[shelly10]

Hello,
My father was dx with prostate cancer today. Don't really know what to ask, just feel overwhelmed. Doctor said Gleason was a 6, having bone scan and CT scan next week then will go from there. He's had no symptoms other than difficult urinating, no tumor obvious tumor noted at biopsy. Everything just kinda seems a blur now. Has had high PSA sometime and GP never sent him to urologist until it doubled to a 14 (very upset over that). Urologist suggested cyberknife, anyone hear of this???? Sure could use some words of encouragement and information.
Thanks to all

[ohnoo]

A month ago I was diagnosed with prostate cancer as well, today I am cancer free. I went to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and met with a doctor from Hilton Head, North Carolina who gave me HIFU treatment, High Intensity Focused Ultrasound. Dr. Scionti. This treatment has been in use for 16 years in Europe, with a 94% success rate (if the cancer is outside the gland then your father will fall in he 6%). It is not FDA approved yet in the USA, but is approved in Canada, Japan, South America, China, etc. We are so slow. I spoke with a girl who recommended HIFU after her husband had it done 7 years ago, she has sent 6 other men, all have not experienced anything other than perfect results. the FDA is in the 3rd phase of clinical trials here in the USA, with the same 93-94% success rate.

After HIFU I had to recover from the anathesia (took 2-3 hours of being groggy), I had no pain, I walked to dinner that evening and have lead a normal life since. Your dad will be given a super-pubic catheter, which takes a day or so to get used to, but it's a far cry from having to put up with 3 months down time after surgery.

The doctor from North Carolina uses the Sonablate500 machine, which is much better than the Albatherm, as it accomodates a larger gland, and if the gland moves durning treatment (if the bladder spasms it will move the prostate gland) the doctor can also move the probe and make sure he gets all of the gland. Dr. Scionti told me that he saw no sign of cancer outside the gland through the Ultra Sound machine, and he clearly saw the nerves, so he could advoid them. I can go to the bathroom as normal so I know I am not incontinent.

My doctor tried to get me to stay here and have him cut me, for $40,000., but it was $25,000. for HIFU. And, I am going skiing tomorrow.

tell your dad not to call his insurance company for pre-approval, they will say no, but when you get back just submit the paperwork, and they most often times pay.
good luck to dad!

[marusguy]

Sorry to hear about your Dad but maybe I can help.

I found out that I had prostate cancer in Sept. I have since then carried on with my life as normal. I wasn't surprised since my PSA was slowly climbing with each physical.

I had my prostate removed on the 18 of December. I elected to have the da vinci robotic surgury. Maybe this is what you refered to.

The surgery took about 90 minutes, much shorter than normal due mainly to the fact that I am a very thin person (Read "skinny"?) with no body fat to complicate matters. Doctor said mine was a "Text Book perfect operation".

I ended up with six small (less than 1 inch) scars on mu lower abdomen. Pain for about 5 days afterwards but I am ok now.

Good luck.