Robotic removal of the prostrate

As I am in South Australia ( GMT+ 9 &1/2 )  I guess I get to see the overnight posts before most people.

In the very first place try not to worry unduly about the treatment offered.  If they didn't think it was the best thing for you,  they would have recommended something else. And presumably in obtaining informed consent from you they will have outlined the alternative treatment options applicable to your specific condition.  Keeping a Positive Mental Attitude is likely to be one of the most therapeutic things you can do.

I don't have personal experience of the robotic procedure but hopefully some of those who have will chip in with info and sound advice for you.  Early days in my own case I did look into it and found that there is a ton of serious medical literature about it and it's all very informative.  Just Google it and away you go.  I have pretty much found in everything to do with PC at least,  that everything they say could happen more or less does and that individually,  it is a question of degree and duration which at the end of the day,  could leave you with a few something's,  or next to nothing.  But at least you will still be alive and with hopefully,   a good quality of life.

Good luck.  Don't stress it.  Just live through it day to day with a good PMA.  Both in the Med Teams and amongst Patients,  you will meet some pretty nice and inspiring people and there is more humour in it than you might imagine,  which takes the edge off.

Regards

Dudley

As with Dudley70181 I also an located in Australia...

Decisions Decisions Decisions...been there done that...

I personally did not have much of a choice when it came to having my prostate operation as I was already a pT3a R1 Gleeson 5+4 (9) and had to have extensive surgery to remove the entire prostate...

Here a choice using the robotic arm was simply a question of additional monies around the $5,000AUD mark but my outcome would still be the same... 

Ray the most important thing to remember in your journey with PCa is that you are an individual and as a consequence everything related to your situation, treatment and outcomes will all be different to every other person...

Following my operation I had a catherter for the first three/four weeks and had to selfadminister a daily needle to prevent any blood clotting...

I don't think I have healed 100% nor ever will...

Unfortunately for me 'Sex' is now just a collection of memories and as an active 51 year old at the time I must say it had been the most difficult part to get my head around...

I wish you well in your journey and as Dudley suggested just get yourself into a good place mentally, relax as much as possible and take things one little step at a time...

I have gone through the procedure. but not by robot only the skill of a

German urologist with a good outcome so far!

All came about very quickly PSA spotted by my doctor on yearly medical did a second went up again, next step urology biopsy, confirmed T2c G6 contained. Not much of a decission really, he explained the two major drawbacks of surgery, which ever you have the outcome is that if its successful which is better living with pads for a while and lack of sex or the alternative of months of worry watchful waiting!!

You never mentioned your status but I see you are looking at surgery so it would seem you are in the same boat, t1,t2.

What can you expect its not so Bad which ever op you have the after care is almost the same its you Will power and a lot of support from those close to you that will mean the most, cathater for 10 days irritating painless removal, then prepare your self to fight incontinence, pads and level are the things that spring to mind, I had two weeks physio standard here in Germany, wound healing and incontinence exercise practice. You will be told to squeeze a lot and believe me don't forget its so important to build up the pelvic muscles. My phsio keeps telling me its MIND OVER MATTER pretend you are trying to pick up a feather with you bumb when standing from sitting, keep squeezing the first thing my urologist said after removing the cathater.. It improves over time with highs and lows good days and Bad days you get used to it, I annoyed my phsio by going a 2 hour walk in one go thinking I could start getting my self fit. Don't do it to earlybyou will get very wet, the pad weighed 450g, yes find an old pair of food scales and keep a record in the first weeks it will help you see if you are improving! Or maybe that's just something the Germans do!

What more can I say ITS A FIGHT BUT DO IT. You may gain some years and to me I would not change anything I did and my 8 week PSA test is tomorrow!!! You have to hope and keep FIGHTING with every breath you take, don't get lazy do the exercises, find a hobby in the garden,learn a language or something because its a slow process but one you can Win if you put your mind to it. GOOD LUCK AND DON'T LOOK BACK ALWAYS FORWARD.

i has robotic surgery in April with a T2 and a Gleason score of 3+4. Age 56. Cathater  was in for just over a week. After 10 weeks was dry with no need for pads . Had nerve sparing surgery which was possible on one side only. Sexual activity as Befor but no ejectulation and help from Viagra 

everyone is is however very different and know of friends who have taken a lot longer to regain continence. A lot depends on our age and how good things are now.

i feel I was lucky but dive improve my fitness lading up to the operation to giv my self the best change.

Please try not to worry. This is a well trodden path with a lot of expertise and experience. 

All all th best

mike