Ed's Story

Ethnicity
White British
Age
70-79
Work
Retired
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Geography
South East
Relationship status
Married/In a Civil Partnership

Active Surveillance

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

Do pelvic floor exercises

How this treatment impacted my life the most

Anxiety about getting too old for surgery whilst on surveillance

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

Yes

Why did I give this answer?

I did a lot of research about treatments and their side-effects and I wish I had spoken to more people in my position at the time.

Radical Prostatectomy (Surgery)

Tips and advice for any sexual side effects of treatment

Start doing pelvic floor exercises as soon as you get diagnosed and get them 'banked' as my consultant says. In other words, once you have done them, the good they have done is compounded and cannot be taken away. Start thinking about 'rehabilitating your penis' (the surgeon's turn of phrase), preferably before surgery. The little blue pills they prescribe will only give you nasal congestion and headaches. You're pretty much on your own here guys, as you are the expert on you and your sexuality.

Tips and advice for any physical side effects of treatment

Get your muscles moving as soon and as much as you can

How this treatment impacted my life the most

I remember mostly waiting for something to go drastically wrong and only recently felt like I may be a cancer survivor

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

Yes

Why did I give this answer?

Having done it, I am absolutely sure this was the right treatment option for me, although at the time I did spend ages and many sleepless nights tied up in knots about about whether I was doing the best thing. Apparently, this 'treatment anxiety' is very common, yet so little seems to be done to address it.

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