My turn to fight the Big "C"

[reb67]

Has hundreds of people daily and probably alot of people on here I got my diagnosis Friday at the age of 51 that was not the news the wife and I was expecting Friday morning. We don't know the severity of it yet we have more testing to do in the next week or two so we can come up with a battle plan. So I guess it's my turn to take on the Big "C" I don't know what to expect in the near future but my family and I are ready to fight. 

There was no warning signs at all, PSA levels were not elevated just a routine prostate exam from my doctor.

The reason for this post is to say

"guys don't put off recommended exams"

Hopefully my early diagnosis will make the difference.

 

[ike8120]

Hoepfully everything will work out for you.

 

My PSA is above the normal level , I have had numerous biopsy's and a MRI. All have come back negative.

Have you had any biopsy's. Also if you not, make sure you go to a surgery center not in the office.

[reb67]

Yes Friday was biopsy results day. The next step is CT and bone scan to see if it has spread to my lymph nodes and bones.

[senile1]

I wish you the best, @reb67.  Best wishes for it being isolated and treatable.

[Sam]

d**n Reb, very upsetting news.

 

All the best for a strong fight that you will win. Prostate cancer is curable in the vast majority of cases.

 

My PSA is .02 and my doctor is watching it closely. If it rises rapidly there is a problem.

 

You are correct. Us guys don't like physicals, especially the prostate exam.  But ask your oncologist and he will tell you that the prostate exam is the reason he went to medical school! (my doctor's joke just before the exam)

 

Keep us posted on your progress and to all of the guys on this site, young and old, don't be bashful and ask your primary care doctor about having a digital prostate exam annually. It takes only seconds and it can save you life.

 

Now go out there and knock it out of the park! We are with you all the way.

 

P.S.  VCU can work wonders.

[lo n slo]

you can do this. a few of my friends are living proof. ?

[Mike L]

The best of everything to you. 

Keep the faith brother,  you can beat this!!

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Dwight Hottle]

As a cancer survivor I can tell you it is beatable. Just make sure your doctors have plenty of experience & a proven track record. It's not an easy fight but you will get through it. It also helps to talk with other people that have already been down the same path. Seek them out they will be glad to share. Good luck with your recovery. 

[Hammer 4]

All the best to ya..C sucks..kick it's a$$.

[jbsoonerfan]

You got this! Stay positive, we are all pulling for you and wishing you well!!!!!

[J._Bricker]

Sorry @reb67 to hear of this news. You have the whole BR communities support as you beat this...

[N Florida Mike]

Wishing you a speedy recovery. You will be in my thoughts and prayers Reb.

[reb67]

I want to thank everyone for the well wishes.

I will keep the updates coming good or bad if nothing else for information purposes. The more it gets talked about hopefully it will inspire others to stay on top of there check ups.

[Todd2]

I'm a cancer survivor myself..it's overwhelming at first, but you'll settle down and fight it and beat it. Good luck to you!

[MN Fisher]

Going on 4-1/2 years since my right eye was removed due to cancer (Choroidal Melanoma). Regular checkups are a lifesaver and a positive attitude does wonders.

 

Keeping good thoughts for you on your journey through this.

[newriverfisherman1953]

Sorry you are having to battle this. We never know what we will have to deal with. Best wishes for a good outcome. 

[jimmyjoe]

   I survived it. You can survive it, too. Lots of advances in the last 10 years. My PSA was eleven, and they removed 5 lymph nodes. Four follow-ups show no residual.  I'm lucky, I had a good doctor, and The Big Guy Upstairs had mercy on me. That's in reverse order of importance, y'know.  ?    jj

[Way2slow]

They told me that 15 years ago.  Two years later and enough biopsies that I thought they were going to just remove the prostate with the biopsy needle, and they decided no, I didn't have cancer, maybe they did remove with all those biopsies.  PSA still reads on the high side 3.8 and I'm scheduled for another visit in NOV, so we will see what they say then. 

[reb67]

2 hours ago, Way2slow said:

They told me that 15 years ago.  Two years later and enough biopsies that I thought they were going to just remove the prostate with the biopsy needle, and they decided no, I didn't have cancer, maybe they did remove with all those biopsies.  PSA still reads on the high side 3.8 and I'm scheduled for another visit in NOV, so we will see what they say then. 

Yes I read an article yesterday where they're trying to change what they consider a high PSA level because of  cases like yours. 

[reb67]

Brief update, after CT and bone scan it seems to be isolated in the prostate as far as they can tell at this time. Next step is surgery on 9/5,  that is going to suck but if they can get it all at onetime I'm all in. Its still going to be a life changing thing but it sounds like I'm going to have a life to change. ?

[Todd2]

27 minutes ago, reb67 said:

Brief update, after CT and bone scan it seems to be isolated in the prostate as far as they can tell at this time. Next step is surgery on 9/5,  that is going to suck but if they can get it all at onetime I'm all in. Its still going to be a life changing thing but it sounds like I'm going to have a life to change. ?

Good luck to on the 5th..you got this!

[jimmyjoe]

   A bit of advice; after your surgery, don't do any exercises except walking. Take double the time they say you'll take for your recovery. You'll have had an incision/incisions right in the middle of one of the most highly stressed areas of your musculature. Believe me, you don't want to have hernia surgery right after prostate surgery.

[Hammer 4]

Good vibes out to ya Reb, hope all goes well on the 5th. And a full and speedy recovery too.

[Oregon Native]

All the very very best for ya...will be lifting.  

[reb67]

8 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

   A bit of advice; after your surgery, don't do any exercises except walking. Take double the time they say you'll take for your recovery. You'll have had an incision/incisions right in the middle of one of the most highly stressed areas of your musculature. Believe me, you don't want to have hernia surgery right after prostate surgery.

My wife is a information junkie on all the benefits and risk of any procedure that we ever have done so I'm sure she's going to have me on a very short leash.

My doctor has already told me that I could feel like I'm back to normal long before I actually am so when I think I can do something that I would normally do DON'T. He knows that I'm in construction so he said my down time may be a little longer for me.