Prostate Cancer Survivor
Ocean to Ocean Bike Ride
“Why are you standing in front of the television, blocking Oprah?”
"I have alump on my left nut and I wanted you to check it."
"Yes you have a small lump there."
" Oh great I probably have what that Tour De France guy had." "Say while your down there could you do me a favor?"
"Right!" " Just pack up your gear and git!"
"I have alump on my left nut and I wanted you to check it."
"Yes you have a small lump there."
" Oh great I probably have what that Tour De France guy had." "Say while your down there could you do me a favor?"
"Right!" " Just pack up your gear and git!"
Next stop Dr. Alm.
“ Hi Wayne, do you mind if my female apprentice observes this check-up?”
But I was saved any embarrassment when Dr. Alm asked her to leave while he checked my testicle.
His diagnosis was that I had a small hernia on my nut. But he thought it was a good idea to have me get a blood test, to include a PSA test. A week or so later I called and scheduled a visit to find out the results. I am always curious about my cholesterol levels.
Dr. Alm advised me that my cholesterol levels were moderately high but my HDL was very high which indicated low heart risk. He then advised me that my PSA test was abnormally high at 7.5. Meant nothing to me. Dr. Alm scheduled me a visit with a urologist, a Dr. Freeman.
Dr. Freeman’s office staff scheduled me for a consultation. During the scheduling his receptionist Sara, asked
I replied;
I had my office visit with Dr. Freeman, and another blood test was taken. He also did a rectal ‘finger wave’ checking for lumps or abnormalities that might be present on my prostate. Everything looks and feels good. Easy for him to say.
A couple of days later I am called back for another consultation because my PSA was still high at 4.8. After some discussion, I schedule a biopsy on the prostate, this will end all speculation about cancer or no cancer.
Famous last words. “Mr. Waltrip, take off your clothes and put on this gown that ties in the back, then lay on this table. The Doctor will see you shortly.”
“ OK. Thanks.”
“Mr Waltrip, lay on your side and push your rear end out towards me.”
“ I am going to insert this probe into your rectum.”
“ First I will shoot a needle into your prostate that will somewhat deaden the area.
“ I will then use this needle gun to penetrate your prostate and extract tissue samples, twelve times.”
“Ready?”
“Go for it.”
During the procedure Dr Freeman was certain that everything was alright. My elevated PSA levels were most likely attributable to calcium deposits on the prostate, but every thing looked good.
The following evening I received a call from Dr. Freeman,
“Interesting, slept like a baby that night.”
A consultation was arranged, that would help explain what types of procedures/options that where available to me.
Dr. Freeman was very forth coming in his explanations of the different options available to attack the prostate cancer.
1. Wait and see. ( hard to sleep at night )
2. Radiation therapy.
A. several different types.
1. Small isotopes, to pin point laser rays.
2. Success rate was comparable to surgery.
My concern was that it is more of a problem to operate on the prostate if the cancer returns. And because of the radiation other organs meld into the prostate and make the overall removal much more invasive.
3. Prostate removal or partial prostate removal.
Dr. Freemans explanation was; “The prostate is like a walnut, It has a core and a shell.”
He went on to explain that the data that had been gleaned from the pathology report on my prostate biopsy indicated that:
1. If the core of the prostate was removed, I had a 60% chance of getting all the cancer. But if I also removed the shell, the chances of getting all the cancer was 93%.
Well, how tough a call is that?
Enter the Dragon.
Dr. Freeman was then kind enough to inform me that, if we just took the core of the prostate, I could still attain an erection with just Viagra. But if we took the whole nut I would need to use an erection pump to load my cannon.
Well at 62 and extremely randy it’s was a tough choice. But I can thank my lucky stars that I am only randy. But it was still a decision.
I asked Dr. Freeman what he would do in my situation. His emotional answer was; “ I have three sons and I want to see them graduate from college, I would have the total prostate
If I were a younger man or had less cancer in my prostate it would have been a more difficult decision. I still believe that knowing I had cancer and I was letting it grow inside me, would have been an extremely mentally challenging proposition.
Having made the decision to have the robotic prosectomy, I was motivated to have it done as quickly as possible. I was probably just being superstious, but what does it take for the cancer to get out of the shell and into other organs. Lets get it done.
I had advised my family of my cancer and my brother Bill was most concerned. He went to see Dr Alm to get more information. I got a call from my brother and he was quite upset.
Dr. Alm advised me that if a sibling had prostate cancer that other siblings were 30% more likely to get the cancer.
Poor guy everything is working against him. But he was PSA tested, the results came back elevated. But after treatment for prostitis, his numbers returned to normal. Great news.
My arrival at St. Mary’s hospital where the surgery was to be performed, was at 5:30 on a Friday morning. I checked in on time. And I had preped as requested. Have no food and drink a gallon of evil tasting liquid to clean out the bowel, I had not eaten in two days. I was irritable and headachy and ready for this to happen.
After checking in, my wife and I sat around waiting for me to be taken into pre-op. But no one came to get me . I went to admissions and asked “what is the problem?" “Oh, we are sorry Mr. Waltrip, but your doctors office has had a scheduling snafu and your surgery will not be until 11:30.”
My Wife and I walked across the street to the Silver Legacy. I watched my wife enjoy a lovely breakfast. Then we dropped $40.00 gambling.
Needless to say, when I was finally taken into pre-op, I was eager.
All the hospital staff were professional and very considerate, during my entire prostate cancer odyssey. I only remember getting emotional during pre-op. The nurse asked me to tell her what I was having done. And I got a little choked up when I said; “ I am having my prostate removed.”
My surgery was five and one half hours long. It was done roboticly, Dr Freeman was across the room from where I was on the operating table. Five incisions were made in my abdomen. A camera and all the instruments were inserted enabling the Dr. Freeman to extract my cancerous prostate.
My first memory after the surgery, was the orderly’s asking me to help lift my body from the gurney to the bed. I was not helpful.
My wife Shelli and daughter Shannon and grandson Chase and 4 month old granddaughter Joebella were on hand to observe my transition from being under anesthetic, to emerging from that painless state into awareness. Not pretty.
I had been provided with a morphine pump that I could manually press to inject the drug into my intravenous tube. I was only too eager to avail myself of the pain killer. But my caring wife advised me numerous times during that first 40 minutes, that no matter how often I pressed the button, Morphine would only be dispensed every 10 minutes. I was not dissuaded from playing a ra-ta-tat-tat on the button. Luckily for me after 40 minutes, enough of the drug had been dispensed to ease my discomfort.
I had a fairly comfortable night, The staff checked on me often. In the morning Dr. Freeman stopped by and told me every thing had gone very well. And if I felt up to it I could go home that afternoon. I left that afternoon.
In retrospect I probably should have stayed another night. I was not at all comfortable at home. The pain pills I had been given seemed to cause me some breathing problems. I would nod off and then quit breathing. Only to awaken panting. I called the hospital and was told to quit taking the Percacet and only use OTC pain killers. I was not very comfortable. But time passes and my sleeping problem improved.
I think one of the most underrated advantages to having surgery is the catheter. No need to get up and pee. Just empty the bag occasionally. My wife had informed me that she thought catheters were great. I was not so enamored. Having a tube hanging out of my member was not all that wonderful. But Dr. Freeman had advised me that it would probably only be in me for a week.
When the prostate is removed the urethra is re attached to the bladder directly. Before the catheter can be removed a test is performed that injects fluid into the bladder to see if it has any leakage. I went in 4 times, leaked every time. I had that bag of urine attached to me for 30 days. If I had any experience that was a real downer during this ordeal, it would be the tube in my penis.
The average time is 7 days.
Dr. Freeman finally had me come into his clinic and had the catheter removed. Prior to this appointment I downed two vicaden to ease my anxiety about the catheter removal but I was still a bundle of nerves. The removal was not as bad as I had anticipated.
Because of the leakage problem Dr. Freeman deemed it necessary to insert a tube into my urethra and take a look at my bladder, as he removed the tube he said; “Everything looks good, you can unclench your toes and fingers now.”
After I had regained some composure Dr. Freeman invited my wife to join us. He then proceeded to tell us that my most recent PSA test showed no measurable PSA amounts. And that he felt that we had, with early detection removed all the cancerous tissue. Very good news indeed. Cancer Free.
Another concern that I had was that I would have trouble with incontinence. Dr. Freeman advised that with the new robotic surgery being less invasive, chances were very good that I would regain complete control of my bladder. I was fortunate enough to only have to wear Depends for a couple of weeks. Now I am back to normal.
When I became aware of my cancer, my wife and I had several discussions. I have always been concerned about her health. She being overweight and with no exercise of any kind I fear the worst for her. But as these things go, this cancer of mine gave her the opportunity to chortle; “And you take such good care of yourself.”
Small ironies.
Dr. Freeman had a heart to heart discussion with my wife and I about my future erectile capacity, or lack thereof. (I had all but given up on any real function, my thinking being; Prostate gone, sex life pretty much gone.) Dr. Freeman told us that I would have the same mental attitude towards sex. He stated that my physical responses would not go along with the program. Because of my surgery, blood flow to the “little fellow” would need to be enhanced by the use of an erectile pump. This device pulls blood into the penis, thereby creating a “hardon”. OOK... But in my case the pump would not be enough to bring blood into the portion of the penis inside the body. So no base. Just a normal erection, but “unhinged.” He advised to provide blood to the inside portion I would also need to take Viagra. “Hope lives eternal.” He also mentioned that a man needs to use the pump regularly or risk losing up to 2 centimeters of penis over time.
I met with the authorized pump salesman 3 days later. No time or centimeters to lose.
Rob was a wealth of information and had me convinced this was the unit for me. I told him I would buy it. He said this unit was not for sale, but he could order me one. We talked some more and I inquired as to how he had come to be a pump salesman. He replied; “ Since I was a little boy my dream was to sell erectile dysfunction pumps to men.” I guess I had asked a silly question. To clinch the sale Rob asked if I wanted to try the unit. I declined, but to this day I wonder why I could use it but not buy it. And was it virgin? Maybe I don’t want to know. But to answer the obvious question, I have not lost any centimeters.
I was having a conversation with my father about the effectiveness of the pump. I told him, to quote an old Merle Haggard lyric “ It’s not love, but it ain’t bad.”
I would like to point out that my over all experience with this cancer and subsequent surgery and recovery is very up beat. I am in great shape, not sickly and I am enjoying life.
My intention is to help men see that it is very important to have regular PSA testing, and that early detection is extremely important in the overall success of prostate cancer treatments.
Prior to being diagnosed with cancer, I had been planning a bicycle trip from Anchorage Alaska to Reno Nevada. At the time I mentioned this to my friend Tom Fath and he asked why I didn’t do the ride for charity. I kind of shined him on at the time. But here 1 year after my surgery, I re-evaluated his suggestion.
I called the American Cancer Society and told them of my intention. I received positive feedback.
I talked to Tom again and he thought that it might be effective if we had some sort of Urology/PSA testing in selected cities along my bicycle route. I mentioned this to the Society and they seemed to be very receptive to using their contacts in the news and media to promote the idea. I changed my route to hopefully gain more exposure and help the awareness feature of the bicycle ride.
I purchased from Adventure Cycling Mag. The map routes for the Western Express Route joining the Transcontinental Route for a “ Solo Ocean to Ocean Prostate Cancer survivor bike ride.”
I am still flexible on the start date, end of May start of June.
“Thanks.”
“ Wonderful!”
“ Wayne, it’s not about you it’s about me.”
“Wayne I am screwed again.”
removed.”
“ I prefer the afternoon. I like to get in a work-out and steam and sauna before any stressful situations.” Sara said, “ Don’t worry this visit will not be stressful.”
I asked, “ Will the doctor ask me to bend over and grab my ankles?”
“Well yes.”
I replied, “ What, you don’t think bending over and grabbing your ankles is stressful? Oh, wait maybe I better not ask you that question.”
Sara didn’t miss a beat, “ We don’t know each other well enough for me to answer that.”
“What would be a good time during the day for your appointment?”
I said, “ That’s a no-brainier, lets take it all.”
“ Wayne I am very sorry to bring you this bad news, but every specimen we extracted from your prostate has cancer.”
“ Ahhh, I guess not”
“Honey I have a lump on my left nut and I wanted you to check it.”
“Yes Honey, there does seem to be a small lump there.”
“Oh wonderful! Probably what that Tour De France guy had. Say, while your down there could you do me a favor?”
“Right.” “ Just pack up your gear and git!”
