Hi showbiz

hi my catheter is due out on Wednesday which is exactly two weeks after the op and I plan to fly in another 5 weeks,

i must admit that apart from inconvenience of the catheter and a little fatigue I really feel fine.

just make sure you’re husband sticks to all the advice he is given and I am sure he will be ok 

Ashworth 

Hi Tony,

have just finished first stage of hormone therapy so off the tablets and ready for next LHRH injection, the 3 month one. I have kept so busy and with the hot weather I don’t actually know if I have had any hot flushes or not and have only felt really tired twice and by working through it managed to fend it off. I know we are all different but my advice to anyone with these symptoms is try and keep on top of them so they don’t get on top of you. Met my Oncologist today for a most informative session. It turns out that my Consultant gave me some wrong information about my radiotherapy which the Oncologist put down to his expertise being in surgery not radiotherapy! Originally I was told 20 zaps but in fact it will be 37. It was explained to me that although the cancer had only reached one pelvic node they intended to cover the whole pelvic area around the prostate to kill anything hitherto undetected which seems good to me. It’s still classified as T3a and though obviously curability is not as high as a T2 the numbers for a cure are still high and I was told that most men in a comparable position would be cured. Paradoxically on the consent form it says control not cure and I was told that they have to put this because curability is less likely than if the cancer was contained in the prostate, even though the hope is that the treatment will effect a cure. Whilst I was there I saw a guy who sat with me whilst we were waiting for a CT scan weeks ago. He’s a lovely guy, always smiling and sadly it turns out that he has incurable pancreatic cancer. I guess that puts everything into perspective. Will let you know when my radiotherapy preliminaries are coming up for some tips.

cheers for now, Max

Hi Guys 

i had my catheter removed on Wednesday and up to this morning I haven’t hand any issues with leaks or incontence.

is this normal or will I develop problems over the next few days or weeks or am I one of the lucky guys who won’t have any problems 

That is very good news. Normally, if you have problems then it's right away.  I think most of us are able to control our bladders for 90% of the time after surgery, but problems come when you laugh, sneeze, or (in my case) listen to I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue. 

I would still take precautions, and be sure to do the Pelvic Floor exercises, because over the next months your body will be clearing out a lot of scabs and doing a bit of minor remodelling, so you may still get occasional problems, but these should be temporary.  

thanks for the advice

i will stick to the excercise plan that I have been given just to make sure everything will be ok.

Hi Ashworth,

Thanks for your reply - & glad all is going well with your recovery - my husband,s robotic surgery didn’t happen on Tuesday just gone - due to delays in arranging a pre-op heart scan - has been rescheduled for an open prostatectomy on Thursday of next week - feels like life is on hold - the surgeon has now commented that a long haul flight might not be a good idea early Nov due to likely incontinence issues, & has also mentioned the option of surgery waiting until the end of November, a decision only my husband can make . Goodness this is all so very stressful.

Showbiz

HI showbiz

This is a really stressfull time for all involved but in a couple of months everything will be fine and you will glad it was done and you can move forward.

Anyway I  would have thought the posabilty of blood clots would be more of a concern than the incontanece on a long flight .

It really depends on both your mindsets as if you postpone the operation and go on your trip will you really enjoy it with the thoughts of the operation still on your mind?

if it was me i would put on my "positive mindset" and go on the trip and postpone the operation untill November but only you guys can make that call.

ASHWORTH

Hi

Hope you don't mind me joining the thread.

I'm a wife (46) to husband (55) recently diagnosed (Aug 2019) with prostate cancer (Gleason 7). Parents to 2 daughters 8 and 12 yrs old, who are both autistic (hence avatar), husband is probably on the spectrum too but currently undiagnosed.

Husband is considering brachytherapy but waiting to have his first appointment on Monday with the oncologist before making a final decision...

Already contacted local (Bedfordshire) PC support group, but would appreciate any advice on how I can support him physically and emotionally, plus would like to talk to anyone about pro's/cons of the various treatments, recovery times etc. 

He's very concerned about the radiation affecting me and the girls when we are in close contact for prolonged periods, but doesn't feel ready to go down the surgery route as concerned about impotence and loss of 'himself' sexually.  I am fully supportive of what ever he decides on, however I think he has underlining fears that I will abandon him if he can't 'perform' despite my multiple reassurances otherwise.

Hi Kayw, I don't know about brach therpy but all others he will have problems (performing) and possibly on that as well,, oncologist is the expert or his cancer nurse, sorry can't remember proper name,, good luck with what ever he picks best wishes.. Billy 

Thank you