A Personal Journey with Cancer

I knew that there was a possibility that small amounts of cancer, even single cells, could have been left behind and that it was going to be three months before additional pathology tests would be done that would confirm whether or not those cells in fact remained, because while they might not have been visible to the surgeon... they could still be there and it would take three months for them to develop to the point where they could be detected.

Post-op has been difficult for a number of reasons but the most interesting to me has been about energy, the amount of energy I have at different times during the day. Energy is important, not only because of how I need it just to take care of myself, surprisingly it has been how little I have paid attention to it in my life before this operation. Sometimes, particularly in the morning, I feel very energetic, almost normal, and then I have to use that energy to start dealing with the pain of the catheter and the soreness in my abdomen.

I feel at times like I have lost a bar fight to a group of bikers...

A quick update on Steve's surgery for readers of this blog. I heard from Steve's husband Todd late yesterday afternoon that the surgery was successful. Todd writes: "The surgeon said they were able to spare the nerves on both side. We'll have the pathology report next week to confirm that the cancer was confined to the prostate and thus removed." Steve should be discharged and resting at home today. Read the last two entries in Steve's blog for more on his treatment options and their pre-surgery experience.

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Pre-Operative Perspective of a Spouse From Steve's husband Todd  - January 6, 2008

Tomorrow Steve has his surgery. While I’m a bit anxious, knowing what “the plan” is and that this will soon be behind us helps a great deal. I thought I would share some of what I’ve been experiencing over the past few months prompted by Steve’s cancer.

While there are many complex decisions that one approaches in dealing with any kind of cancer, prostate cancer bring some particular emotional issues that I want to introduce with this entry. I’ll get back to more about my decision to have the robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in another entry.

The various ways that most men are taught what it means to be a man in our society include notions of virility, masculinity, and power. These ideas are conveyed in a variety of ways through examples and directives, through media, family, and peers.