My husband has just been diagnosed

I'm 72 and my father died of metastasised prostate cancer also. My older brother was diagnosed in his late 50s, 2 decades ago (Gleason score 8) and had a prostatectamy with no recurrence since surgery. I was diagnosed in late 2018 (Gleason score 8 ) and had a robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery in January of 2019. My brother had to spend a week in the hospital and I had to spend only one night - that's the improvement with today's surgical technology. Life returned to normal for both of us, though a bit faster for me because my scars were so small compared to my brother's pre-laparoscopic surgery. In both cases, we got successful nerve-sparing surgery.

If your husband's bone scan is ok, it sounds like his prospects for treatment and recovery are excellent.

Thank you for this very encouraging response.

Joan

Hi Joan,

I was diagnosed with P.C in late 2004. PSA 11,Gleason 5+4=9. I was 64 years of age at the time. I underwent 8 weeks of radiotherapy from April to June 2005. I had no further intervention until 2011-2012. Since then I have had 3 or 4 interventions with Zoladex usually lasting every month for 10-12 months. I am now 79 years. My wife says she is grateful that I was caught in time as a few weeks later and I probably would have gone the way of the Do-do. As I understand it, Zoladex is an artificial hormone that suppresses Testosterone and starves the cancer of its stimulus. It has worked very well for me over the past 15 years. It may help your husband. A conversation with his oncologist may prove beneficial in view of my experience. Hope this helps. Good luck

G

I want to echo Glamour's opinion.

At 71 years of age consideration should be given to ADT (hormone) treatment instead of radical surgery.

Radical surgery is a BIG deal at any age and at 71 it must not be agreed to without looking at the alternatives.

Regards

Barney, age 53, Gleason 9, experience: radical surgery, two rounds of radiation and ADT for >1 year

Yes re the prior surgery (which is why radiotherapy is not recommended) and yes re the experience of the surgeon.

Best wishes

Joan

Hi all

An update on my husband’s prostatectomy.

He had his surgery on March 7th, using the da Vinci machine. He came home the next day.

He was pretty uncomfortable for the next few days, and did not enjoy the catheter one bit, but he was OK. He had been well warned what to expect (short-term and long-term). His TWOC day was 6 days later (Friday 13th!); the procedure went without any problems.

He has been completely continent ever since – he has used exactly one incontinence pad in total, the one he came home in (and it was dry). He's now walking about 2 miles a day (socially distancing of course) and feeling better each day.

Yesterday evening we had a (planned) call from the surgeon. The histology report was back, and it was good. It slightly downgraded the biopsy Gleason score of 8, to 7. (Both 4 + 3 and 3 + 4 were reported; not sure if that is in the two sides of the prostate – both were affected). The surgical margins were negative.

So we are breathing a cautious sigh of relief to have got it all done in these very difficult times. Of course we have the ongoing PSA tests to cope with (the first one is due in about 10 weeks – goodness knows how that will happen…). And of course we will have to work on his potency, but we’re going to enjoy that.

Joan

Hi all

Just to update - also Tracy might like to read this thread as there are some similarities.

All is proceeding remarkably well. It's now 14 weeks from surgery. My husband's first high-accuracy PSA test has come back at 0.01, which is such a relief.

We are walking about 5 miles before breakfast each morning - his energy levels are improving slowly and steadily. Three weeks ago we spoke with the surgeon for a review; he was delighted. Our GP is being generous with Viagra - not that it's achieving much yet... Unlike some others on this forum we were well warned about that - the surgeon memorably said before the operation "incontinence is more of a worry, but impotence is more of a problem". We know we will need to take our time and work on that in the coming months - my husband is alive and healthy, which is much more important. We feel very fortunate.

Joan

Prostate surgery, is good for removing the cancer, but it comes at a huge price. It will be hard for him to orgasm. I think its still possible because semen and sperm are formed in the testicles.