Hey I am glad to hear that things are looking up for you. You are not alone in this thing, I have had almost exactly the same thing happen. Starting in March of 2010 an elevated PSA test prompted a biopsy which came back ok then, but during some of the prep for that they determined that I am now diabetic, so we start to deal with that. Then in October another PSA test increase means another biopsy which does show positive. Surgery on November 18th to remove prostrate and some surrounding tissue but they did not remove lymph glans there, in Burlington. Went home 4 days later and did ok but it was a little painful to get up and to cough( that was a real bitch). This Doc kept the catheter in for 15 days and then I developed e-coli and 105 fevers before they figured out what it was. I did try deer hunting the first gun season sitting in a chair over looking my CRP field with my muzzle loader that Saturday but went to the emergency room that night with the fever.
The pathology report showed a possibility of cancer cells in the marginal areas so we scheduled a trip to Mayo Clinic ( where my wife wanted to go in the first place) for followup. Up there they recommended radiation treatments because with the treatments there was better than a 70% chance of no recurrence in ten years and only about 40% of recurrence with out it, and because the lymph nodes weren't removed. So we scheduled 35 treatments over about 7 weeks from mid February to early April. Treatments only took about 16 minutes each day, but 5 days a week. The staff there was more than wonderful, and they scheduled my appointment for late on Mondays and very early on Friday mornings so that I could drive back and forth each week from SE Iowa to Rochester Mn., just about 5 hours worth. I never really experienced any bad side effects and still had enough energy to leave up there about 8:00 Friday mornings and drive to Fairfield to work that afternoon and on Saturdays also. Now I am back to my regular work schedule and doing every thing around home that I ever did.
As of right now I believe that I am cancer free, but will be scheduled for another PSA and checkup at Mayo sometime in August but I full expect nothing but good reports. I know that this has gotten really long, but I wanted you to know that things do get better and probably quicker than you might think right now. Bladder functions pretty well returned to normal by April and continue to improve, just try to do the exercises that your doctor will recommend. I will tell you that it will be such a relief to get rid of that catheter that wearing the depends will seem like a privilege, at least for a while. The pain wasn't really all that bad and really went away by the time they removed the staples, so hang in there for a little while, but DO NOT do any lifting until they tell you you can. 6 months from now you should be back to a pretty normal life style, so even though the hours may drag by right now that 6 months will zip by before you realize it.
My wife and I have became much like you, in that we try to pass on the importance of having regular PSA checkups done, because in both our cases it probably saved our lives. So far since last December, when I started my lecturing here, several of my fellow employees have gotten tested and we have made family members aware also. From what I have read and learned from several doctors almost every man, if he lives long enough, will develop prostrate cancer. Many many elderly men die WITH, but not FROM prostrate cancer, so it becomes imperative for ALL to get regular checkups especially since the PSA test is only a blood test. Even if you are younger than 50 you should think about getting it done so that you will have a base line to gauge things from. In my case about 6 years ago my PSA was 2.1, about age 55. Then it went up to 2.5 and then in March of 2010 it went to 4.1 and then 6 months later to 4.7, so both of these required the biopsies. I will be 62 in a few more days and plan to live a lot longer if for no other reason other than my wonderful wife insisted that I get these checkups done so that this was found early on. In those immortal words "GET UR DONE" ASAP. Thanks for sharing and your call for testing, it probably will save someone. Good luck to you and a speedy recovery. I don't know where you went for all of this or if any one reading this needs a recommendation, but I believe that Mayo Clinic is the place to go. The care there is wonderful and the American Cancer Society has a place there called Hope Lodge where you can stay for free during treatment that is even better than GREAT. Any way good luck!
