About two months ago, I arrived home and saw the message light on the answering machine blinking. Pushing the button, I heard the doctor's office reporting my routine physical blood work had come back and the doctor wanted to see me due to an "abnormal" PSA. No big deal, I've been through this before...an elevated PSA is something I've lived with for a few years; we're watching it, but no alarm.
With a PSA above 4, we began watching the readings to get some sense of the rate of increase. It did climb, but at a rate the doctor felt comfortable with for a patient my age (I was probably 57, or so, when we began monitoring). I knew what we were going to talk about, so I felt comfortable waiting.
And thus began my adventure leading to surgery less than three weeks from today. Prostate cancer is something men don't talk about enough...women talk about breast cancer all the time (OK, OK...I know, "Boobs are a lot more fun than prostates." but that's not the point.). We need to talk more about this, so I'm going to chronical my journey...it's been interesting, scary, funny (yes, funny), and very eye-opening.
So climb onboard and follow me; heck, I don't even know where we're going in the future...but you're invited to come along. And I encourage you to talk back to me, tell me your story, offer advice, whatever...but let's talk!
Hi Bill:
ReplyDeleteWe have never met (of which I am relieved), but I am Tom Carto's ex-prostate. We parted ways about 2 years ago when I was yanked out of my comfortable home by five robotic laparoscopic probes. I now live in a jar at the University of Wisconsin's medical research lab enjoying my retirement as a tenured specimen.
I understand Tom is doing well since the surgery. His PSA continues to be undetectable - which is great - and he has re-learned how to pee without wearing a pad (is that too much information?)
Anyway, I'm sure Tom would be happy to share his experience with you. I'll let him know about your blog. You may not hear from him for a couple of days - he's having a colonoscopy tomorrow and he's been in the bathroom a lot. (Now that is too much information!)
Take care!
TCP