60 and Over

Prostatatectomy
Ensley75 4 Reviews 1882 reads
posted

Having robotic surgery soon.  

Any advice on what to expect? Incontinence recovery?

Hobby again?

Good luck with the surgery!  Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in men (1 out of 7 or 8 will get get it), but it is also one of the most curable forms of cancer.  

Been there, done that.   The robotic surgery is amazing.  You will be up and around within a week.   And most likely cancer free forever.   You may leak a little after surgery, but do those Kegel exercizes and it will be minimized.  I am still
active sexually, although I depend on the blue pill (get it generic from Canada).   You will have dry orgasms but that has
both advantages and disadvantages.  I can live with it.   Without early detection and a good surgeon I would be dead by now  If you are worried about the surgery, don't forget that this is not the surgeons first procedure.   They do this dozens of times every week.   Good Luck my friend

cuppajoe219 reads

My GP steered me to a surgeon who had done maybe 40 surgeries.  I  researched and went with the go-to surgeon in town who was able to spare enough nerves to make a dif.  They should be issuing you a pump and rings and show you how to use it.  Get hard often, porn is your friend.

I brought my pump when I first returned to my ATF, who kindly helped me get back in the swing. Took me maybe 2-3 years to feel 90%, now I would say I'm 97%, but who knows what part of it is aging, since 5 years have gone by.

Found out I was allergic to Viagra, etc. but don't think I really need it. Still use compression ring on dates, though probably don't need it.

Thanks for very helpful advice!

englishguy230 reads

I had my prostate removed on the recommendation of a Professor of Urology at a major University hospital in S.Cal in early 2011, after a spike in my PSA numbers and positive biopsy results. I was 54 at the time and decided against the robotic method.  
Practicing Kegels prior to surgery definitely helped, once the catheter was removed after the first 10 days post-surgery, with any incontinence issues and is now almost an automatic reaction.  
Performance since surgery has not returned to pre-surgery times, but is improving all the time. However using Viagra and “Happy Shots” gets amazing results (90% of the time) with strong erections, some lasting up to 2 hours. Girlfriends and Providers (I’ve enjoyed both) seem to enjoy this too, and most absolutely love it, although a couple of them have complained a little bit, but if they do I just move on to the next one.  
Prior to surgery I used to love the sensation of ejaculation. Orgasms are different for me now due to the vasectomy and the prostate removal, and do not always happen, it depends on the situation and the young lady. But the ability to have strong long lasting erections more than makes up for it and of course I have my health too...

Good luck...

(i originally posted this back in 2015, not much has changed)

18 year ago, my psa rose, I had a biopsy, cancer found gleeson score 5 or 6 (dispute among a number of my pathologist friends.)

There was no information on difference in cure rates (no recurrence in psa after 15 years) but there was great information on complication rates. I went for the modality with the lowest complications (radioactive seeds in the hands of an experienced operator.) I went to the most experienced operator in America in Seattle. (Since then the use of seeds has been modified and its even better just as surgery has improved. Radiotherapy is also more precise  and some people  --not me-- believe that proton therapy will prove to be best while others favor the gamma knife --but I digress.)

Had first to go to Seattle for measurements (Now I would do it all in Philly.) Came back to Seattle on a Friday night, had the seeds planted Saturday, came back Sunday for follow up X-rays, flew back to Philly Sunday early afternoon.  
At workMonday (unpleasant burning sensation you know where.) Drove to NYC Wednesday to give a lecture.  (Burning ass hole tolerable but unpleasant and lasted for weeks.)

The balance: no work missed,uncomfortable ass for a few weeks.
Now --18 years later:1) pants dry but at 76 years old need to go to the bathroom when I get the urge.  Couldn't drive more than  90 minutes  without needing to pee. 2) Erections on demand,multiple ones using Cialis. 3) PSA undetectable

Knowing what I now know, I would make the same choice.  

Incidentally,the cure rates are still excellent for the three methods (surgery, external beam radio therapy and seeds) with data not yet available for longterm results of cyber knife and proton therapy BUT if one has the edge (and it is a tiny edge) the seeds are ever so slightly the most effective for long term "cure. This is using the seed therapy of at least 15 years ago, the surgery of at least15 years ago, and the external beam radiation of at least 15 years ago (the cure being no rise in psa after at least 15 years,) All in all the cure rates of all three run well into the mid to high 90% range in men  without spread outside prostate capsule when diagnosed and treated.  

Good luck. Hope all goes well.

OldCodger221 reads

Thanks for the scholarly dissertation.  Saved me a BUNCH of research if the need ever surfaces.  Sure hope not, but had a second TURP ~7 years ago and PSA creeping up the last couple of years.  

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