Originally Posted by MelodyL

Hi all.

We just came back from the urologist. My husband had the Turp last Wednesday and today they took out the catheter. He is able to pee much better than before when he had an enlarged prostate.

That is good news.

The pathology report was not in yet so we had to wait.

Yes, it takes time for the path report and the wait can be maddening.

When we were called in he asked Alan 'How are you peeing, how's the volume"? He looked at me (because I do all the medical answering) and I said 'His output is fine, he has no problem". I then said "what did you find out from the tissue samples". He said "As you know we send them out to pathology". I said 'What was the result"? He answered: ASAP. He explained that meant Atypical, blah blah. I looked that up when I got home so I know what that means.


Anyway he said (and he had photos of Alan's prostate which was 78% and it was BIG in those photos). He said "the pathologist is going to send the samples out to be stained". I said "why?" He said (speaking of himself) because I'm a paranoid jew and I want to make sure.

Sounds like the doc has a sense of humor. Just ashamed that you were not in a joking mood and that is understandable.

His exact words. He was trying to make us laugh. I was not laughing. He said "This is probably nothing, but there is a small abnormality (which could be the beginning of a tumor, some irritation, but we have to do staining to find out) (I went home and looked up staining), Actually I looked up everything but there is SO MUCH information on men's prostate, you'd have to have a phd in this subject.

Staining is a normal process and nothing about which to be alarmed.


We are going back in two weeks. Alan is peeing just fine, has no pain.

That is wonderful.

(Oh I asked the doctor what are the symptoms of prostate cancer and he said "There are no symptoms" I said "So how do you know how someone has prostate cancer? He said"Well, first we look at the PSA number and your husband's is 1 so that's why I'm not worried.

This is GOOD news.


It seems there are real symptoms when it's found in the late stages.


The urologist said 'don't worry, because I'm not worried, your husband is fine". Is he telling me this so I don't go crazy I don't think so. I do not believe the doc was just trying to calm your nerves. I believe he stated his true opinion of how it looks so far before all the results are in.

or does Alan have the possibility of having prostate cancer. That is always a possibility but from what you have said, an unlikely one.

I read in an article that most men who have atypical cells EVENTUALLY develop prostate cancer. There is something like a 50/50 chance.

You capitalized the important word, EVENTUALLY. Everyone will die, EVENTUALLY. But that doesn't mean we should spend 90 years or more worrying about the eventually of death.

It's all about men and the eventuality of developing this kind of cancer. As they grow older.

This is what Rudy Giuliani had right? And they did seed implantation or something like that.


If we get the report back that he has early stages of this or pre-tumor (or whatever), what are our options. I couldn't get past the stuff I was reading so I couldn't read any more.

Why do you want to cross a bridge before you get to it? If there is no water, you won't need a bridge. If there is no cancer, you won't need "options".

I know I don't have any written report from the pathologist. All I have are the words ASAP.

I could tell you a long story here but suffice it to say, NOT to worry about the ASAP. I will send you a PM if you want to hear a boring story.

What do you think?

Alan initially had the enlarged prostate which the uro guy said was Benign etc. etc.


Now I hear the word ASAP.


And why does he have to go back in two weeks? Is this a normal follow up to the Turp procedure or does the urologist want to go over this report (when it comes in)? Alan wants me with him because (as he put it). You know how to understand this stuff.

I would guess this is a normal follow-up to be sure things are still going well since the catheter has been removed. May want to be sure Alan is still peeing well. Some docs do more follow-ups than other docs. Has nothing to do with prognosis, just their style.

So if any of you have experienced this, I'd love your input. Alan is not worried because he doesn't understand any of this. He just knows they took out his catheter, he does not have an enlarged prostate and as he puts it "when I have something to worry about, I'll worry about it'. I agree with that.

I am not like that, as you can ascertain. So any input is appreciated.

Thanks much
Mel