Welcome


Welcome.

When I wrote that banner above, I was just days into this adventure. I'm a pretty analytical guy, and the simple act of writing every day helped me wrap my head around the fact that I had just introduced the word "cancer" into my vocabulary, and it helped me rationalize my treatment options. It also helped keep friends and family informed on my status.

Those daily updates tapered off to weekly updates and eventually to monthly updates (which I continue to do on the 11th of every month, the anniversary date of being told I have cancer).

I've kept this blog going because I remember how helpful it was for me to hear first-hand experiences of other prostate cancer patients. I wanted to return the favor by sharing my own journey in order to educate others and increase prostate cancer awareness.

But I wanted it to be a truthful sharing of details, so you will quickly see that I didn't sugar-coat much of anything. That means that you'll find some pretty graphic descriptions of the male anatomy and biological functions in this blog.

Finally, if you're reading this as a fellow prostate cancer patient, please understand that I am not a medical professional, and you should not construe any of the content of this blog as medical advice. Each case is unique, so please solicit the advice of your own medical team.

I wish you all the best as you go through your own journey.

-- Dan

Life After Radical Prostatectomy - 36 Months Later

So it's been three years since my radical prostatectomy.  How am I doing?

Status

PSA remains undetectable.

Incontinence

The stress incontinence is still present.  Having a cold certainly doesn't help with it, as I mentioned in the Month 38 update.

Sleeping through the night without having to run to the bathroom is still pretty much the norm for me, aside from an occasional night where there might be a couple of trips to the bathroom.

I'll admit that I need to be more diligent about doing my Kegel exercises throughout the day, and that may make some improvement.

On a related note, I find it interesting that, sometimes when I run the water to wash dishes, the sound of the running water causes a great urgency for me to run to the bathroom.  It doesn't happen every time, and typically when it does, I really had no urge to urinate prior to that.  Odd.

Sexual Function

Remember that they took one of my nerve bundles, but I have to admit that I'm pleased with my progress without the use of a pill, slow as it has been.

I can't pop a boner like I could when I was 18--with just a simple thought about sex.  Some physical stimulation is needed to get the blood flowing.  Once it does, I'd say that I'm now in the 80% - 90% full erection range, which is an improvement.  (And pretty good for one nerve bundle and no Cialis.)

A fellow patient and blog reader reported it took him about 18 months to get to full erection with two nerve bundles, so our advice would be: Be patient, especially if you keep seeing improvements, however small.  If there's no sign of improvement, talk to your urologist.

Orgasms for me are pretty much the same as they were pre-surgery, although perhaps just a tad less intense.

Summary

Overall, I'm pleased with where I'm at--cancer-free and pretty much back to normal functioning with minimal inconveniences.

3 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 20, 2014 at 1:17 PM

    Congrats Dan on your recovery,I had my surgery in Sept.2013.
    P.S.A reading last week is at ZERO...
    My incontinence is very much improved down to one depends underwear a day.
    I felt more secure wearing the underwear.Doing the Kegel exercises every second I can.
    I'm wandering if you have ever tried the penis pump.My Doctor wants me to do the penile injection therapy, but don't know if I can give myself a needle in my limpy shaft.So I said I would like to try the pump.What are your thoughts on this.
    thank you...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dan's JourneyJanuary 20, 2014 at 2:50 PM

      Hi Anonymous,

      Congrats on a zero PSA reading 4 months out from your surgery. I found the first few post-surgery PSA tests almost more unnerving than the initial prostate cancer diagnosis. If the cancer came back at 6 months or a year, then it would be a much larger monster to conquer.

      Now on to the erection discussion... Remember, I am NOT a medical professional, so I'm reluctant to give advice.

      Personally, I have not tried either the pump or the injections (same fear as yours). My urologist suggested both to me, with the option of trying the pump first with injections later if that wasn't effective.

      I opted not to try either because I had slow and constant improvement in my erections. I was willing to be patient as long as I saw continued progress and, for me, it took the better part of three years to get back to a satisfactory erection. (Remember, too, I had one nerve bundle removed, so it was expected that my recovery would be longer.)

      In Walsh's book, he writes, "The return of sexual potency is different in every man. For some men, it can take as long as four years for full potency to return. For others, intercourse is possible just a few weeks after surgery."

      Everyone that I spoke with before my surgery said that it took them a year to 18 months to return to full erections (with both nerve bundles spared).

      Remember, too, that you're just 4 months out from the surgery, so that's pretty early in the recovery process yet. But if you're really anxious to return to sexual activity, have that frank and open discussion with your urologist. Review the options, and select the one that you're most comfortable with. If it's ineffective, then try something else. But give whatever option you select an opportunity to work.

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    2. AnonymousApril 10, 2014 at 8:38 PM

      I guess I am one of few, after reading so many accounts of experiences after prostatectomy. I was not able to have a nerve sparing operation and of course the results are as expected, nothing works! Loss of penis size is very disturbing and orgasms are hard to produce and a lot like the preverbal "flash in the pan". Half the sensation of orgasm comes from the process of ejaculation evidently and that is no longer a possibility. There is now no feeling of satisfying release after orgasm and so produces the feeling of "why bother at all?" I am alive but won't ever have the satisfaction of knowing if it was really worth it all. I don't feel having the operation was a mistake but I also will never know if it was the right choice. Younger guys seem to come through it much better than us older (65 yr. old) guys. I didn't think the loss of sexual function would bother me very much but I was wrong! It is a very important part of a man's life and self worth and underestimated by patient and doctors alike. Thinking about it beforehand and being there after the procedure are two very different feelings! I suppose I will eventually get over this feeling of loss but I find it is a mourning process much like loosing a loved one. You guys that might be reading this and facing the decision whether to take action or not about your cancer, take heed - you don't have a choice unless you want to die. Be aware though that the choices you face are all bad, there are no pleasant outcomes from any of the various treatments, but you have to believe they are better than gambling with the real possibility of a very unpleasant death if you do nothing. I am not proud of the way I am accepting my situation but I am going to have to deal with it. I hope the rest of you have a better acceptance of your fate than I am having. Time heals all - I hope! J. R.

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