The Results Appointment

Two weeks later I returned for the results. While sitting in the waiting room I overheard a nurse tell another patient that he was the only person that day whose biopsy had come back negative.

My heart sank. I hoped I had heard wrong. I hadn't.

When I met with the urologist, diagnosis was confirmed. I recall something about a five year survival rate - but mentally I had already checked out. I was 58 years old. I didn't want to process statistics. I thought:

"What will I miss? How much time do I have?"

I'm thankful my wife was with me. She listened. She asked questions. She heard what I couldn't.

My Gleason Score was 3+4. Nothing was said about whether the cancer had spread. No prognosis was given.

I was offered three options: Watchful Waiting, Radiation Therapy, or Surgery. I was sent home to think about it. It didn't take long. I wanted the cancer out of my body. Surgery was scheduled for five weeks later.

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