Think hard before having surgery! I was not aware of the viable alternatives to surgery, namely hormone therapy to halt and reverse tumor growth. This gives one time to think hard about the choices of curative treatments.
I had a long recovery time, really 6 months, before I was back to work
No
I took the decision for surgery in haste and without understanding that hormone treatement could reverse tumor growth. my tumors shoud have been treated with hormones as they were at the edge of my prostate. failure to do this means I now had stage 3 cancer for which I have received radiotherapy.
the hormone tablets started after the radical prostatectomy had not removed the whole tumor and my cancer was growing rapidly doubling every 9 weeks. the tablets stopped the growth of my cancer immediately and then reduced my PSA to near zero. Hormone tablets gave me my life back!!! once my PSA was stabilised at near zero, 0.03, I had time to discuss the best way forward with my oncologist and my urologist. I could also work, relax, travel and socialise until Covid really hit.
Yes
Hormone tablets gave me my life back!!! before that I was spending all my time trying to work out what treatment to have. I did not know that hormone blockers could have such an immediate useful effect
Hormone therapy reduced my PSA lower than hormone tablets at the suggestion of my oncologist as it was taking time to organise radiotherapy. The biggest problems was the loss of muscle mass and weight gain. I should have taken more exercise but I injured myself which made this difficult. The loss of interest in sex undoubtedly made the penis shrinkage worse and maybe I should have persevered with the erection tablest to help gain erections.
The biggest problems was the loss of muscle mass and weight gain. I should have taken more exercise but I injured myself which made this difficult. I would strongly advise increased exercise to build muscle mass and enable exercise to counter weight gain. I tried to walk 10,000 steps and when I could do this, I felt better I bought a fitness watch to track my steps each day. I followed my wife with a diet regime of eating nothing beyond cereal and soup on two days a week.
the hormone implant reduced my PSA to near zero, further than hormone tablets while we decided on radiotherapy and incontinence treatment. It allowed me to work, travel enjoy life. It had more side efffects than hormone tablets but my oncologist recommended it and I was grateful for her expert advice.
Yes
Yes, though I it woud have been advisable to have radiotherapy sooner to shorten this treatment. I have continence problems and the doctors wanted to sort these out before radiotherapy, which in the end proved unnecessary.
the radical prostatectomy included removal of the neck of the bladder leaving me badly incontinent. The incontinence clinic did improve this, but its necessary to hold a full bladder for radiotheraphy which I could not do while walking around, climbing onto the machine etc. I also had a stricture in the urethra making an artificial sphyncter problematic. I researchd the problem and found an effective penis clamp from the Age Concern website which enabled me to hold a full baldder for radiotherapy. This was much better than other clamps I tested.
these symptoms were from the parallel hormone supression treatment rather than the radiotherapy
my body simply does not produce urine to order to fill my bladder ready for radiotherapy. I could drink two litres and pass nothing. I think I was most dehydrated in the morning so I shoud have moved my tratments to the afternoon. I discovered that drinking coffee in preparation for radiotherapy was actually a good idea as it is a diuretic. I am eternally grateful to the Clinic staff who accomodated my uncooperative body and waited patiently for my bladder to be full enough.
Yes
it was clearly necessary to try to kill off all the cancer cells. I am awaiting the tests which will tell us if/that they are finally gone. The radiotherapy is not painful or intrusive. Even though surgery had left me incontinent, I was able to manage this very easily with a penis clamp from the Age Concern website which enabled me to hold a full baldder for radiotherapy. This was much better than other clamps I tested.
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