[al8apex]

ugh, been there done that

my father passed from prostate cancer in 1997 (after an 11 year battle - DO NOT go with the radon implants) so I knew that it was important to be tested annually

mine was slowly elevating over the years but nothing to be concerned about until the year after my wife died from breast cancer, now up to 6.9 (from 6.7) and my GP suggested I pick a urologist and referred one. hmmm, his was on vacation and the next appt was in 3 weeks ...

got a referral from my neighbor that HAS prostate cancer (low grade) and then researched him through two others (way excellent doc)
My "node" was virtually undetectable through the manual test but was finally found the 2nd time around.

Because of A. my psa number and B. my family history Dr. Gburek felt it was best to do a biopsy. Long story short, we found it very early and it was an "aggressive" version, I had 6 of the 12 samples positive, from 4-8 Gleason Scores (the scale is from 2-10, 10 being worst/most aggressive). OK, let's go over any options, but there really wasn't any with an aggressive version, so out it comes. I did the daVinci version of the Radical Prostatectomy surgery October 26th, 2012.

I was lucky, we caught it very early on and the surgery was a success, no radiation or chemo necessary. I am cancer-free 1 1/2 years after the surgery still. I will have another check up in another 6 months then after that (2 years after surgery), he feels I can be tested yearly just to be sure.

I want to STRESS that you get a GOOD urologist that understands how hideous this cancer can be. My urologist ordered ct scans AND an MRI - he was very pro active PRIOR to any surgery to make SURE there was no other cancer / metastasis.

I mention that because I went to a prostate cancer survivors meeting (they hold them monthly at the Mayo Hospital on 56th Street) and heard about one person's story: His GP was concerned because his PSA went to 2.9 from 2.7. He had a biopsy, it was positive and he had an aggressive Gleason number (8 or 9 I recall). His urologist had him get a followup psa test a week after his daVinci Radical Prostatectomy and it was 12.9. "Not possible his doc says, have them do it again". 13 this time. His doc tells him to go to another lab, they were "clearly" messing up his PSA test. New lab is 13.1. NOW (what? why not get these tests BEFORE?) his doc ordered the ct scan / mri tests. Bad news, his bones are full, plus elsewhere - his prostate cancer had metastasized BEFORE his prostate was removed, so he had an unnecessary surgery ...