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A Surreal Day

#11
Zinjanthropos Online
For the guys out there or for the men in your life......although I didn't personally like the whole process I realize the importance of checkups, tests, examinations, etc., especialy as you age. Been 72 hrs since biop and there's no pain, no infection, very little blood in urine and none in my stool. Don't know if I'm a fast healer or if the doctor was that good. 

I'm at the point where if this is something I have to go through every year, then I'm OK with it, despite not really overjoyed about the prospect. It's better than the alternative.
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#12
Zinjanthropos Online
Had my prostate biopsy results today. First off my Gleason score is 7, meaning I have an intermediate form of prostate cancer. Doc told me it's not overly serious at this stage and if allowed to continue it might take 10-15 years before it gets messy. I was given two options, either have it removed or go through radiation therapy. Both could have lingering side effects that could last the rest of my life. I meet with radiologists, surgeons and whomever on the 17th to ask questions and make a decision. Treatment or surgery would be in the Fall which is OK with me since I generally take the summer off at a cabin we own in Northern Ontario. I'm going to do some research, ask some friends who have gone through this and make my mind up in the next two weeks. My advice to all men 40's and up is to have your PSA checked. Higher than normal PSA count is like having the phone ring and you decide whether to answer it. My PSA count is now of little concern as the type of cancer has been identified. Not as bad as I thought, I just have to deal with it.
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#13
Carol Offline
(Apr 20, 2017 04:03 PM)Zinjanthropos Wrote: Funny thing yesterday. I was walking out of the change room past the nurse's station and thought I smelled smoke. I said to a nurse jokingly, "They allow smoking up here?" Thinking nothing of it I took the elevator to the main floor and just as I emerged I hear on a loudspeaker "Code Red, Code Red....evacuate the building" Apparently there was a fire in the hospital somewhere. By the time I got to my car and paid my fee, fire trucks were arriving and I could hear many more on the way. Checked later to see if the place burned down but nothing of the sort. Whatever it was, they put the fire out. I had serious selfish thoughts while all this was going on. I was more worried that my prostate samplings would be lost and I'd have to go through the biopsy again. Man oh man, how the mind works.

Where do you live?  The dates don't match, but a couple of weeks ago, when I was leaving the garage of a medical building in Eugene, Oregon, it was obvious the recently fixed machine that dispenses tickets stamped with the time of entering the parking garage,  was on fire.   I didn't see flames but smoke was billowing out of it and a couple of maintenance people were looking into the hole below the machine.

I do not blame you for caring more about your samples than other things.  The procedure you went through does not sound pleasant.  I had a routine check for rectal cancer and used Gavilyte-N to clean out the intestines before the scope was stuck up my rectum.  Nothing had to be snipped, which sounds most unpleasant, but drinking a gallon of Gavilyte-N was unpleasant.  I rather do a enema.

I have had a few precancerous spots removed from my face and a cancerous growth removed from head, that included taking a alot of flesh.  Fortunately that area is covered with hair and is not noticable.  I hate the waiting, waiting, waiting.  Waiting for the first appointment.  Then waiting for results.  Then waiting for the surgery.  Now waiting for a yearly checkup.  I hope to catch the next cancer before it is a big problem.

Laugh I studied gerontology- the study of aging- and I think the reality of aging is being greatly understated.  I love living a building for older people and going to the senior center and being with people who know more about what I experience than our doctors do.  Book learning just does not convey a sense of meaning, and thinking older people are going to remain viberant workers is nuts.  Some do better than others, but I was taken out of the work force early and work very hard to keep my body functioning.  

I am having a hard time dealing with my young doctor and young physical therapist who mean well, but just do not understand what I am saying about living with pain and stiffness.   Then there are the lumps and spots, and the digestive problems, and blood measurements that aren't exactly right.  I so remember when I thought old folks talking about their health problems was poor social behavior, but now I appreciate so much talking to someone who really gets what I am saying.

(May 1, 2017 03:43 PM)Zinjanthropos Wrote: Had my prostate biopsy results today. First off my Gleason score is 7, meaning I have an intermediate form of prostate cancer. Doc told me it's not overly serious at this stage and if allowed to continue it might take 10-15 years before it gets messy. I was given two options, either have it removed or go through radiation therapy. Both could have lingering side effects that could last the rest of my life. I meet with radiologists, surgeons and whomever on the 17th to ask questions and make a decision. Treatment or surgery would be in the Fall which is OK with me since I generally take the summer off at a cabin we own in Northern Ontario. I'm going to do some research, ask some friends who have gone through this and make my mind up in the next two weeks. My advice to all men 40's and up is to have your PSA checked. Higher than normal PSA count is like having the phone ring and you decide whether to answer it. My PSA count is now of little concern as the type of cancer has been identified. Not as bad as I thought, I just have to deal with it.

I am so glad you know people who have experience with the procedure.  

You appear to have a very good attitude.  Sometimes our health problems can motivate us to take better care of ourselves.  I lead workshops for living with chronic conditions so I have to take care of myself, or I am a hypocrite.  I still am not doing as well as I should with the food choices.  I am pretty good at making healthy food choices, but my portions are a bit larger than they should be.  That means I have to exercise more, and our bodies quickly adjust to increased exercise, so we have to increase the exercise to get the same weight loss we got in the beginning.  I rather be sitting at my computer than exercising.  Then I complain a lot about how I feel.  Then I laugh at myself for being so human, and not quite as logical as perhaps we should be.
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#14
Secular Sanity Offline
(May 1, 2017 03:43 PM)Zinjanthropos Wrote: Had my prostate biopsy results today. First off my Gleason score is 7, meaning I have an intermediate form of prostate cancer. Doc told me it's not overly serious at this stage and if allowed to continue it might take 10-15 years before it gets messy. I was given two options, either have it removed or go through radiation therapy. Both could have lingering side effects that could last the rest of my life. I meet with radiologists, surgeons and whomever on the 17th to ask questions and make a decision. Treatment or surgery would be in the Fall which is OK with me since I generally take the summer off at a cabin we own in Northern Ontario. I'm going to do some research, ask some friends who have gone through this and make my mind up in the next two weeks. My advice to all men 40's and up is to have your PSA checked. Higher than normal PSA count is like having the phone ring and you decide whether to answer it. My PSA count is now of little concern as the type of cancer has been identified. Not as bad as I thought, I just have to deal with it.

Ah, dang it!  Sorry to hear that.  

Radiation with androgen suppression, right?  That’s what I’d choose.  You might end up having to have radiation after the surgery anyway.
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#15
C C Offline
(May 1, 2017 03:43 PM)Zinjanthropos Wrote: Had my prostate biopsy results today. First off my Gleason score is 7, meaning I have an intermediate form of prostate cancer. Doc told me it's not overly serious at this stage and if allowed to continue it might take 10-15 years before it gets messy. I was given two options, either have it removed or go through radiation therapy. Both could have lingering side effects that could last the rest of my life. I meet with radiologists, surgeons and whomever on the 17th to ask questions and make a decision. Treatment or surgery would be in the Fall which is OK with me since I generally take the summer off at a cabin we own in Northern Ontario. I'm going to do some research, ask some friends who have gone through this and make my mind up in the next two weeks. My advice to all men 40's and up is to have your PSA checked. Higher than normal PSA count is like having the phone ring and you decide whether to answer it. My PSA count is now of little concern as the type of cancer has been identified. Not as bad as I thought, I just have to deal with it.


Best wishes on a good outcome at the end, whichever route you decide. Great that you've got plenty of time to weigh and explore deeper the options. Instead of being shuttled down the emergency chute pronto with "Code _x_" sirens blaring and Jimmy Hendrix psychedelic alerts flashing.
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#16
Zinjanthropos Online
Thanks to my well wishers. I informed family members today and it went well. I'm confident I will beat this since apparently I have the advantage at the moment. They're not pushing the panic button so that makes me feel at ease somewhat. I am leaning towards radiation as my 93 year old uncle went through it many moons ago without any side effects. I have two weeks to make up my mind.
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#17
Zinjanthropos Online
Tomorrow I talk to doctors and radiologists and unless they recommend otherwise I am going to go with radiation therapy. Did some homework, talked to a lot of people who've gone thru radiation and surgery and made my mind up. Have a few questions to ask and then we'll see what happens next.
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#18
C C Offline
(May 16, 2017 06:09 PM)Zinjanthropos Wrote: Tomorrow I talk to doctors and radiologists and unless they recommend otherwise I am going to go with radiation therapy. Did some homework, talked to a lot of people who've gone thru radiation and surgery and made my mind up. Have a few questions to ask and then we'll see what happens next.


Awful stuff to go through in regard to some other types of cancer, but getting input from others who have undergone the treatment is definitely a plus. Best wishes and happy trails in regard to the eventual results and enduring any pains and stresses during the interim.
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#19
elte Offline
Well wishes and speedy path to recovery
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#20
Zinjanthropos Online
Thanks to all my well wishers. Haven't been here long but I feel the connection, it's almost like family.  Smile I find it somewhat therapeutic to write things down here, it eases the stress and maybe my words will aid someone else in a similar situation. Talking about it is the best medicine. I hope I'm not boring the hell out of people.
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