Hi Telemando

 Thanks for taking the time to reply

 It appears both options are viable and it is really down to how I feel about each and as you suggest which    ever I choose i need to commit to it 100%.

  HI Prosixty

 Thanks for your prompt reply.

  I must say that after reading you post I feel a lot more confident in making the decision for RALP.

  As with your surgeon the nurse I spoke to last week would advise her father,uncle or brother with the same  diagnoses as me to go with the surgery, this along with your comments has reassured me no end.

 In preparation for my treatment I have engaged a personal trainer to help me build up the strength and flexibilty in my pelvic region as I was advised to do this by the consultant.

  I will keep this forum updated with my progress over the coming weeks

  Thanks again guys

Hi Prosixty

I was advised to cut out caffiene and alcohol whilst using the pads. You might find de-caff tea and coffee a good option. 

You're right about the orgasms. Mine are better after surgery, which is very much an unexpected bonus! And there's no mess to clean up, either.  

Custom Shop Tele 63 re-issue 3 tone sunburst.

I was advised the same. Also to lose some weight before surgery. However I have a serious vice which is red wine and I find it very difficult to avoid. (Alcoholic to be fair). I do try to cut it out after 8.00pm. Unfortunately for me I realize that if the Pad/Leak situation does not improve I am going to have address this other problem. My weight is all alcohol related. I am 6ft, 14.5 stone. Would probably lose a stone in a month quite easily bearing in mind my activity levels which are high.

Orgasms. I love telling my "intacto" male friends - they just don't get it. The Girls love the fact that there is no mess, they can't stop laughing about it.

Also for Ashworth:

Another reason for opting for the Surgery Route. My wife is 14 years younger than me and I was not prepared to risk watch & wait with possible worse outcomes ( the chance of leaving the prostate to the lymph nodes in my case, and all that entails for the future) and to subject all that to her. This is a big mental thing to get your head around as well as the decision for surgery, radio, do nothing. Note only applicable to us 3+4 or similar types. So the side effects of Leakage & ED are manageable in my head compared to other future risks and how that might affect others..

Telemando - sorry to hear of the bladder issues.

Hi ashworth

you didn't mention your PSA,  what stage you were at or the number of positive results?

you will see I have made a few posts, in my case I am 54, recently diagnosed with PSA 7.6, Gleason 3+4, stage T3b and 13 of 19 positive results. For me the only option is RALP and this is only 10 days away. Yesterday I attended a pre op seminar for 3 hours which was really informative, it told me just about everything I wanted to know, it was really positive, they really help address all of those questions that you need answers to. I am much more confident about the procedure and what waits for me over the next 8-10 weeks. I have also found that speaking to others yesterday, on this site and others friends who have gone through the process really helps.

cheers

Custom Shop Tele 63 re-issue 3 tone sunburst.

Is that your guitar? That is one fine instrument. Do you play out much? 

I'm actually a Mandolin player.  I've got a Fender A series in sunburst which is a very nice instrument, but my pride is a Godin A8 from Canada. This week is particularly busy for playing, with 4 gigs in 8 days! 

Regarding the bladder cancer, I received official confirmation today that the stage is pTa, which is the lowest stage of bladder cancer. It was very small and fully removed so I'm just hoping that I don't get any recurrences.  If it does recur then they can repeat the surgery.  Fortunately, a TURBT for bladder cancer is nowhere near as traumatic as a prostatectomy!  The lesson here is never ignore blood in your pee. I had a single occurrence but by acting quickly the cancer was discovered very early. 

Hi you want to talk to [@woodworm]‍ hope fully he'll get in touch soon,.

Billy 

Hi Bracken

I was treated with radiotherapy and hormone therapy and it was the right treatment for me.

You asked about side effects so I will list the ones i had allthough everyone can react differently.

Lets take radio first. Your husband may be advised to use differnt more gentle soap as sometime the skin can get sore. My wife got me Simple soap and I had no problems at all. The other thing is the therapy can give you the runs so I got some Immoduim Instants and for a little pill they worked wonders. I never really had any problems after starting taking them.As far as I am aware there is no incontenace problems with the treatment.

The hormone therapy cause most side effects. I put on quite a bit of weight and still struggle to lose it after several years. They can cause mood swings. I found I could be watching telly and something sad or even sometime something good, and I would have tears running down my face and I had no control over them .The most usual thing are the HOT FLUSHES. It really made my wife chuckle as she would say, "Know you know what us women have to go through". I got no sympathy at all ha ha. Plus 97% of men will suffer some degree of erctile dysfunction. Depending on how long your husband is on the hormones, I read it should wear off in a year or so. But in my case it was complicated as I was also diagnosed with diabetes and this also causes ED.

I hope I havent put your husband off but I have tried to be honest. I look on those side effects as a price worth paying for the great result I had. My psa came down from 70 to 0.01.

I wish you both good results and please let us know how you are both getting on. I know its your husband that has the cancer but it affects both partners. My wife was briliant as was my family and this made a lot of differnce. Best wishes to you both, Brian

Thank you so much for your reply. It was what I hoped to hear we can live with those side  effects. We see the oncologist next Monday and have to make the decision but he is plumping for hormones etc. He has been on finasteride for over 10 years for benign prostate and his blood results have always been low and still are even though they have discovered the cancer purely by chance because he developed a urine infection and was sent to urology for all the tests right through to s bone scan. His gleeson is 8 but they keep reasuring us because cancer contained either treatment will cure it . Thanks again .