20 years and counting

Prostate trouble prior to diagnosis

I first developed prostate trouble in Sept. 1997. I didn't know a thing about it at the time but found out fast. I took a trip to the ER and received a large pill that the ER nurse gave me with 1 hour to make it work. It didn't happen, so I was catheterized pending seeing a prostate specialist after the holiday weekend. I was put on a med for 10 days and then told to remove the catheter myself at home. The med was effective for 4 years almost to the day. In Sept. 2001 it quit working and I found out that a TRP was not referred to as a real job by medical professionals.

Prostate cancer diagnosis

The resulting specimens were sent to the lab and on 9/10/01 I received the cancer diagnosis, so 9/11/01 didn't sink in with me for quite some time. My proctologist shot down all of the treatments my wife and I had meticulously researched because there was no actual tumor and the TRP had made mapping my prostate a sketchy affair at best. He said There was no real hurry, but I had a choice between watchful waiting and an RP. My wife would have no part of watchful waiting and the surgery was scheduled for Feb. 21, 2002, just days after her birthday, Valentine's day, and our 31st anniversary.

Prostatectomy as treatment

The surgery was conducted without robotics which was in its infancy at the time. I am happy to say that incontinence never happened and after 1 year, again almost to the day, normal conjugal relations began to resume. All in all, I am very happy with our decision and with the job, the surgeon and all of the medical staff did, and with my wife who I love dearly.