David's Story

Ethnicity
White British
Age
60-69
Work
Retired
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Geography
South East
Relationship status
Married/In a Civil Partnership

Radical Prostatectomy (Surgery)

Tips and advice for any bladder or bowel side effects of treatment

I do find myself sometimes reluctant to go somewhere if I feel I may not be able to find a toilet. 19 times out of 20 I'm fine, but when I have to go, I have to go. So I sometimes need to research locations.

Tips and advice for any sexual side effects of treatment

I find it increasingly difficult to get any relief - orgasms are almost non-existant now. I can rub until I am sore (I have actually made myself have like friction burns - I now have to use Vaseline). When I orgasm, it's almost as if I am reading about someone else having one, rather than feeling it myself. And sex with my wife is non-existant. But I am randy several times a day.

How this treatment impacted my life the most

I was happy to have the surgery when I did, and I have had no sign of any spread or further symptoms (apart from things that I have put down to general ageing). But although I am (incredibly!) not on any medication at all, I am a bit upset that I can't make love to my wife. The thing that makes me most upset though is that she doesn't seem to be bothered at all. It makes me feel that I must have been a totally lousy lover all the time anyway, and she's glad she doesn't have to put up with it any more. But since we never talk about it, I don't really know.

If I had to do it all over again, would I choose the same treatment?

Not sure

Why did I give this answer?

On the one hand, I was glad to have the cancer removed Both my parent died of cancer - my mother had cancer of the uterus before I was born, but elected to keep me and had a hysterectomy as soon as I was delivered. She survived until she was almost 60, but it had spread and she had needed surgery on her lungs, and chemotherapy. My father died just before his 76th birthday, of pancreatic cancer. So as soon as I had the diagnosis and was offered Da Vinci robotic surgery, I leapt at the chance, rather than cryo or watchful waiting. Now I don't know if I might have chosen something else. But I think I would probably still have wanted it cut out. I would probably have been worried all the time if I flt it was still lingering in my body, and at least I have been confident (for 18 years exactly now!) that it has gone.

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