PROSTATE CANCER

[isnip2000]

HI- I AM NEW HERE

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in Sept 2009. I hand a radical prostatectomy on Feb 17, 2011.
Have you heard early detection early cure? If it is positive treat aggressively!
Now the latest buzz in prostate cancer is 'oh, it is slow growing, you can adopt the wait and watch with tests every 6 months". Most men die with cancer not of it" DON’T LISTEN

My biopsy showed 2 small 'slow growth' "spots" my PSA was 4.5- I made and appointment at MD Anderson and they did another biopsy only to see if it was near the edge- it was not according to the biopsy.

I was given the choice of watching and waiting- Radiation- or radical removal. I am a Pharmacist and had already studied the choices. Radiation, if effective burns the surrounding tissue- thus if you have radiation fist they USUALLY can not do a surgery to follow it up.

Watching and waiting is dangerous.

I had the Robotic surgery and when they did the biopsy post surgery there were 4 cancers, not 2, and one had just escaped the capsule.

The doctor was able to get it all we think- another month waiting and you would not be getting the information. Later the doctor told me that the only accurate biopsy was the post surgery one. The gold standard in the treatment of cancer is surgery. Please don’t put it off.

I have been given ED medications every other day (Cialis) and a Erec-Aid vacuum devise to use daily to keep the tissue stretched and from atrophying. Also to have intercourse I use it and put the rubber ring at the base of the penis to maintain an erection.
It works but its not normal. The penis is blue and cold to the touch. Also it seems to take much longer than the recommended wearing time to reach a climax. Most of the time the only way I can climax is by finishing with masturbation.

I am considering an inflatable 3 part implant and am trying to research not the success stories but the worst case failures with the infection, scared corpus cav. With the shriveling penis that some have experienced.

I had test run at MD Anderson to see if an implant was viable for me.
I was asked to try the Tri-mix injectable first. My experience with Tri-mix has not been satisfactory to date – but I live in hope. The penis is not cold but starts aching after the shot for about 2 hr. Tylenol helps. The climax problem is the same(most of the time).

I am still weighing the possibility of surgery to correct both the impotence and the incontinence. So far, at 74 I just can’t bring myself to undergo the knife again.
As with everyone, my story is ongoing.
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[limpnoodle]

You and I had the same reasons for electing surgery. Mine too was more aggressive with post surgery biopsy. Had I not had surgery I don't think other choices would have gotten the cancer that was outside the capsule. Frooze sections at surgery allowed Dr. to remove fascia and one nerve bundle for clean margins. Now at 50 months post surgery my psa is undetectable "good news". I tried everything for ED and could not tolerate the Trimix or anything with PGE in it. But over time things have slowly improved. Now with daily cialis and a band I can get a usable erection. Like you the sensations are different and it takes longer to reach climax and sometimes does not happen. I still use the pump and after 4 years penis when pumped no long hinges and is not cold. Frankly I would be happy with where I am after a 4+3 Gleason post-surgery if the sensations were better. Only you can decide when it is time for implant, but I can tell you this keep working at blood flow as improvement can take much longer than most MD's say. I was told after a year that erections would not improve but mine did. Good Luck, Limpnoodle

[Muz061]

To both the above posters, by way of encouragement I would say there is hope of improvement way beyond 1 or 2 years. Prostate surgery did me in the first place - June 08. Until October 2011 pills were pretty useless. I am now getting genuine rehab happening by using injections and pills on other days. Nocturnals and morning glories are starting to happen and I can sometimes get a full erection with Viagra which was not possible 3 months ago, so I say 4th year is still possible for improvement.

@isnip - Did you try bimix as this is not associated with pain?

[bob1138]

Welcome isnip,

I am a fellow Prostate Cancer Survivor.
By joining Frank Talk you have become a member of a brotherhood of great guys who will always be here for you and who have all walked in your shoes while battling ED.
First, I would suggest you see a Urologist who specializes in the treatment of male sexual dysfunction.
He will probably run a Doppler Test to check if there is sufficient blood flow to your penis.
The two main causes of ED are insufficient blood flow (arterial insufficiency) and venous leakage.

I think that the best way for me to provide you with some info about ED is to share the story of my battle with ED.
I developed ED Post-Prostatectomy in February 2004 at age 65 and had never experienced any problem prior to that.
Viagra, Cialis, etc. did not work for me.
After much research and having the opportunity to speak with 2 men who underwent the Coloplast Titan Penile Implant Procedure, I had my Titan Implant Procedure December 13, 2007.
The Titan Penile Implant completely corrected my ED and restored both my sex life and the emotional intimacy with my wife of 45 years.
I became a Coloplast Patient Educator in January 2008 in order to share my Pre-Implant and Post-Implant experiences with men still suffering from ED and its devastating side effects.
I just celebrated the Fourth Anniversary of my Titan Implant December 13th and my wife and I could not be happier with it.
Also, if you are experiencing mild to moderate Incontinence, I would suggest discussing the Coloplast Virtue Urethral Sling
with your Urologist. For severe Incontinence, an Artificial Urethral Sphincter (AUS) might be an option.
I am also Co-Chairman of the USToo Prostate Cancer Support Group at Hackensack University Medical Center in NJ.
This is an International Group for Prostate Cancer Survivors which holds monthly meetings.
Go to http://www.UsToo.org to check for a Chapter near you.

The FT Group has a bunch of great guys who are always willing to reach out to other men suffering with ED.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or just want to talk.

Bob

[regain-is-the-aim]

Isnip:

Welcome. Just wanted to post and agree 1,000% with your admonition to treat the PCa with surgery. None of this is fun; but the robotic surgery, if appropriate, is well doable and should solve the PCa problem if contained. All of this other stuff- well; we are each in charge of our health so free will is appropriate.

I also agree that penile rehab is ongoing journey. I am 5 years post-op and, because of the education, information and support of this clan am still seeing improvement. In fact, my best progress has come within the past 9 months. Secret is to hang in there and use him often and the "work-out" helps everything and not being fully hard is not a barrier to fun and good outcomes; it is just different. Pumping and stretching are fun and critical to maintaining flexibility and length.

Good luck with your decisions and keep us posted. This is a good place.

Regards,

Dick