My Journey with Prostate Cancer

Did you even know there was such a thing as a bladder nurse (Nurse Continence Advisor)? Well on December 19, 2018 I did have an appointment with the bladder nurse! This process is interesting even if a little invasive. This appointment was mostly information and a little coaching. After a radical postatectomy many men face incontinence. This is because the prostate is right up against the bladder and its removal takes some of the muscles that control the bladder discharge. Also the urethra that carries the urine goes right through the middle of the prostate and so of course that portion comes out with the prostate. The surgeon then attaches the remaining urethra back to the bladder and a catheter is placed to promote healing of this area. This catheter is held in place by a balloon at the bladder end and after healing the Doctor deflates the balloon and removes it. This usually happens about two weeks after surgery. The nurse showed me the catheter so I would be familiar with what ...

 My hope is that by sharing my experience others may be helped. To be honest, sharing is cathartic.  Maybe it will not help others, but it sure does help me. From the very first day of diagnosis my wife Donna has been my sounding board and helped me through some emotionally difficult days. I shared with my immediate family what I am facing. My Mom found it difficult to hear this news because it brings back all those memories of what she went through with my Dad. My Brother was easier because he is dealing with a similar thing, but his news is a bit better and he is still under watchful waiting. I suspect that at his age he will outlive this cancer. He is 71 now. I shared with and apologized to my two sons that perhaps they will have to deal with this some day. I advised them both that they should have PSA test now so that they will have a starting point level for future reference. Maybe by the time they need a biopsy or treatment there will be far better approaches. Th...

This might be the most difficult part. There a lots of decisions to make in life. Other than decisions concerning eternity and my commitment to Jesus Christ, this is perhaps one of the most import ones I will have to make. There is no simple formula that you can just plug all the numbers into and out comes the best answer. It also depends on who you ask. I read everything the Doctor gave me. I read other peoples testimonies. I read opinion of other Doctors. I talked to several people who have been on this journey before me and listened to what they had experienced. One of the books that my Urologist gave me went through all the different options and one of the things it suggested is that I talk to my Family Doctor and see what he had to say. Frankly that did not go very well. He made it clear that he would not second guess the specialist and that I should not have bothered him with my request for his opinion. I told him that the book the Urologist gave me suggested I do this whereu...

To make a decision about treatment my Doctor looks at the numbers and then makes recommendations. More importantly I have to look at the numbers, statistics, personal family experience, feelings, beliefs, treatment options, and an overwhelming supply of information. On top of the uncertainty that comes with such a diagnosis there is a fear that I will make the wrong decision. What ever decision is made pretty much final. There is no going back on a wrong choice. It is difficult to put into words the stress that having to make such a life changing choice induces. The Doctors and others try to make you feel better about this by saying "What ever choice YOU make is RIGHT for you." First of all I had to consider my numbers. The first number I was told is that 10 samples were taken in my biopsy. Two of those samples that were on one side of my prostate next to each other had cancer cells in them.  It is good that there were only 2 out of 10. It is good that they were nex...