Patients speak about prostate cancer and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy
Luis Carrasquillo, Miami, Florida
My odyssey started in the spring of 1998, during a routine annual physical which included the first of many PSAs. The results came back with a 5.5. By the summer of 2000, now with a prostate-specific antigen level of 10.5 and three biopsies later, a tumor with a Gleason of 5 was discovered. I spent many months researching my treatment options and visited at least 5 different urologists looking for alternatives. Every treatment horrified me. Then, in September 2000, I read an item on laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) and a few weeks later met Dr. Krongrad . As I left his office, I was convinced that laparoscopic surgery was for me.
It took 10 months, 4 rejection letters, and a face to face meeting with my insurance company to get approval for the surgery. But I got the approval and on August 27, 2001 I had the surgery. I was in Monday morning, out Tuesday morning. Thanks to how strong I felt during my recovery, I built a 8' x 10' shed , trimmed 65' of bougainvillea and started to install 75' of guttering. Within 5 weeks after the surgery, I was fully continent and completely recovered. Thanks to a caring surgeon, and a PSA of less than 0.01, I believe I am cured.
