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John's Story

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

Radical Prostatectomy (Surgery)

Tips and advice for any sexual side effects of treatment

I think that the biggest problem has been the shortening of my penis, not so much for sex but for the practicalities of finding it in my underwear to have a pee! I am using the penis pump which is slowly giving me a bit of length back. My wife is post menopausal and has little libido, so the lack of a sex life isn't a deal breaker.

How this treatment impacted my life the most

I have been lucky, an early diagnosis and treatment has made little difference to my life. There were the initial post-op problems of regaining urinary continence, but pre-op (especially) and post-op pelvic floor exercises have left me with no urinary problems. I was fully prepared to be a dribbling dad, it's preferable to being a dead dad! but it didn't happen.

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

Yes

Why did I give this answer?

My father died from late diagnosed prostate cancer which was inoperable. His journey was painful to watch, mine has been a diametrically opposite experience. The operation had minimal intrusion into my life, post-op recovery was straight forward and I now have an undetectable PSA. So it's been a win-win for me.

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