies".
It turns out that taking up Sumo wrestling is about your best option for a socially acceptable way of enjoying your new lifestyle. Get eating those doughnuts grampster as I think of a good way to explain to my wife why she'll find that search next time she uses google.
Enjoy the time off, if you need to relax do some paragliding, very mellow way to fly and shouldn't be that expensive to get some time with an instructor at a local club.