Anyone had their prostate removed?
Discussion
I'll keep it short. (although I've re-read this and it's not that short)
My Dad was having some pain in his hips, his Dad has prostate cancer. He did some googling and panicked that hip pain could be a sign that prostate cancer has spread.
He had the checks, told his sons about it, we were all worried, and the outcome is that it turns out the hip problems are unrelated, it hadn't spread but ultimately he did have prostate cancer.
He was given 3 options;
- Prostate removal. Final, it's gone, but the side effects are awful;
- Brachytherapy. Radioactive 'seeds' inside the prostate;
- Radiotherapy. Needs to introduction.
He took a week to think on this, Brachytherapy being the chosen method. Him and my Mum decided this was the better option. At first, and selfishly, his sons and immediate family wanted him to have the op, bag it and bin it, be done with it and move on. Although I can see where he's coming from. 52 years of age, many years ahead of him and who wants to risk impotence and incontinence for the rest of his life!?
Fast forward to last week - apparently they can't confirm it's definitely contained within the prostate. Operation is the only option. He moved fast, not wanting to mess about, and he's booked in tomorrow for the operation.
Today he's having an ECG prior to surgery and some other bits and pieces. He's nil-by-mouth from midnight and he's being admitted tomorrow at 7am. It's literally 2 weeks from going in for checks to tomorrow's op.
I've been Googling, can't find any info based upon actual experiences and want to know what to expect over the next few weeks/months.
Dad's always been the one you go to with any issues howsoever small and now it's my turn (as the oldest son) to be there for my Mum and Dad.
I gather he'll be cathertorised for a short while and from then it's likely to be erectile dysfunction (almost 100% certain) and that he'll not be able to control his urinary functions etc.
Has anyone been through it? Can anything be done post op to help him?
I'm looking for any info and real life experiences; money isn't an issue as this is obviously a priority and he's donen well in life, retiring a few years ago.
Cheers guys.
My Dad was having some pain in his hips, his Dad has prostate cancer. He did some googling and panicked that hip pain could be a sign that prostate cancer has spread.
He had the checks, told his sons about it, we were all worried, and the outcome is that it turns out the hip problems are unrelated, it hadn't spread but ultimately he did have prostate cancer.
He was given 3 options;
- Prostate removal. Final, it's gone, but the side effects are awful;
- Brachytherapy. Radioactive 'seeds' inside the prostate;
- Radiotherapy. Needs to introduction.
He took a week to think on this, Brachytherapy being the chosen method. Him and my Mum decided this was the better option. At first, and selfishly, his sons and immediate family wanted him to have the op, bag it and bin it, be done with it and move on. Although I can see where he's coming from. 52 years of age, many years ahead of him and who wants to risk impotence and incontinence for the rest of his life!?
Fast forward to last week - apparently they can't confirm it's definitely contained within the prostate. Operation is the only option. He moved fast, not wanting to mess about, and he's booked in tomorrow for the operation.
Today he's having an ECG prior to surgery and some other bits and pieces. He's nil-by-mouth from midnight and he's being admitted tomorrow at 7am. It's literally 2 weeks from going in for checks to tomorrow's op.
I've been Googling, can't find any info based upon actual experiences and want to know what to expect over the next few weeks/months.
Dad's always been the one you go to with any issues howsoever small and now it's my turn (as the oldest son) to be there for my Mum and Dad.
I gather he'll be cathertorised for a short while and from then it's likely to be erectile dysfunction (almost 100% certain) and that he'll not be able to control his urinary functions etc.
Has anyone been through it? Can anything be done post op to help him?
I'm looking for any info and real life experiences; money isn't an issue as this is obviously a priority and he's donen well in life, retiring a few years ago.
Cheers guys.
Sorry to hear 
Everyone's experiences are different, but there's lots of useful information here:
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/
Everyone's experiences are different, but there's lots of useful information here:
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/
Not much that can be done about it now! He's in theatre.
He was told it was a huge gamble not to have the operation and he was, sensibly IMO, unwilling to take that risk.
"At least you'll be alive" is exactly what we've all said to him from the word go. However, did always feel like I was being selfish; it has no long terms effects on me and I'll still have my Dad for hopefully years to come.
He was told it was a huge gamble not to have the operation and he was, sensibly IMO, unwilling to take that risk.
"At least you'll be alive" is exactly what we've all said to him from the word go. However, did always feel like I was being selfish; it has no long terms effects on me and I'll still have my Dad for hopefully years to come.
My father was told he had prostate cancer when he was 60, his GP who is a family friend advised him to have it taken away, dad decided to leave it in and then had numerous other procedures to "manage" the cancer over the years, eventually spread to his spine, watching him gradually waste away was miserable. He eventually died last June (15 years later) he did eventually admit that he wished he'd had it removed and suffered the side effects instead of trying to beat the cancer itself
Hope all goes well, I think if I was faced with the decision, I would take the op based on my personal experiences as above
Hope all goes well, I think if I was faced with the decision, I would take the op based on my personal experiences as above
Edited by Simon Brooks on Saturday 10th August 09:49
Hind sight is a wonderfully thing, unfortunately the answers only come when the reality can't be changed
Must be a nightmare of a decision for your dad, especially as its dealing with the unknown, I suppose all the options have varying odds of success, it comes down to which one provides the best odds of the cancer not spreading
As time goes by I'm sure he will adapt to any changes the op has on him, both physically and mentally, as I said my dad didn't have the op and still had all the same side effects as if he had gone with the op
Must be a nightmare of a decision for your dad, especially as its dealing with the unknown, I suppose all the options have varying odds of success, it comes down to which one provides the best odds of the cancer not spreading
As time goes by I'm sure he will adapt to any changes the op has on him, both physically and mentally, as I said my dad didn't have the op and still had all the same side effects as if he had gone with the op
Best wishes for your dad but it all that seems incredibly rushed
Im wondering if it was a private operation??
Close friend went through the same process this year, and of note was also offered a traditional "big" operation, a laparascopic keyhole one and a robot one all by different surgeons in the same unit with each procedure having different things to think about
My dad had the robot removal op the other year. He didn't share too much of the details with us but I have had a few frank chats with my mum abut it and it turns out he did suffer with incontinence fairly badly straight after the op but that calmed down. I guess there is a lot of inflammation and it just makes things worse. As far as I know that side of things is fine as he goes about his business as normal now. In my dads case though getting rid of it has not stopped the problems. Hopefully your experience goes better.
It was a private op.
Using robots. Not sure of the ins and outs as yet. He had it done Saturday morning and he's coming out tomorrow, went to visit yesterday and today, he's much better today,
Surgeon says it went very well and they saved a lot of nerves too.
I've obviously not pressed for details.
Using robots. Not sure of the ins and outs as yet. He had it done Saturday morning and he's coming out tomorrow, went to visit yesterday and today, he's much better today,
Surgeon says it went very well and they saved a lot of nerves too.
I've obviously not pressed for details.
My brother in law is having this op on wednesday. He is 58.
He was diagnosed with cancer 2 or 3 years ago, but since it was very low grade and not growing, they decided just to monitor him. The last check up he had the doctors noticed it had started to grow and decided he need the op.
It's being done on the NHS, so it will be interesting to compare notes in a few weeks.
He will be off work for 8 weeks.
He was diagnosed with cancer 2 or 3 years ago, but since it was very low grade and not growing, they decided just to monitor him. The last check up he had the doctors noticed it had started to grow and decided he need the op.
It's being done on the NHS, so it will be interesting to compare notes in a few weeks.
He will be off work for 8 weeks.
Edited by Grandad Gaz on Thursday 29th August 18:10
AB said:
Buzz, how do you mean in your dads case the problems haven't gone?
We have a 6 week wait for biopsy on what they removed for final confirmation but they are confident.
After the removal they did the PSA tests again and the numbers were too high still. He went in a few times to make sure it wasn't just too soon and it was latent levels. It turned out it had spread to his bones. I don't want to sound all miserable like this is the only option. Yours might well be fine and I sincerely hope it is.We have a 6 week wait for biopsy on what they removed for final confirmation but they are confident.
A very good friend on mine had his prostate removed a few years ago, immediately afterwards and for a while he suffered with incontinence, but these last few years it has settled down for him with the tablets that he takes.
His only problem is that when he has to go it is immediate, the worst scenario for him was when he was on Safari and he told the driver that he had to go that instant, they told him it was impossible, he also told them the implications if he didn't, needless to say they stopped for him in time and he didn't hang about when they told him what was coming up !
All the very best to your Dad and you and your family over this next period.
His only problem is that when he has to go it is immediate, the worst scenario for him was when he was on Safari and he told the driver that he had to go that instant, they told him it was impossible, he also told them the implications if he didn't, needless to say they stopped for him in time and he didn't hang about when they told him what was coming up !
All the very best to your Dad and you and your family over this next period.
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