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Thanks ya'll! Getting stronger every day, it's wonderful to be on the other side of this. Next milestone will be the path report and PSA test.

Big guy - it is amazing how far medicine has advanced, you had the bags! I will admit it's nice to not have to get up in the middle of the night.

Dallas - thank you sir.

Thank you again everybody for the prayers and kind thoughts! As yes, the bag . My little friend will be staying with me for a few more days.

Prayers work, thank you all from the bottom of my heart!

A quick update. In surgery for 2.5 hours Monday morning, the Doc said the tumor was larger then he thought. Only had to stay in the hospital for one night and I did manage to get a little sleep off and on. Was discharged Tuesday about 5PM and we're staying in the attached Rotary House until at least my catheter comes out (first experience with one of those ) My tummy is very sore but I'm able to keep pain under control with non-narcotic drugs. Walking several times a day to limit internal scarring/adhesions and feeling a little better every day.

Mojo, I also was in Vietnam. Apparently the prostate cancer rates for Vietnam vets is twice the average of everybody else. I started a disability application with the VA - prostate cancer and Vietnam service means an automatic disability approval.

Phillip - many have gone before me, hopefully the incontinence part won't be a big deal.

Hi Tracy - 54 is young, hope your hubby is doing well. Dr. John W Davis will be at the da Vinci console for the surgery.

Thanks TAM, thanks Mr. M! TAM - you are a young whippersnapper, seems like yesterday I was 62 .

Thanks everybody, you all are like an extended family.

Note to all of the guys - I was surprised to discover that the Family Practice association is not recommending a PSA test but Urologists are recommending the test. There are false positives and a rising PSA doesn't necessarily indicate cancer but I strongly recommend guys 50 and older have an annual PSA test and a digital exam. My PSA rose from the high 3s to just over 4 but a digital exam revealed an abnormality. I've been hanging out on a forum with a prostate cancer section and I was amazed at the number of guys in their 50s with worse numbers than me.

Amen Carl!

Thanks Keith - trying my best to stay positive and leave the troubles at feet of my Savior. It's ironic that several months ago I was thinking about all of my friends and acquaintances that have had prostate cancer.

Abraham - I've learned more about prostate cancer in the last two months than I ever wanted to know . There are many factors that determine if you should go into active surveillance, watchful waiting or treatment. At my age (66) I was a candidate for treatment, either radiation or surgery due to the biopsy results. If I was ten years older or with very limited abnormal cells in the prostate, then I would be in the active surveillance or watchful waiting mode.

I've got it and I'm classified as intermediate risk for long-term survival (> 10 years.) I'll be having robot assisted radical prostatectomy Monday morning (March 2) at MD Anderson with probably a one night hospital stay. Then we will stay at the on-campus Rotary House for one to two weeks while I recover enough to travel home.

Never did I expect that I would be the one asking for prayers - we have prayed for others throughout the years so unfortunately it's now my turn to be on the receiving end .

I have been praying for a successful surgery - we have an excellent urologist/surgeon who has done 2,000 prostatectomies since the da Vinci machine first came on the market and we're having it in an excellent place.

Then I've been praying for a speedy recovery with minimum side effects. This part (incontinence primarily) will take months or a couple of years to resolve, this is the scary unknown.

Your prayers are sincerely appreciated.