Phil's Story

Ethnicity
White British
Age
50-59
Work
Retired
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Geography
North West
Relationship status
Married/In a Civil Partnership

Radical Prostatectomy (Surgery)

Tips and advice for any sexual side effects of treatment

As soon as you have had a Prostatectomy make sure you get a vacuum pump and low does erectile medication to maintain functionality until your nerves recover and take over again. Don't just expect to be given them! I found I was still getting erections with the catheter fitted and soon after it was removed, but this reduced in the following weeks. I found that my erections and consequently sex drive waned over time until I'd left it too long.

How this treatment impacted my life the most

Obviously, there was some stress involved in the initial diagnosis and treatment, but the main impact now is on my sex life although it's not the end of the world. I do think it should be focused on as part of the treatment immediately after the prostatectomy, rather than left for the patient to follow-up. A disagreement between the surgeon and the oncologist about the right course of treatment has left my wife with a lot of mistrust, but we followed what the MDT and surgeon suggested.

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

Yes

Why did I give this answer?

As I was 56 at the time I decided that prostatectomy gave me the best chance of a longer-term solution and now I know about MDT's I would tend to follow what they suggest.

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