Thanks to beating prostate cancer, Rob Sherwood''s looking forward to new adventures.

A retired U.S. Army Reserve captain, with a successful marketing background, Sherwood, 62, and his wife, Maggie were launching a new venture – a publishing company focused on writing inspirational books and books with age-appropriate subject material for young advanced readers.

Stories for their first book were being finalized as Sherwood prepared to lead a Boy Scout troop backpacking through New Mexico for two weeks in June 2005.

A required physical for the trip found a PSA over 3.0, and his physician advised him to see a urologist for a follow-up after his trip. The urologist examined him and said to wait six months.

"Six months later, my PSA had jumped to a five, and my doctor was concerned," says Sherwood. A biopsy determined Sherwood had prostate cancer, and he was encouraged to get a prostatectomy. After Sherwood and his wife Maggie heard stories from others about the long recovery time of traditional surgery, his wife sought options.

"My wife got on the internet to find alternatives and found that I could get a less invasive approach here," says Sherwood.

That approach was near his home in St. Louis with Gerald Andriole, MD, chief of urology at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. He specializes in the minimally invasive, or laparoscopic prostatectomy, that replaces the previous large incisions with a series of pencil-sized incisions.

This nerve-sparing technique enhances erectile function after surgery and allows a shorter recovery time.

"I really had no pain, and I was out of the hospital the next day, which was amazing to me," says Sherwood.

"Laparoscopic prostatectomy minimizes the side effects of prostate surgery, and an effective, minimally invasive approach such as this often does much to allay patients'' concerns," says Dr. Andriole.

"I''ve heard of people with 2-3 months of incontinence problems and even had a friend who told me he had problems for a year," says Sherwood. "Immediately after my catheter was removed I had complete control. I was amazed."

Now cancer free, Sherwood''s company, Frontenac Press, LLC, has finished its first book, "Sayings of my Mother," and has other books in production.

"I''m in good health, so choosing Dr. Andriole as my surgeon turned out to be the best decision," says Sherwood.