Richard Newcomb
I am 52 and had my prostate removed on 10/2/02. My PSA was 5.7 and gleeson was 7. My only regret is that I did not do it sooner as I have a "positive margin" post surgery pathology, which means the cancer, in my case, has a 10% chance of having spread. Earlier treatment might have resulted in negative margins. Now I am in a "watchful waiting" mode with regular PSA testing to determine if the cancer has spread. I am considering alternative herbal treatments now as a post-surgery preventative measure. I underwent laparoscopic surgery at the City of Hope Cancer Center in Los Angeles, one of four or five locations performing this operation in the country. This approach results in vastly improved post operation recovery versus the standard surgical approach and, for me and the gentlemen I have kept in touch with who were cut at the same time, outstanding recovery of bladder control and erectile function. The longer you put off aggressive treatment (surgery, seed implants, etc.) the higher your chance for cancer to spread beyond the prostate gland, which is serious. If it does not kill you, the side effects of the more intense treatment required will have a much higher chance of permanent incontinence, erectile disfunction, or other serious side effects. Good Luck