bdutts
- Houston, Texas
WPR shared his experience with sleep issues and that inspired me to share my story about prostate cancer and hopefully spark some discussion here about it.
Here's my story: For about the past 3 years or so, was having issues emptying my bladder. Couldn't empty it, was up multiple times a night trying to go, very weak stream. So finally, after a couple of years of this suffering (see, guys don't want to deal with their health!), I went to see a urologist. I knew I had an enlarged prostate based on my past experiences 10-12 years ago and I figured I would need a TURP or equivalent to shrink the prostate from the urethra. Doc wants to do some urodynamic studies (insert some pressure and flow meters in your urethra and a pressure sensor in your butt, fill your bladder with water and then check the pressure in your bladder and the rate to see if your bladder is functioning as you empty the bladder) and get a PSA test since I hadn't had one in a few years (not smart for someone who's had prostate cancer in the family). The urodynamic study indicated that my bladder was functioning just fine but that I had an obstruction due to my enlarged prostate (MRI indicated that one of the lobes was growing into my bladder, essentially blocking the sphincter at the bottom of the bladder from working properly). However, the PSA was 4.9 which is much higher than my normal of 3.2. Doc recommended MRI guided biopsy, where they take an MRI of the prostate, overlay that image on an ultrasound of the prostate and take biopsy specimens based on that.
MRI showed two lesions, one very suspicious for cancer and the other not so much. Biopsy showed that I did have cancer, Gleason score of 3+4 (this is a good site for explaining what Gleason sore means: Gleason Score Explained) with a grade group of 2. 3+4 is favorable for getting cured as it's considered a low grade of cancer. So, time for research. Checked out surgery via robot assisted laparoscopic type, radiation treatments and talked to a few surgeons (mainly to vet my current surgeon). But to a person, all agreed that surgery was the right option, especially with my obstructed bladder. This was back in August and it took through October to finally get all my interviews out of the way. Surgery scheduled for December 8.
Surgery went off without a hitch. Had a one-night stay in the hospital and it took about a week to get to about 80% of normal, which is pretty good for major surgery. I have 6 incisions in my abdomen right now that are well healed (it's for the camera, cutting and cautery and other instruments). Final pathology on my removed prostate confirmed Gleason score of 3+4. No cancer was found outside of the prostate which is excellent news. Had a catheter in for a week and let me tell you, while it's not anything I would sign up for, there is something to not have to go to the bathroom except to empty it (would have come in handy during some heavy drinking sessions in college!). Had some swelling in the scrotum (gravity is the worst for guys and all of the fluids around the bladder after surgery have to go somewhere). Took about 3 or 4 days to start moving around better but all in all, wasn't bad.
6 week follow up showed that my PSA is undetectable so for now, I am cancer free. I need to go back every 3 months for the foreseeable future to get my PSA checked but it's a blood draw that takes a minute. And with no prostate, I am peeing like a racehorse! I haven't gone like this in 25 years! It's awesome! But, I am dealing with two side effects: incontinence and ED. For the incontinence, time will most likely heal it along with me doing kegels. Over the course of a full day, I leak between 100-500 grams. Seems to be random but the more I move around, the worse it seems to be. If it doesn't improve in 6 months or so, they can do some surgical procedures to help that along. So overall, while it's an annoyance and embarrassing to have to wear absorbent pads all day, every day, I'll still take this over what I had.
For ED, they did nerve sparing surgery so even though no nerves were cut, they still underwent some trama due to all the cutting and moving things around down there and that will take some time to heal, up to about 18 months. I take once a day Cialis (generic, as that is only a buck per day) as blood flow to the area will help with healing. I am getting sensation down there so I'm about ready to see what the wife can do! Need to take it slow and most likely change what we do for sexual pleasure but will see. Of course, with no prostate and a vasectomy, orgasms will be dry so this will be interesting to see how this goes. But I'm ready for that challenge! If I cannot get erections very well, surgery can help with this as well.
So, all in all, everything is going great right now. Physically, I feel great and will be able to work through any issues with incontinence and ED. Guys, please don't put off getting a PSA and DRE, especially if you're in a high-risk group (if your father, father's brother(s) and your own brothers have had prostate cancer, you're in the high-risk group or if you're black, you are high-risk). It's only a blood test and a 10 second examination. It could save your life. Most men with prostate cancer won't die from it as long as you monitor it and it doesn't get outside of the prostate.
Sorry for the length, got a bit wordy... Shoot me a DM if you want a private convo or jump in the thread and I'll be happy to answer any questions. Please feel free to add your experiences with this if you feel up to it.
Here's my story: For about the past 3 years or so, was having issues emptying my bladder. Couldn't empty it, was up multiple times a night trying to go, very weak stream. So finally, after a couple of years of this suffering (see, guys don't want to deal with their health!), I went to see a urologist. I knew I had an enlarged prostate based on my past experiences 10-12 years ago and I figured I would need a TURP or equivalent to shrink the prostate from the urethra. Doc wants to do some urodynamic studies (insert some pressure and flow meters in your urethra and a pressure sensor in your butt, fill your bladder with water and then check the pressure in your bladder and the rate to see if your bladder is functioning as you empty the bladder) and get a PSA test since I hadn't had one in a few years (not smart for someone who's had prostate cancer in the family). The urodynamic study indicated that my bladder was functioning just fine but that I had an obstruction due to my enlarged prostate (MRI indicated that one of the lobes was growing into my bladder, essentially blocking the sphincter at the bottom of the bladder from working properly). However, the PSA was 4.9 which is much higher than my normal of 3.2. Doc recommended MRI guided biopsy, where they take an MRI of the prostate, overlay that image on an ultrasound of the prostate and take biopsy specimens based on that.
MRI showed two lesions, one very suspicious for cancer and the other not so much. Biopsy showed that I did have cancer, Gleason score of 3+4 (this is a good site for explaining what Gleason sore means: Gleason Score Explained) with a grade group of 2. 3+4 is favorable for getting cured as it's considered a low grade of cancer. So, time for research. Checked out surgery via robot assisted laparoscopic type, radiation treatments and talked to a few surgeons (mainly to vet my current surgeon). But to a person, all agreed that surgery was the right option, especially with my obstructed bladder. This was back in August and it took through October to finally get all my interviews out of the way. Surgery scheduled for December 8.
Surgery went off without a hitch. Had a one-night stay in the hospital and it took about a week to get to about 80% of normal, which is pretty good for major surgery. I have 6 incisions in my abdomen right now that are well healed (it's for the camera, cutting and cautery and other instruments). Final pathology on my removed prostate confirmed Gleason score of 3+4. No cancer was found outside of the prostate which is excellent news. Had a catheter in for a week and let me tell you, while it's not anything I would sign up for, there is something to not have to go to the bathroom except to empty it (would have come in handy during some heavy drinking sessions in college!). Had some swelling in the scrotum (gravity is the worst for guys and all of the fluids around the bladder after surgery have to go somewhere). Took about 3 or 4 days to start moving around better but all in all, wasn't bad.
6 week follow up showed that my PSA is undetectable so for now, I am cancer free. I need to go back every 3 months for the foreseeable future to get my PSA checked but it's a blood draw that takes a minute. And with no prostate, I am peeing like a racehorse! I haven't gone like this in 25 years! It's awesome! But, I am dealing with two side effects: incontinence and ED. For the incontinence, time will most likely heal it along with me doing kegels. Over the course of a full day, I leak between 100-500 grams. Seems to be random but the more I move around, the worse it seems to be. If it doesn't improve in 6 months or so, they can do some surgical procedures to help that along. So overall, while it's an annoyance and embarrassing to have to wear absorbent pads all day, every day, I'll still take this over what I had.
For ED, they did nerve sparing surgery so even though no nerves were cut, they still underwent some trama due to all the cutting and moving things around down there and that will take some time to heal, up to about 18 months. I take once a day Cialis (generic, as that is only a buck per day) as blood flow to the area will help with healing. I am getting sensation down there so I'm about ready to see what the wife can do! Need to take it slow and most likely change what we do for sexual pleasure but will see. Of course, with no prostate and a vasectomy, orgasms will be dry so this will be interesting to see how this goes. But I'm ready for that challenge! If I cannot get erections very well, surgery can help with this as well.
So, all in all, everything is going great right now. Physically, I feel great and will be able to work through any issues with incontinence and ED. Guys, please don't put off getting a PSA and DRE, especially if you're in a high-risk group (if your father, father's brother(s) and your own brothers have had prostate cancer, you're in the high-risk group or if you're black, you are high-risk). It's only a blood test and a 10 second examination. It could save your life. Most men with prostate cancer won't die from it as long as you monitor it and it doesn't get outside of the prostate.
Sorry for the length, got a bit wordy... Shoot me a DM if you want a private convo or jump in the thread and I'll be happy to answer any questions. Please feel free to add your experiences with this if you feel up to it.
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