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Am due to have my 3rd Turp in June. Should I suggest having prostate removed. Am a 75 yr old.

Posted , 8 users are following.

robin25259
robin25259

My Prostate has over 3 years become enlarged. Have already had 2 Turps. At 75 not worried about ejaculations.

0 likes, 20 replies

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  • mark23925
    mark23925 robin25259

    Posted

    I can not answer, but I thought the TURPS would solve the problem. What went wrong in that the 2 procedures did not help?
    • roger100c
      roger100c mark23925

      Posted

      I was told by my Urologist that the prostate keeps growing, especially in later life. He also said that a TURPS removes about 90% of the inner prostate but that the remainder can grow back at around 10% per year so you could need multiple TURPS. His argument for the HOLep operation (which I had last July) was that as it took 98% of the inner prostate away, the rest would take much longer to regrow (although at the same rate, but starting from a much smaller volume). If you have a fast growing prostate then I wonder if the PAE which shrinks the prostate by a third, would last as long for you as a Turp or Holep?

      The idea of having the prostate toally removed and the consequences suffered by "caringbah"'s father-in-law sound awful so I wouldn't want to go there!

  • caringbah
    caringbah robin25259

    Posted

    Robin, that's a pretty drastic step. 

    My father in law had his prostate removed and he became a shadow of his former self. From then on he just wanted to sleep all day and just withered away. 

    If you're worried about enlargement you should check out the Prostate Artery Embolisation (PAE) threads on this site. I had a PAE done and it shrunk my prostate by a third. 

    Dont ask your urologist about it because they can't do it. Have a look at the PAE thread . There is a lot of useful information there. PAE's are done by Interventional Radiologists not urologists. A urologist will most likely try to talk you out of a PAE because they can't do them. Don't listen to them. 

    Removing your prostate will change your life for the worse. Don't do it!

    • robin25259
      robin25259 caringbah

      Posted

      Thank you very much for your helpful advice. Not sure if procedure being done in New Zealand yet but will ask.
    • caringbah
      caringbah robin25259

      Posted

      Robin, I had mine done in Sydney at Liverpool Hospital by Dr Glen Schlapoff  of the Radiology department. I had it done for free on Medicare. 

      Why don't you give them a call and see what they can do fo you? 

      I know now that you're not interested in the sexual side of things but I'm talking quality of life issues. My father in law went backwards very quickly when he had his prostate removed. 

      I'm not saying he was typical...I don't know but I wouldn't want to go through what he did. 

    • caringbah
      caringbah

      Posted

      Robin, you don't have cancer but an enlarged prostate. So really the aim should be to reduce the size of your prostate not to remove it. If you have a problem with your toe, you fix it not amputate it. 

      I would encourage you to check out other less invasive ways of reducing your prostate size. 

      Sydney is only a few hours away from NZ. 

      I think I've said enough otherwise I'll just be repeating myself. 

  • Pepasan
    Pepasan robin25259

    Posted

    Hi Robin,

    You say you're not worried about ejaculations, but what about erections? My understanding is that nerve-sparing surgical techniques are very skilled and can never be guaranteed, so often complete removal risks virtually no sexual functioning. If that's OK too, then in your position, I would be tempted to at least discuss the chances of complete removal, which would also have the advantage of eliminating future risk of cancer the the gland itself. Wishing you well, Peter

    • caringbah
      caringbah Pepasan

      Posted

      Pepasan, I'm no doctor or medical expert, but I do know that people who have their prostate removed or at least many of them are only a shadow of their former selves. I don't know why that is but I'll research it now.
  • oldbuzzard
    oldbuzzard robin25259

    Posted

    Prostate removals can be a real crap show, even when they turn out OK. You will likely be incontinent for 3-12 months and there is some chance it won't resolve ever. Even if you fully recover otherwise, wearing a diaper for the rest of your life could really be bad. If you doc can do robotic surgery, the recovery is faster, but the ultimate results profile doesn't change.

    I'm not sure what's available where you live or are close to, but I'd opt for something like PAE or Rezum every year or two rather then remove my prostate. Lots of me opt for other things even with cancer - so forewarned is forearmed.

    • robin25259
      robin25259 oldbuzzard

      Posted

      Haven't heard of PAE but am seeing Surgeon on Monday so will ask then. Thanks for your advice.
    • caringbah
      caringbah robin25259

      Posted

      Robin, as mentioned before there is a huge amount of Stuff on PAE on this website. Just search for it here or google it. 

      Most doctors have never heard of PAE. Your surgeon probably has not heard of it either. 

      Askng a surgeon whether you should have surgery is like asking an insurance salesman whether you should have insurance. 

      Anyway mate, it's your choice and you have to live with the consequences of whatever you choose.

      All the best. 

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