I was off to Duke University today to get the catheter and staples removed. Good times. Good times. Anyway, I also got the pathology report. The surgeon removed the prostate intact along with not only the seminal vessicle and adjoining lymph nodes, but also lymph nodes further out that wouldnt ordinarily be examined. Thats because he said it was apparent that the cancer had been there a long time so it had time to stray off the reservation. Generally, if the cancer is still within the capsule of the prostate (a thick rind type of tissue that covers about 80% of the prostate) when the prostate is removed, youre as good as cured. Thats not a sure thing since microscopic invasions may have occurred that the pathologist wouldnt see. But thats rare and takes years to develop. A PSA is taken now every few months. If its non-existent, still no cancer. If it starts to rise, then the cancer is still in there somewhere. If the pathology report indicates the cancer is in the lymph nodes or outside of the capsule, then radiation is called for and possibly hormone therapy. So, in my case, the pathology report indicated that there was NO cancer outside of the capsule,. No positive margins, no extraprostatic extensions, no lymph node involvement and so forth. Looks like the fortune cookie was right. I have great fortune and a new lease on life. At this point, my problem is incontinence and E.D., both normal after the operation. It will take a few months to fix that with rehab. Incidentally, when I had the biopsy, of the 12 cores taken, all 6 on the right side were cancerous and 2 of 6 on the left side were also cancerous, with values ranging from 45% to 65% of the sample cancerous. The Gleason score was 3+4=7. (Gleason score indicates how undifferentiated the cell is, and the range is 1 to 5. 1 through 3 are indolent cancer cells while 4 and 5 are aggressive. They combine the most common cell type with the next most common cell type to get your score. So a 3+4 means a majority were 3s and the next most common a 4. So if you have a 3+4, its better than a 4+3.) The pathology report indicated that my Gleason was a 4+3 rather then 3+4. However, only 30% of the right lobe was cancerous and 10% of the left lobe, for a combined 20% cancerous. So the amount of cancer seems to have shrunken considerably. When cancer cells revert or die, the 3s go before the 4s, so I suspect thats why the Gleason changed. I suspect the tumor was shrinking because of my prayers, guided meditation, nutriceuticals, and chiropractic (I had a ruptured disc at the L-4 vertebrae years ago that turned arthritic and the nerve to the prostate branches off the spine from the L-4). Most importantly, I received the love of those who sent me their best wishes and prayers. Im extremely grateful. THANKS! By the way, like most people, I never thought Id get cancer. I heartily suggest you get checkups and more importantly, do whatever it takes to create a healthy lifestyle, both physically, mentally and emotionally.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 22:27:58 +0000
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