an update to my friends (here on the forums)!

[DJ_Zath]

Hi everyone and especially Milky!

(of course, theres Jammin'Adam, Mainesmixx, Kev, Lane, Jeff, Tim Gainer, Jigger, etc... )

not sure how to open this thread, but I'll give it a try...

As of August 2023, I went in for some routine tests and stuff and it was found that I had "a problem" with my bloodwork and that my PSAs were "off the charts". As of January 10, 2024, a biopsy revealed that it was stage 4 Cancer (18 samples, 14 positive with a Gleason 7/7) in the prostate and that my life expectancy was "less than 3 years".

On April 2, 2024 I went in to the hospital for Radical Prostatectomy surgery (they removed the Prostate and lymph nodes). I am currently in recovery (healing) from the procedure. it will be many months, to say the least.

its not all bad news, though, still too early to say, but initial labwork shows that they may have gotten ALL of the Cancer in-time and that, perhaps, planned radiation treatments may not be needed!

I'll keep you all up-to-speed as I figure all of this out! (and I'm sure I have added many years back on to my life! )

[milky]

I am so sorry to hear of this, Zath. I could say "been there, done that" as I have had exactly the same procedure.

The prostatectomy should make things a lot better PROVIDED that the surgeons took plenty of "margin" around the tumour and that the tumour was completely contained within the prostate. You say that the initial pathology indicates that the margins were clear of cancer cells. I certainly hope that is the case, but the next few PSA tests will clarify the situation. If the numbers go up, some metastasization may have occurred. If the PSA levels go above point 2, you should request a PET scan, as that will show any residuals. Numbers lower than point 2 probably won't show.

I assume that there will be follow-up radiation and/or chemo treatment, so it is important that they pin-point where any residual is, else the radiation can adversely affect urinary and bowel activity, even digestive issues may persist.

I wish you all the best with your recovery and prognosis, my friend.

[Lane]

Hey Zath. That's a helluva thing to deal with. I hope very much this goes the best it possibly can.

[Kev]

Sending you love from the UK Zath! I'll try to get by on the old Warp chat once you're back up and running!

Wishing you speedy healing!

[DJ_Zath]

whew!

Milky:  "provided they got most of the tumor".. they took the whole prostate out entirely- along with all the surrounding nodes and then some..  I'm still pretty much incontinent and have to wear pads probably for months! (sigh)  its funny- I can feel the "empty spot" whenever I sit or lay down (usually followed by an immediate run to the bathroom!) but its getting more "used to" I suppose.. hard to explain- I can feel things "shift around" whenever I sit down, stand up or lay down...  I am scheduled for a checkup in early July, and then some blood work for a followup almost immediately after that..  I just wish this having to go to the bathroom in my bed and shorts would just END already! heheh

Lane:   Yeah, it had to be done.. it was pretty advanced, so the doctor said...  the incisions are pretty much healing well, though I still wonder about the innards- as I mentioned above, things feel funny and I suspect thats how they will feel from this point on..

Kev:    thanks buddy! I can use all the love I can get heheh  WARP isn't around much these days (though you're still welcome to visit at anytime  even though I probably won't be there when you do due to a problem of a DIFFERENT sort!)

thanks everyone for the kind words and hopeful wishes!  I also wish the best for everyone here on the Ots forums.

[milky]

I understand that they took the lot. As you probably know, they cut the urethra either side of the gland, remove the prostate and then join the "wee tube" back up. Obviously, the urethra is considerably shorter, so that will cause some discomfort and the sphincter control nerves will be damaged - hence the leakage. Hopefully, the nerves will recover and you will gain more control, especially if you do the pelvic floor exercises you should have been shown.

You should be having PSA tests at least once per month. Keep an eye on these results, as that is the final determiner that all the cancer has been removed.

All the very best moving forward, my friend.

[DJ_Zath]

"do the pelvic floor muscles as you were shown".. nope no one showed me ANYthing! I was simply told, a few months before the surgery, "just interrupt the urine stream flow over and over" (I only found some slightly-better explanations online, however, some articles said "2 seconds for 10 times a day" while others said "5 seconds for 30 times an hour"! so I just interrupted the urine streams continuously until it was mostly-done, from early January through April 1st (after that, I tried some exercises with the catheter installed, but that was simply NO use whatsoever).  and now, Its kinda weird- but as you explained, the nerves must be severely-damaged as I CAN hold it fine- even for long periods of time, yet (especially at night) I have these "episodes" where I just DRIP DRIP DRIP all night long and at that point all the squeezing of those Pelvic floor muscles do NOTHING- it just drip-drip-drips out all in my shorts! (and don't get me started about sitting in a chair or lying in bed!)

LONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNG SIGH.....

as for something about reattaching the Bladder neck.... yeah  I think all of that seems to be healing, just all feels weird, especially when I sit down/stand up, I can feel things "shift about".

PSA tests.. yeah  they want to wait till July!

(I don't call them MEDICAL MONKEYS for nothing!)

...and don't get me STARTED on the pharmacy- charging my credit card $337.00 for 30 pills of Cialis!!!

SHEESH!

[milky]

The pelvic floor exercises train/strengthen the muscles around the spincter so that you can clamp down on it to stop the leakage. That's why you were instructed to "interrupt the urine stream over and over". That seems to have worked, because you can hold your water when you are conscious. However, when you are not consciously thinking about it (as in when asleep or relaxed), the spincter opens slightly and "drip, drip, drip". When the catheter is inserted, it passes through the spincter, so, obviously the muscle exercises will not work because the valve is held open by the tube. There is a nerve attached to the spincter which detects any unwanted relaxation and refreshes the clamping response subconsciously. This is the one which is damaged or stunned by the operation. It may recover in time as nerves can grow an alternate path if it was severed by the surgery.

Did you have radiation treatment after the op? If so, sadly, it may have been irretrievably "killed" by the radiation but only time will tell.

The wait for the PSA test is normal, because any residue prostate tissue (they NEVER get it all) will go crazy after surgery, so PSA results will be meaningless until the kidneys have had time to filter out the surgery-caused peak in PSA release.

Not sure about the bits "shifting about". Once the prostate (and reproductive "man bits") were removed, everything should have been sutured to the point there would be nothing moving around. You should bring this to your follow-up consultant.

Oh, the Cialis script. This is because, by it's very nature, cialis (or via-gra - edit necessary to overcome forum rules) directs blood flow to the area, usually to improve erectile function, but, in this case to help with the recovery process - including incontinence control. Cialis is considered a "luxury" drug, so there's not usually any government assistance program in place - hence the cost. It sounds like you were prescribed a full-dose medication. I usually prescribe "Tadalafil 5mg", which is a tiny dose - not anywhere near as strong as anyone needs for erectile disfunction, but sufficient to improve the blood flow to the area and much cheaper (in Australia at least). Ask you physician for that, next time.

[Jigger]

Hope everything goes well for you Zath, as we know Milky is well qualified to give advice,and worth following.

[DJ_Zath]

Milky: yes- that is exactly what it is: Tadalafil 5mg and yep, it is to promote blood flow in and around the area...  even the doctor, himself, told me "they overcharged for the medication" and it was only 30 pills (with 3 more refills to go).


Jigger: thanks for the kind words. may you and your family also be in good health and spirits!