I was diognosed with Prostate cancer in 2017.  I was offered 3 options, 

1. To leave it alone and monitor the situation.

2. To have an operation to remove my prostate.

3. To have Radio Therapy.

I was supplied with the booklets giving information on Prostate cancer.  All was well vey good and I was very well informed of the situation.  I met with a surgeon who proposed that a full removal of the prostate was best as it would take away 90%+ of the cancer, although there were some possible side effects.  I also saw a radiologist who thought that another option would be to monitor the cancer but there may need to be intervention later on.  He also offered Radio Therapy for 6 weeks  every day at the hospiatal.  After considering the options my wife and I opted for removal of the prostate with the hope of no more cancer.  We did not want to go with the monitoring opption as we would have to go and address the cancer later, plus daily commute was an issue.  With cancer being a living condition, having a life of its own we decided that to leave it alone could have a bigger impact later on.  The second optionn to have radiotherapy would have been good but the travelling and other conditions at home would prove an issue for me getting home and my wife having to be with me.  In the end we opted for the surgery to try and remove the cancer once and for alll.  I was duly placed on the waiting list.  I have to admit our decision was taken easily as we thought to rid the cancer would clear it and we would have no more instances afterwards of the cancer.  We did read the leaflets and the books and our decision was in our thoughts clear and decisive.

I had previous issues with incontinence before the diagnosis of prostate cancer and I was using incontinence pads on a small usege, but inconvenient.  I had my operation on 13th October 2018 considering it was Friday 13th.  All went well.  I was in hospital and I thought ok no problems.  Wrong, I was discharged from hospital two days ( a Sunday) later with a catheter fitted which was leaking and with no medical equipment to help with the condition I was in.  I was back in the A & E the next day, leaking like a sieve.  This continued until my catheter was removed some weeks later.  it was then I was found to have severe incontinence and I was unable to control my bladder and I had no indication of when my badder was full.  What turned out was my pelvic floor muscles and sphincter were not working.  I went through extensive pelvic floor exercises controlled by a Urology Physiotherapist.  Although my pelvic floor muscles improved my incontinence did not.  I also had 3 months of severe pain in my bottom and my only comfort was by sitting on a doughnut cushion.  I was eventualy given a drug called Gabapentin, which was used to kill the effect that was coming from my pelvic muscles to the nerve ends in my bottom.  The releive was superb and changed my life as I could now go out.  My incontinence never got better.  I was wet 24hrs every day.  I tried a penile sheath with a drain bag but this proved difficult for me.  The sheath would come off and I would wet my self.  I used incontinence pads and had numerous accidents between them and the sheath/drain bag.  It has been 16 months since my prostrate operation and I still have severe incontinence.  I use 5/7 pads a day, depending on my fluid intake.  If I have a pint or a cup of tea I would be better pouring it down my trousers into a pad, it just goes through me.  I only use pads now, I have no faith in the penile sheath.  I visited a consultant and after numerous tests I am to have an artificial shincter fitted, which I am assured will be 90%+ effective in curing my incontinence.  I am now over the 12 week waiting time on the waiting list, nothing surprise me.  

My operation was a success, I have no cancer.  Would I do the same again.  Yes and No because of my problems with incontinence and the disgraceful way I was discharged and subsequent treatment by the hospital in dealing with my incontinence.  Do you know they wait a year to see if your pelvic floor muscles get better. Mine never did.  I could crush a grape but it never helped my incontinence.  My condition is not very common and is attributed to the side effects of the prostate operation.  It does state in the books on Prostate Cancer about some men experiencing incontinence.  Well, I am one of those people.  I believe that having the operation removed my cancer that it did save my life.  I would make that same decision again.  I am unfortunate in what has happened to me and possibly I could have went with Radio Therapy, but I made my choice and live with the consequences.  I await my operation for my artificial spincter and hope my life style will change.  Anything will be better that having to wear pads 24/7.  Please be aware that there is a chance that you could end up like me.  I wish you who are going through the same decisions to be aware but not to be afraid.  My choice is only a llifestyle change.  Removal of my prostate was like removing a plug, it was that that was stopping me from having severe incontinence before.  Nobody could determine what I would be like after the operation, but with proper care and attention my life after the operation for 6 months would have been better for me and my wife.  Good luck to you all