Ethnicity
White British
Work
Retired
Geography
South West
Relationship status
Married/In a Civil Partnership
Radical Prostatectomy (Surgery)
Tips and advice for any bladder or bowel side effects of treatment
The surgeons talk about being incontinent. What that means in real terms, for me, is having to wear a catheter sheath literally stuck to my penis 24/7, with a tube attached to a urine collecting leg bag. From time to time one or other parts of the system pull off resulting in the urine leaking down my leg, ruining shoes, socks and sometimes carpets - can be excruciatingly embarrassing when it is someone else's house. Advice ? Think really hard before going down the surgery route. I was told the failure rate is 1 in 400 - OK for the 399 but living hell for the 1 in 400th
Tips and advice for any sexual side effects of treatment
The operation failed to save the nerve band across the prostate. I am left totally incapable of getting an erection. I won't say I have lost interest in sex, it's just I can't have any - the frustration level is ENORMOUS. Advice - think hard before going down the surgery route.
Tips and advice for any mental and emotional side effects of treatment
Think hard BEFORE that final cut!!
How this treatment impacted my life the most
When you wake up and you have leaked over night AGAIN and your wife has to wash all the bedding, when your penile skin condition requires you to wear nappies - like being a baby again - when you are DESERATE for a sexual relief but can't even get an erection - then your thoughts are 'Is the life I am living worth while? That's the impact?
If I had to do it all over again, would I choose the same treatment?
No
Why did I give this answer?
Because I would have preferred to live a life shortened by prostate cancer, than drag out the longer one the operation has left me with.
