| " About six years ago, when I turned 50, I had my first PSA blood test, which measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen in the blood. My PSA was almost undetectable. About a year and a half ago, I had another PSA test, and the results were different: a 2.5 level. While not high, this showed I was trending up. My doctor, Misop Han of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, determined that a biopsy was necessary to see if it was a sign of slow-growing prostate cancer." " I expected no problems when I visited Dr. Han for my results. But he said the results were not good. I had cancerous prostate cells in 5 of the 12 tested, but it was treatable. I was stunned and full of questions. Should I get a second opinion? I thought cancer happens mostly to other people -- and older ones at that -- so why me? I had no symptoms like frequent urination or pain, so how could this be possible? I felt bad about putting my wife through the stress of this." " I learned through medical Web sites, books and my doctor's excellent guidance that the first was a suicide mission and the second was inappropriate for my early and slow-growing stage. The last option involved removing the prostate, since the cancer was confined to that area, using robotic arms the surgeon manipulates using technology that has been widely used only in the last five years." " It was the best option for successful elimination of the cancer, with a very low-percentage chance of recurrence and side effects." " I was nervous, though, about not being able to perform sexually and having to wear a pad under my underwear if incontinence was a long-term side effect. You absolutely cannot have children after this surgery because the sperm comes through the prostate,
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