Decision Time

I saw the doctor on June 30. He spent about 1 hour explaining the disease, and the various types of treatments. Treatment ranges from doing nothing, hormone therapy, radiation, and radical surgery. Doing nothing is an option for a man who is most likely of an age where he will die of old age or something else, so being 55, that one was a no brainer. Hormone therapy presents symptoms of female menopause. I can see the many battles between me and my menopausal wife....the marriage would never last. Radiation sounded ok, but the reoccurrence rate 10 years out begins to increase substantially over the final option. Surgery naturally is the most frightening but probably the best way to successfully remove the cancer provided it is confined to the prostate. Oh yeah, radiation and surgery have about a 20 to 30 percent chance of some side effects.....impotence and incontinence. So, kids, whats the old man to do? Well after a few days of deliberation, several cocktails and many hours of discussion with my wife, we are going for the surgery. She says she wants me here, even if I am not completely functional, as opposed to the other option. The doctor says that I have a 10 year life expectancy if I do nothing. This cancer is a very slow growing disease, but when it metasticises it goes into the spine, lungs, brain....well you get the picture. I had a dream about my grandkids last night. We were laughing and playing. I am sure this was an affirmation of my decision being the correct one. I called the doc on July 3 and told him I chose the surgery. We will make the arrangements on Monday, July 7 for the procedure.

As I go along with this part of my life, I will post info on what is going on with my treatment.