The Biopsy report would be the key to the treatment door. Which door? The Urologist tells us 'its early, you are candidate for Radiation, Seeds, or Surgery, but Prostatectomy is the 'gold standard'. That sounds like something men say.
But what does the report say? Do we get a copy? how many cores were taken? How many had cancer? He isn't sure that matters, and tries to find the answers on the paper on the desk. I will never forget the moment we were ushered in to the corner office with windows and how he opened the closet, put on a white coat while joking about the coat, then tossed a DaVinci glossy brochure on the desk in front of us - all before a word about the findings. I guess they have a new surgical Robot at our local hospital - cool.
Ten cores were taken, 4 were positive with adenocarcinoma, all ranging from 5-20% of the core. Three cores had a Gleason score of 3+3=6, and the fourth was a 3+4=7 Gleason. All sixes would have been preferred. There was no Stage on the report, but I guess that comes from the digital exam and we were never told what that was. At that point, we didn't know to ask him because we thought it would be on the report.
But we are told, its early and 'with your numbers', there is a good chance for a cure with surgery.
January 29, 2008
January 27, 2008
Dreadful weekend
It was a sixty hour crash course on Prostate cancer - Now we know it as 'Pca'. The web, Google, Pub-Med, journals, Clinics, universities, treatments, testing, what is everyone saying about this disease? A lot. Forums abound, and men have opened up about something I can't imagine they have been keeping quiet about for so long. This disease is dreaded. In later days, we found people saying, "Oh, at least its just prostate cancer...." Wow....." Yes, a cure is possible....for some.....if caught early enough. That truly is Good news.
Over the weekend, it seems we grazed on information, taking turns, without planning it - one of us with the laptop, searching and reading, the other in the office, reading and printing. We had our list of questions, I had a new little notebook with contact numbers written down, resources, ....etc We will be ready for this Monday morning appointment. Thank goodness there is so much information out there and that we are both educated enough to know how to find solid information; but its exhausting trying to learn everything about something.
This had to be a boring weekend for our 12 year old - from that perspective, "Why are Mom & Dad just online every minute?" "When is dinner?"
Over the weekend, it seems we grazed on information, taking turns, without planning it - one of us with the laptop, searching and reading, the other in the office, reading and printing. We had our list of questions, I had a new little notebook with contact numbers written down, resources, ....etc We will be ready for this Monday morning appointment. Thank goodness there is so much information out there and that we are both educated enough to know how to find solid information; but its exhausting trying to learn everything about something.
This had to be a boring weekend for our 12 year old - from that perspective, "Why are Mom & Dad just online every minute?" "When is dinner?"
January 25, 2008
Diagnosis Day
The day Cancer really entered our lives was a Friday. The day before, we had an appointment with a Urologist because of an 'elevated PSA' - 4.37 after repeat. The first was 5.6, but the second was the ruler at 4.37. A "Free PSA" had also been done giving a ratio of .11 - these numbers were running our days. My beloved had rarely taken a day off work in his 10 years teaching and he had to take this day to get this appointment. Then, at the appointment, he found out he would need to take a second day for a biopsy of his prostate - the very next morning. "They are not messing around here - what gives?", I am thinking. Thursday night, I hit the web and thus began our education.
The biopsy was apparently, just a little 'pinchy' - 10 core samples taken, guided by trans-rectal ultrasound - ouch. He was to lay low during that day and we would most likely hear some results within the week, probably by Wednesday, we were told. I took him home, got him situated, and returned to work. He was sore, but slept. There are side effects from biopsy and all that went as it was described.
I got home before 5 PM to see my husband pacing in the house. I had to get inside to the bathroom....but he followed me and waited outside the door. Then I saw his face...he said, "I have cancer". I said, ".....And....what else did they say?" "We have an appointment Monday morning to come talk about my options". "WAIT - tell me more!" "There isn't anymore' "But, where is it?, how much?, how many cores positive?" "This is happening too fast (all in 24 hours), didn't you ask any questions?" "No, the doctor just wanted to be sure we had the appointment set up for Monday....." Breathe........
Being who I am, I could not go from Friday at 5 PM until Monday morning without a conversation with the doctor...come on.....
"I'm calling..." He was in no shape to call, I had to do this. The answering service came on at 5 PM - out of luck. I called and spoke with the answering service telling them we just got word we have cancer and nothing else - is our doctor (who we just met) on call by chance? Now, I am crying and trying to talk intelligently......" No Mam, but I think you should talk with the on call doctor. I didn't think he would know anything, so I declined. She insisted she let him know and have someone call me back.
About 20 minutes later the phone rang and it was Dr. X, I recognized as the 'senior partner'. I blubbered my story when he said he was awfully sorry, but he didn't know anything about our case and he was at his granddaughter's birthday party. GUILT - guilt....I apologized for bothering him and explained Monday is a long way away when all we know is that we have cancer and we are stunned. He apologized. It was just raw, but heartfelt for us both.
About 30 minutes later the phone rang again. It was our doctor, explaining that he had an opening Monday morning and wanted to be sure we knew to come in. (It didn't sound like he was aware of the impact of the news, probably makes these calls everyday.) I am not critical, I understand, but Monday is still 60 hours away. Can I try to ask a couple questions?
The biopsy was apparently, just a little 'pinchy' - 10 core samples taken, guided by trans-rectal ultrasound - ouch. He was to lay low during that day and we would most likely hear some results within the week, probably by Wednesday, we were told. I took him home, got him situated, and returned to work. He was sore, but slept. There are side effects from biopsy and all that went as it was described.
I got home before 5 PM to see my husband pacing in the house. I had to get inside to the bathroom....but he followed me and waited outside the door. Then I saw his face...he said, "I have cancer". I said, ".....And....what else did they say?" "We have an appointment Monday morning to come talk about my options". "WAIT - tell me more!" "There isn't anymore' "But, where is it?, how much?, how many cores positive?" "This is happening too fast (all in 24 hours), didn't you ask any questions?" "No, the doctor just wanted to be sure we had the appointment set up for Monday....." Breathe........
Being who I am, I could not go from Friday at 5 PM until Monday morning without a conversation with the doctor...come on.....
"I'm calling..." He was in no shape to call, I had to do this. The answering service came on at 5 PM - out of luck. I called and spoke with the answering service telling them we just got word we have cancer and nothing else - is our doctor (who we just met) on call by chance? Now, I am crying and trying to talk intelligently......" No Mam, but I think you should talk with the on call doctor. I didn't think he would know anything, so I declined. She insisted she let him know and have someone call me back.
About 20 minutes later the phone rang and it was Dr. X, I recognized as the 'senior partner'. I blubbered my story when he said he was awfully sorry, but he didn't know anything about our case and he was at his granddaughter's birthday party. GUILT - guilt....I apologized for bothering him and explained Monday is a long way away when all we know is that we have cancer and we are stunned. He apologized. It was just raw, but heartfelt for us both.
About 30 minutes later the phone rang again. It was our doctor, explaining that he had an opening Monday morning and wanted to be sure we knew to come in. (It didn't sound like he was aware of the impact of the news, probably makes these calls everyday.) I am not critical, I understand, but Monday is still 60 hours away. Can I try to ask a couple questions?
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