Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
Hi
I've had a diagnosis of grade 4 prostate cancer.
The good news is that CT and bone scans reveal it has not metastasized. Very relieved and hence considering my options optimistically!
I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has undergone a radical prostatectomy and their experience of managing incontinence and preserving some sexual function.
Thank you
Comments
Hi Richard,
Hope you are doing well. I had a similar diagnosis and had a radical prostatectomy at the start of May.
I will speak to the incontinence issue which was my biggest fear going down the RALP route.
My personal experience is that I regained very good urinary control almost immediately. I used pads on day catether came out but did not require thereafter.
I just posted a reply to an earlier post where I mentioned the pelvic floor exercises.
As I also said in that post, while a made a very quick recovery and experience no leaking etc even when exercising it is not 100% back to normal. There is still more pressure/urgency 2 hours from last urinating and if I have had coffee that can be a shorter gap. That said I am very happy with physical recovery and I am back to 100% doing everything I did before surgery.
I kept some notes on my time in hospital and I will try get a slot to share them in a post.
I would not be completly open if I did not add a small caveat. In my case I have a PSA of 0.2, 8 weeks post operation. The biopsy of the prostate upgraded my diagnosis and pending additional tests the working assumption is that it managed to spread outside of my prostate.
Hope the above is of some help. There are some additional posts here on the forum of other's experiences.
Dear Richard.
Thank you for posting on our online community. I am sorry to read of your diagnosis. I am delighted to read that your CT and bone scan are clear. We wish you the very best with your treatment.
I hope you will hear from others here in a similar situation. Meanwhile, I am wondering would you find it helpful to speak to one of our trained Peer-to-Peer volunteers who has had treatment for prostate cancer. It can be very supportive to speak to someone in similar circumstances but as you can imagine the details of everyone’s cancer will vary and it will only be your oncologist who could advise you on what other treatments you might benefit from in the future.
To arrange to speak to one of our Peer-to-Peer volunteers or to speak to one of our cancer nurses, please phone our support line. Our number is 1800 200 700 and we are here Monday-Friday, from 0900-1700.
Kind regards,
Cancer Nurse