My Journey from Prostate Cancer

A few years ago I was checked for cancer, my prostate felt normal, and as I was told everything was good. Now a year later I'm told I already have stage 2 cancer, 50% of my prostate is involved and it's spreading. I was numb with fear. I had just got back from my Uncles funeral. When I inquired about his cause of death I learned it was prostate cancer. He went very quickly. That was what caused me to get checked that year. I was going to skip a year but decided it would be a good idea to go get checked. You can imagine my surprise when the Doctor said he felt something, a bump that should not be there.

Diagnosis process

From there I began the long journey of tests and a biopsy to learn how advanced the cancer was. It was a rectal biopsy and I'm not going to lie and tell you that it was not painful. I felt more like a long pinch as my doctor got the samples he needed to make a diagnosis. My survival mode kicked in. All I wanted to do is get this cancer out of me before it was too late. I knew that once it spreads outside of the prostate it goes to the bones and other organs. I estimated that I had about 6 months to take action before the cancer spread past my prostate. So I didn't have much time to make a decision and seek treatment.

prostate removal

I researched prostate removal and learned that many of those who had their prostate removed saw the cancer return about a year later because there is no way the Doctor can be sure he got it all. I have seen several friends die who had prostate cancer. My anxiety was now at a high peak to learn how to be sure the cancer was eradicated from my body. After searching the different methods to be rid of prostate cancer I chose to have radioactive seeds installed in my groin because this way I had a better chance to destroy every cell of cancer so that none was left. It was an expensive operation the radioactive seeds alone cost over $20,000 and the surgery was even more expensive. My goal was to burn the crap out of cancer that had invaded my body.

Low PSA but still cancerous

All of my PSA tests were very low even while I had cancer. Some people are like this and the PSA blood test for cancer antigens for me was not an accurate indicator. My PSA was 2.0 while I had cancer and a few months after the surgery it was Minus -1. After that surgery in which the doctor installed 74 radioactive seeds about the size of a pin head inserted into my prostate using what looked to me like a Gatling gun to position the seeds into my groin, I was allowed to return back home as soon as I awoke from recovery. I was told to stay away from babies and animals because I was radioactive for about 10 days. I stayed away from everyone during that time. My stomach was so hot you could probably fry an egg on it. Every time I felt my stomach which was very hot I was thinking if this destroyed cancer it will be worth it. A few months later I went to see my Urologist and he confirmed that my PSA was now in the minus column.

Radiation side effects and damage

What I did not count on because I was not thinking clearly at the time is that those seeds could also damage other organs besides my prostate. I began having trouble urinating. I ended up several times having to rush to the Hospital emergency room for emergency catheterization which believes me is no fun. I was rushing to see my Urologist about every month to have a cystoscopy procedure to keep my urethra open. I suffered through these complications for about a year before I decided this was not working and looked for a solution. It seems the ultrasound showed that my prostate, bladder, and urethra, the long tube that connects to the bladder and releases the urine were damaged by the radiation from those seeds. I would block up for hours not able to go to the bathroom. I was told I would probably have to learn how to self-catheterize myself to be able to release the urine in my bladder. This was really getting serious. One time I went 14 hours without being able to urinate and had to rush to the emergency room again for catheterization.

Seeking help for easier urination

I asked my Urologist what could be done and he suggested that I go to see a specialist in Chicago who was a plastic surgeon and might be able to help me. I had a consultation with this surgeon and he told me that he felt he could help me. He told me that he had done similar operations with much success so I decided to go through this surgical procedure. This time they made an incision from my groin up. This surgeon used the cells lining my inner cheek. He removed the first layer. He used those skin cells because they were already used to being wet and moist inside my mouth. He used them as the material to repair the damage done by the radiation, He cut out the damaged portion of my urethra tube and made a new urethra tube section from a layer of the lining of my inner cheek to connect to it. He also used a layer of that material from my cheek to repair the damage to my bladder that the radioactive seeds had created.

Long journey, but a survivor

Yes, I have gone through a lot to be rid of prostate cancer and all of the complications that came from having it destroyed by radioactive seeds. But the main thing is that I've survived to tell you about it. You have to have a strong will to survive to beat this disease and I am a survivor!