After speaking to a neighborhood friend, I'm now convinced that it might do well to let you all know my status as of late.
For those of you who haven't heard, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in late October, after a second PSA for the year showed an increase to 5.1. A biopsy indicated confirmed that I had P.C., so I then searched out the best that I could find in the area, Dr. Steven Bardot of Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans.
Well, it wasn't a cakewalk, but I came through okay. I went in Dec. 4 (monday) at 9:30 a.m and had a radical prostatectomy, that is, a complete removal of the prostate. The alternatives were radiation, and radioactive "seeding". My dr., who is the Chief Oncologist at Ochsner, does all three methods. He said that with radiation, I would probably have a recurrence within three years, so it was a "no brainer" to have it removed.
I was discharged from the hospital on wednesday, and felt that I should have stayed in there (He said I was doing great and could recuperate at home). So that's what I've been doing ever since.
It's been three weeks last monday (christmas day), and I"m much better, though still not in "fighting form". I'm walking, but real wimpy, and slow on my feet. The good news that I received after having the catheter removed (the worst part of the whole thing was having to carry a catheter), was that the pathologist's report showed that the cancer was contained within the prostate, and that my body appeared to be clean. I'm supposed to be "ready to work" by six weeks.
Bottom line, anyone over 45 should be having an annual PSA test. I'm fortunate that it was caught on a annual physical last March. My doctor insisted in October (six months later) that I have another PSA, so I credit him for pushing me towards the biopsy.
Hope all of you will be cautious if you are in that ball park age.
Be good and Happy New Year!!
Ken Krawczyk