Looks like I get to have my prostate removed by a robot. Two of 12 samples positive and a Gleason score of 6. I have two months to use up my special purpose and I'm going home to get started.
Looks like I get to have my prostate removed by a robot. Two of 12 samples positive and a Gleason score of 6. I have two months to use up my special purpose and I'm going home to get started.
Man, you hardcore racers will do anything for weight savings.
Hang tough.
spitfirebill wrote: I have two months to use up my special purpose.
What does that mean?
And so sad you have to do it, but from what I've heard robots are the way to go for that delicate of a surgery.
My brother just had the robot surgery a couple months ago, he says everything is working great again. Good luck.
... if you have to ask...
Good luck, and hopefully all will be well.
Two years ago I had a bad kidney removed by a guy that specialized in robotic prostate work. It is so far advanced from the old style. All of the old wives tales about prostate surgery no longer apply. You will be fine. Robots rule!!
I'm not at all qualified to give medical advice, but I've overheard a number of guys talking about the side effects of their surgeries. I truly hope you've get second (third?) opinions before going under the scalpel.
Good luck. I've got about 20 years of experience in cancer centers and health insurance. Robotic surgery is still controlled by surgeon. What counts is experience, just make sure your surgeon has a lot of cases under his belt. As far as your special purpose, if the drive is present, there are ways to make the mechanics work. Let me know if you need anything. I'm almost finished with a book (the insiders guide to surviving cancer).
My day job involves a minimally invasive alternative that has the lowest rates of side effects of any prostate cancer treatment.
http://www.theraseed.com/
There may be a good reason that your Dr. chooses surgery over other treatments, but it may be just because that's what he does. Might be worth getting a second or third opinion from someone who does brachytherapy as well as someone who does external radiation treatment.
Good luck, and sorry to hear.
Goes off to eat some ketchup
carguy123 wrote: What does that mean?
Let's just say he re-upped on his Playboy and Penthouse subscriptions, if ya know what I mean 
In reply to spitfirebill:
The best to you sfb.
If anyone really doesn't know what "your special purpose" is go rent the movie "The Jerk".
My dad had it done a few years ago...didn't seem to slow him down much, and what can I say? Stepmom is always smiling... 
Best of luck!
Scarey stuff indeed, good luck and fingers... crossed
That whole prostate thing is Nature's way of evening the score on men for dumping the monthly cycle thing on women. I don't care for anybody or anything rooting around in my chitlins without a real good reason. I'd get a second opinion too. Best of luck to you!
Every year we get a bunch of workers busted for picking saw palmetto berries here in florida
My doctor is a urologic oncologist and has done over 600 robotic and 600 conventional surgeries. So he is experienced. I know several people who have used this doctor and they all have good things to say about him. I am not a candidate for radiation (seeds or otherwise) because I have Crohn's disease. Radiation is tough on the bowels. Thanks for all the best wishes.
I've heard it said that every man will contract prostate cancer, provided he lives long enough. Crumudgeon's right. Sounds like you've got the right doc for it, tho. Cheering for ya, dude!!
friedgreencorrado wrote: I've heard it said that *every* man will contract prostate cancer, provided he lives long enough. Crumudgeon's right. Sounds like you've got the right doc for it, tho. Cheering for ya, dude!!
Yup apparently most guys who die at an advanced age and have an autopsy are found to have had prostate cancer and didn't know it.
Curmudgeon wrote: That whole prostate thing is Nature's way of evening the score on men for dumping the monthly cycle thing on women.
I think women are the punishment for that.
spitfirebill wrote: My doctor is a urologic oncologist and has done over 600 robotic and 600 conventional surgeries. So he is experienced. I know several people who have used this doctor and they all have good things to say about him. I am not a candidate for radiation (seeds or otherwise) because I have Crohn's disease. Radiation is tough on the bowels. Thanks for all the best wishes.
Decent numbers on the experience. Glad to hear you have confidence in the doc. Best wishes for the surgery and if you need any info feel free to drop me a pm.
spitfirebill wrote:friedgreencorrado wrote: I've heard it said that *every* man will contract prostate cancer, provided he lives long enough. Crumudgeon's right. Sounds like you've got the right doc for it, tho. Cheering for ya, dude!!Yup apparently most guys who die at an advanced age and have an autopsy are found to have had prostate cancer and didn't know it.
I don't know who I heard it from, but the line that I've always heard is that "If you don't die from it, you will die with it".
I'm big on the natural medicine stuff (preventative-wise, I'm not a kook, I still take anti-biotics and motrin and such) and I believe that the lycopene from ketchup helps prevent prostate cancer. I've read that the link has been debunked, but my Grandpa is 86 and gets tested every year and doesn't have it. He also goes through two bottles of ketchup a month. I'm sold on the idea. And if it doesn't do any good, well, I like ketchup.
I recall hearing a line of thinking not too long ago that a lot of prostate cancer is so low level that the treatment is truly worse than the disease, and that there has been some degree of overdiagnosis and a rush to overtreat. I don't keep up on my medical journals, though, so I don't know how well received this theory has been.
Medical theory aside, good luck man!
My 32 year old buddy just finished testicular cancer radiation treatment, I'll take a prostate issue any day.
Kudos to SpitfireBill for not ignoring it!
Dan
One's risk of getting prostate cancer is roughly the same as their age. Live long enough, and you will get it. It is also a slow progressing cancer, so it is not uncommon in older men to just take a wait and see approach. If you're 80 when it's diagnosed, chances are something else will get you before the cancer does, so the only treatment is monitoring. If you're 50, get that E36 M3 outta there, you still have a lot of years to go.
Sounds like spitfire's doc did discuss the options and an outside factor eliminated some of them. That's good. Too many doctors are steered by either what they are most comfortable with (natural, but not always the best treatment for a particular patient) or, unfortunately, $$$. Surgery has a higher medicare reimbursement rate than radiation, so even if radiation is a better option for a particular case, the doc is financially incentivized to cut. Which is just one of millions of unfortunate byproducts of the government messing with the medical treatment market. .
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