What is Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is a disease in which cancer develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Cancer occurs when cells of the prostate mutate and begin to multipl...
Join Now
|
46 and a radical prostatectomy by DaVinci
|
Watch this |
| View More Posts Ignore |
First let me say DO NOT take my expeience or anyone elses and make it your own. You are a unique person and should research the heck out of Prostate Cancer befoe you make a decision. Know the facts and the consequences and feel good in your heart that you made the right choice for YOU. I was diagnosed in April 09 with a low grade (gleason score 6 less than 5% on the right apex) Prostate Cancer. My last 3 PSA's were 2.5, 2.68, and 3.14. I was told that I would probably die of old age before I would die of Prostate Cancer (an interesting thought considering no life insurance company would insure me).
I did extensive research and decided that I did not want to live with cancer in my body no matter how low a grade. So on the 18th of May I was scheduled to have my prostate removed by Dr. Siegelbaum at the St. Joseph's hospital in Towson, Md. I chose Dr. Siegelbaum based on my research that was if you wanted DaVinci surgery you should find a doctor that has preformed the procedure at least 40 times in a years period. The surgery was pretty simple and fairly (no procedure is totaly) painless. The only 2 parts that bothered me were the removal of the drainage tube the day after the surgery and the catheter a week after the surgery. I knew that I wanted my life back to normal as soon as possible so I began walking 3 hours after the surgery. It was slightly uncomfortable but not intolerable (for me it felt like a slightly elevated stomach ache). I returned to work with light duty 2 weeks after surgery (my doctor was pretty reluctant but I was able to persaude him in the end). I am now starting my sixth week since the surgery and I have completly returned to work. I am currently wearing a pad for the Incontinence (about a pad a day. I have begun treatment for ED with Levitra and towards the end of July I will begin using a Vacuum erection device. The best advice I can give you is remain positive. If you can laugh then laugh. If you need to cry then cry but then laugh. Stay positive because each day is a new one and anythig can happen. Do not be afraid of letting yourself go. Decide what is best for you for your treatment for the cancer, the Incontinence and the ED. It's your body make an informed decision. Talk with your spouse. Keep her in the loop. Some of your best support group is not here but with your family. Above all please do not be afraid to talk about it. It is not an unthinkable sin. What you have to offer may one day help someone else make a decision or help them with there post procedure issues. Do not regret your decision or double think your decision. Do not broad on the what if's but handle the I made an informed decision for myself and with the information I had I made the right decision. You will be amazed at teh number of men who are in the same boat as you or have already gone through it. Do not be afraid to ask. I'm sure they wished someone had been aroung to tell them a thing or two. Above all my thoughts are with you and I hope the best for all of us. Feel free to email me if you think I can help. I will not tell you what to do but will let you know the choices I found and why I how I made up my mind. Posted on 06/26/09, 10:06 pm |
| 4 Replies | Add Your Reply |
| View More Posts Ignore |
I too had a radical prosectimy 10 years ago when I was 59. My wife is my rock, my support system. We researched and determined that many of the other procedures were ballyhood by their creator, and none could guarantee what side effects or what the end result would be. I think we did the right thing. No sign of any psa level raises at all. The first year was the worst from a sexual point of view, but we worked at it using the pump and varying positions. The erections returned, sporadically at first and then regularly with and without the aid of Viagra. The only nuisance resulting from the procedure is urination sensitivity to temperature changes and touching water. But I have learned to Kegal and that solved much of the sudden urge problem. I am willing to share my experiences, both good and bad, with anyone. 
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts Ignore |
iperseme,
Levitra has done nothing for me. I haven't had much of an issue with the urination (have some issues but they are tolerable. Just recieved my VED from Augusta Medical and hope that helps with the Ed. I can tell you from a first attempt that it was uncomfortable and did not feel natural. I too have a great spouse who has stood beside me on this. Good luck to you and hope you and I both have a long future.
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts Ignore |
I too had my prostate removed surgically. That was 10 years ago. And, I too used the vacuum pump device. My heart doctor forbid my using Viagra. It took about a year before I became fully functioning sexually without the pump. An understanding wife helps. I now use viagra with good results (without my heart doctor's knowledge). Incontinence was more a nuisance than anything else. I wore a pad for about a week. Temperature changes and getting my hand wet usually caused me to run to the bathroom. Also, at first, getting out of my easy chair or climbing steps would cause a squirt. Kegal exercises helped control this.
Good luck on all counts. You made the right choice.
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts Ignore | ||
|
|
||
| Add Your Reply |
