Prostate Surgery Comeback

RE: Prostate Surgery Comeback

Rich Abrahams — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 10:40:53 GMT

Glenn, Great news re your surgery. Enjoy your rest and be patient. You've built up a huge reservoir of fitness over the years and you'll get back into great shape sooner than you think (although the first week back you might not believe it). Hope to see you in Austin, Rich

RE: Prostate Surgery Comeback

Former Member — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 12:29:06 GMT

Great, Glenn. Sorry you won't be swimming at the Huntsman Old Peoples Games in St George in mid October. See you in Austin?

RE: Prostate Surgery Comeback

Glenn — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 09:03:50 GMT

Jim, I will be at Long Beach but only to cheer on Ventura County Masters. Mel, No Huntsman this year but I've got 7 months to train for Austin! Glenn

RE: Prostate Surgery Comeback

Jim Clemmons — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 08:24:52 GMT

That's wonderful Glenn. Perhaps we'll see you at SPMA's then? Take care.

RE: Prostate Surgery Comeback

Glenn — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 08:15:01 GMT

Post-OP update!! Surgery took 2 and 1/2 hours and I was home in less than 48 hours. The surgical margins were clear, meaning that the cancer was totally removed. The cancer was at the early stage they thought it was in when they did the biopsy. About 40% of the time when they do surgery they find the cancer is worse, so lucky me. Had a few ups and downs while recovering at home but mostly due to medications. The antibiotic Cipro has a rare side effect of sometimes causing tendon pain and/or rupture! I had some tendon pain in the rotator cuff area and in one of the origins of the latismus dorsi muscle. That was very painful. I switched antibiotics, went to my acupunctuist to help relieve the pain and it is much much better. Had the catheter removed today and I feel 100% better. The prostate that was removed weighed in at 70 grams, so I will be a little bit lighter when I get back to the pool. Doctor says I can get back in the water in two more weeks, but we will be in New Jersey for my 40th HS reunion. After that we will go up to Maine to visit family and do some site seeing and leaf peeping. We get back to Pasadena on October 19 and I will be in the water on October 20!!! Thank you to all of you who sent best wishes and particularly to Rich Abrahams and Jim Clemmons who got me in contact with swimmers who have recently gone through the same thing. And of course the biggest thank you to my wife without whom I could not have done as well as I did! See you at the pool.:wave:

RE: Prostate Surgery Comeback

Allen Stark — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 12:11:57 GMT

Best wishes for a speedy recovery and fast swimming.

RE: Prostate Surgery Comeback

Glenn — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 05:40:04 GMT

Rich, Did I type BD? I meant BP. Got an e-mail from BP jr with more of the information on his Dad. BP jr., - I tried to PM you back. Not being a computer geek, I don't know if I did it right or not??? Glenn

RE: Prostate Surgery Comeback

Glenn — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 04:41:31 GMT

Jim, I expect I will be a little higher in the water....is that me at your toes??? Also Jim I had a great talk with John, he was very helpful and encouraging. Thank you so much for that! Rich, I did speak with BD and we had a very good conversation. He gave me some good advice that I will heed. I can't thank you enough for getting me in contact with him. Glenn Oddly enough, this morning in workout I was talking to a lane mate and it turns out that he may have prostate cancer too. He has kind of had his head in the sand on this and thought if he would ignore it it would go away. I gave him some very friendly but stern advice. He told me he will call his urologist today. I'll check tomorrow. The support I have gotten here has been wonderful!!! It is really nice to be a part of such a caring group of people. Aw shucks!!!

RE: Prostate Surgery Comeback

Rich Abrahams — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 03:33:16 GMT

Jim, That assumes it has a specific gravity of more than 1.0. What if the little sucker floats like a cork? Glenn, Did you ever get a chance to contact B.P. re his recovery? Rich

RE: Prostate Surgery Comeback

Jim Clemmons — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 03:10:00 GMT

Allen, I figure that without my prostate I'll be a little lighter and expect to swim faster!! Glenn:groovy: At least make it a little easier to keep your hips up? :lolup:

RE: Prostate Surgery Comeback

Glenn — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 01:45:59 GMT

Allen, I figure that without my prostate I'll be a little lighter and expect to swim faster!! Glenn:groovy:

RE: Prostate Surgery Comeback

Former Member — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 16:36:11 GMT

Yes, most men do get prostate cancer at some point. And yes it is slow growing, which is why many of those diagnosed in their 80's go the "watchful waiting" route. Most men die with prostate cancer not from prostate cancer. I'm 58 and had a spike in my PSA from 2.9 to 3.7 last March. The urologist suggested that I have a biopsy. I said OK.......but after Nationals at Federal Way and National Senior Games in Louisville in July. Got back on July 7 had the biopsy July 9 and diagnosis on July 11. I plan to be at Austin next May!!! Thanks for your good wishes. Glenn:wine: for me >80 is good enough (IRA/401k will be gone by then...)...no poking and cutting about for me... We'll be celebrating with you post races Glenn!!

RE: Prostate Surgery Comeback

Former Member — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 14:04:00 GMT

Best wishes Glenn.

RE: Prostate Surgery Comeback

Former Member — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 13:59:08 GMT

We in the States are the only contry that aggressively treats prostate cancer. Yet we have the highest death rate from prostate cancer in the western world. Is this true? I'd heard that if you live long enough, all males will get Prostrate Cancer. Just the hazard of it s job. As I understand it, its a slow progressing cancer. If we have a high death rate it probably because we are looking and collecting data and other countries aren't Glenn: Good luck and a speedy recovery!

RE: Prostate Surgery Comeback

Former Member — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 13:01:28 GMT

We in the States are the only contry that aggressively treats prostate cancer. Yet we have the highest death rate from prostate cancer in the western world.

RE: Prostate Surgery Comeback

Glenn — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 12:31:19 GMT

RE: Prostate Surgery Comeback

swimshark — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 02:56:22 GMT

Best wishes Glenn! Alison

RE: Prostate Surgery Comeback

Former Member — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 12:18:04 GMT

Glenn, I have a friend who recently went through this (a cardiologist and masters skier and biker, so quite fit). His main problem turned out be a rip in the sutures, after resuming exercise, which filled his lung cavity with (distributed) blood that could not be drained. He has had to take it easy for quite a while waiting for the body to absorb the fluid. Otherwise, I believe he was told to take it easy for a couple of weeks, not a few days. Hope this helps but that your recovery from surgery is much smoother than his. Best of wishes.

RE: Prostate Surgery Comeback

Glenn — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 09:01:32 GMT

Thanks Mel. I know the recovery will be more than a few days, but the hospital stay will be one or two days only. Thanks for the heads up on the sutures. My wife had the same concerns. Better to take a few days/weeks longer than to give yourself more complications. Good to see you at Mission Veijo. Glenn