RP in a month...what to expect

Hello Mark (Mark5508) 

Welcome to the Macmillan Online Community, although I am so sorry to find you here. 

I can't answer your question as I didn't go down the surgery route myself and still own about 98% of my Prostate (the NHS keeps taking bits).

Whilst you have made the choice of surgery I just thought I should ensure your team have fully explained all the options and side effects. Here's a link to the NICE guidelines:

NICE Guidelines - Prostate Cancer.

There is some great information there particularly at 1.3 and 1.3.7.

Yes I have known people to be back in office work after 2/3 weeks. People employed in manual jobs take 5/6 weeks BUT remember we are all different and you need to listen to your team and your body.

I hope the above helps, I am sure others will be along with personal experiences soon.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Mark5508. I am booked in for the 7th July. I will let you know how it goes!!

.Hi Mark5508, I had my prostatectomy back in 2018 in Ninewells,Dundee. There wasn’t a robotic procedure at that time so your outcome will probably be better than mine. By saying this I mean my op wasn’t nerve sparing so this put an end to any future sexual activity . Yes that sounds devastating as I was only 59 but I was more concerned about staying on this planet than getting my nookie  I was only two nights in hospital and in no real discomfort apart from two weeks with a catheter which was very restrictive and uncomfortable. I’m lucky enough to be on full pay for 6 months with my employment so I just took my time to get fit again and had phased return when I felt more able to return (about 12 weeks total) to let the waterworks return to normal etc. if I had to choose again I would still do the same. I had the peace of mind it had been removed and that was my choice and I wasn’t going to change my mind.. Hope all goes well and you can return to enjoying your life cancer free ️

Hi Mark

I had my RALP in January. I am 70 but like you reasonably fit and active and had a Gleason 3+4.  I recovered fairly quickly from the operation.  Having a catheter was an annoyance for the first 10 days or so but once that was out it was mainly a question of being patient and avoiding overdoing it.  I was lucky in not having any issues with urinary incontinence, possibly because I had the Retzius sparing operation but also I was reasonably diligent with the pelvic floor exercises in the lead up. Only took a few weeks to be back to feeling fully fit and energised. Best of all my histology results showed clear margins around the cancer and I have had two undetectable PSA results so I am now hopefully cancer free. Hope all goes well for you too.

All the best

Dave

Hi, 

Hope your surgery went well yesterday!! You were the same age as me when I had my tests etc. I can only report positives from my surgery (have a look at my bio if you fancy a boring read). I was back at my desk job after 6 days. Admittedly that was a little too soon and I had to have a few rests on the couch, but I was raring to go. The first days were “awkward” as I was terrified of the holes in my tummy and needed to think before every movement, and the catheter was annoying. But I wasn’t out of it or bed ridden at all. And am now fully fit again as if nothing had happened 4 months down the line (except for requiring a vacuum pump for certain things ) 

Wishing you all the best!