Life after Da-Vinci robotic Surgery to remove prostate

Aww bless you PY1, we are in a situation that radical prostectomy is the best option, could I ask how old you are and what grade you had, my hubby is gleeson scale 6 non aggressive low grade age 49. But we've been advised to have it removed.  His main concern is his functions afterwards, bladder,bowel & ED. Hope you are doing okay 

Hi, my husband is 68, so older than your husband, who is relatively young. His Gleason score was 7,  early prostate cancer, intermediate risk, contained within the prostate. 

Bobblejes said:

prostectomy is the best option

I would reiterate the need to consult the experts for all options: 49 is very young and you need to consider the possibility of life long side effects.  The thing is that younger men seem to do well with major surgery but please be aware of the fact that selection for that surgery is always going to pick the stronger and healthier men: the side effects are personal ( the cancer may be cured, and the side effects don’t need much NHS further involvement).  Other treatments have similar or better curative statistics.  I’m not saying walk away from surgery: I’m just saying that if you’re walking towards it, you need to do so having explored all possibilities (focal, and radiotherapy)and discussed them with expert consultants. You have time: it’s only Gleason 3-3. Don’t rush into anything.   AW

Thank you for your reply.

Hi Bobbiejes. I’m disturbed, deeply, deeply disturbed that your husband has been advised the way he has by the surgeon. As AW has mentioned, very accurately I must emphasise, it appears the surgeon is talking utter ‘garbage’. If I was your husband, I’d run a mile away from that surgeon. When I was 57 (last) year, I was diagnosed. Read my Bio. Read AWs Bio. My surgeon told me not to worry, he’d keep “cutting and cutting until he’d got it all”. Best thing he could ever have said to me as I then “ran a mile” and sought advice from people, this forum, particularly AW. After extensive research I chose HT/HDR BrachyBoost/EBRT. I’m now 9 months in and doing fine. I still have erections. I have a sex life. I’m now 58. I was G 4+4, T3a. PSA 5.3. Your husband is highly likely to have focal therapy options available to him for example HiFu, Cryo etc. Think, think, think twice before having a prostatectomy. Seek a consultation from a top, experienced oncologist. Take your time 

Prostectomy at 73. Wow. Fair play. I’d never personally had chosen that option but we are all different for sure. Good luck with everything for the future 

I was 57 when diagnosed. Quite the opposite to your decision I ran a mile away from a prostatectomy. Why? When you look at the effectiveness and cure non recurrence statistics of HT/HDR BrachyBoost/EBRT, it’s compelling over radical prostatectomy and fewer long term side effects

Hi, thank you for your reply. My husband had robotic assisted surgery, he asked when he decided on surgery,  if he could have nerve sparing, he also asked the surgeon as he was about to go into theatre, it mattered that much to him. 

We obviously don't know at this stage, ( 2.5 weeks post surgery) if that has been done, no one has said. He is very incontinent of urine post catheter removal four days ago. It is that which is worrying him more than anything. 

As for a sex life, without going into too much detail , have had a fantastic life in that department, in fact we are glad  we always made the most of it, if you know what I mean. If he has ed, well, it may mean it will change things, but, we will make the most of it, and enjoy the life we have together .

Good morning Lucy (Lucy lou) 

It's not a problem - that's why we are here and that's what we do. It's not uncommon to feel as your husband does after surgery - it's a major operation!!

Things will get better - but in the meanwhile we are here for him and the Support line will be happy to help. Here's a link to some further information that I hope will help

Beginning To recover

We are also here to support you too - please do take care of yourself as this cancer is a "couples cancer".

Let me know if I can do anything else for you both.

Best wishes - Brian.

Lucy (Lucy lou ), I think your approach to ED is great.  Hope things settle down with the waterworks but as Brian has said, it is a big op, so give it time.  David