This forum is for the discussion of anything to do with Prostate Cancer. There are only four rules:
No fundraisers, no commercials (although it is OK to recommend choices of treatment or medical people based on your personal research; invitations to participate in third-party surveys are also acceptable, provided there is no compensation to YANA);
No harvesting e-mail addresses for Spam;
No insults or flaming - be polite and respectful at all times and understand that there may be a variety of points of view, all of which may have some validity;
Opinions are OK, but please provide as much factual evidence as possible for any assertions that you are making
Failure to abide by these simple rules will result in the immediate and permanent suspension of your posting privileges.
Since this is an International Forum, please specify your location in your post.
Hey John,
First of all, don't rush into treatment! Educate yourself first. I waited six months from my PSA test of 29 before deciding on treatment.
Get a second opinion and maybe a third! Many Urologists will urge you to take action before you have investigated all of the options.
Your PSA and tumor involvement are not all that high. Without knowing your Gleason score it would be difficult for other mentors to weigh in on treatment you need or may not need.
You should re-post adding your Gleason score. Was Avodart prescribed due to BPH?
Take care and remember that you still have a long life ahead of you! - p (Alaska, USA)
In answer to your specific questions – I have changed the order somewhat:
Does it hurt to have the catheter in/taken out?
You will see many comments from men on the catheter. It is generally regarded as uncomfortable having it in and a relief to having it out. There are rare reports of the removal being painful, usually where there is a degree of carelessness on the part of the nursing staff.
How long does it take B4 you can have sex again after surgery?
No one can give a definite answer to this because there are so many variables, from the position of any cancer, the skill of your surgeon, if your erectile nerves are undamaged, how sexually active you were before the surgery, to mention a few. Some men are able to achieve an erection and engage in intercourse within a fairly short time after surgery, others never fully recover.
Do you have to go on Viagra, etc.?
Some doctors suggest using Viagra soon after surgery to preserve the erectile tissue – see USE IT OR LOSE IT
Do orgasms feel the same after surgery like they were B4 surgery?
No they do not. There is no ejaculate for a start, and there is leakage of urine in many cases. Some men report that, while the orgasm is different it is also very good and a few have said it is better.
As Joe says, think carefully before you choose surgery as you may not need it. I suggest you go through the Yana site – click on the link at the top of this page “Return to Website” – page by page and pay particular attention to the CHOICES page.
I agree with the above comments. I had a DaVinci two years ago and I still have ED despite trying all three of the Viagra-like drugs. Orgasms are different. They are not as satisfying. You cannot have "regular" sex without an erection so you have to make due with what you've got. Please investigate your options more thoroughly. Once you have a treatment, you are stuck with the results forever. There is no going back. Read my story at:
http://www.yananow.net/Mentors/PaulA2.htm
One parting bit of advice: Before you take the plunge, have as much sex as you possible can. Things won't be the same after.
I have a thread herein whereby a person somewhat similar to your situation/diagnosis did ADT3 drug protocl as primary treament, and it has been about 13 yrs. now since his diagnosis. Basically the doctor Leibowitz protocol for 13 months, quit and take only proscar or avodart for maintence. The good news 1) it works 2) manhood sex and normal functions return(put a price on that one) 3) if you at some point have a rise in psa level above say 2 or 3 or 5 you can resume ADT3 and go another cycle (in almost all patients, with this low of stats) 4) you can still go get surgery, radiation, HIFU, seeds or any treatment, surgery would be harder cause gland shrunk (bad still is possible)..and only if and when you need it 5) say you go 8-10 yrs. (instead of the 13 yrs. Rick K has done and he still is doing very well, did another session of ADT3 and psa now is .36 and because you have a working prostate you will reflect eventually a normal psa number)years down the road newer drugs, treatments are also here by then, maybe a new nano or genetics type therapy breakthrough.
It is something to consider, naturally the uro-docs will say it is insane of course. Try telling Rick K. how riduculous he feels being normal and still has all his choices to consider..if an when he may need them.
www.compassionateconcology.org/ (to read about it)
I had robotic surgery a year ago just before my 50th birthday. psa 2.79 gleason 7. 8 out of 12 cores pca.
To answer some of your questions.
They put the catheter in when I was knocked out and took it out 8 days later with no pain or discomfort.
I take cialis 5mg every day.
Orgasims are a little different. I think they last a little longer. no ejactulation.
The first morning I woke up at home after surgey I had an erection. On the 8th day I had my catheter removed and had sex that afternoon with no problems. Its been a year now and I have had no problems with ed. I feel blessed. The surgery was a piece of cake and that was the first surgery I ever had.
