Removal and Impotency Questions

lardog · New User Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 7

I was hoping to get some advice. I am 52 and diagnosed with prostrate cancer last week. I had a PSA of 4 and a Gleason of 6. PSA was normal 22 months ago.
I have been to one Urologist who recommended removal. I have spoken to three people who have had the surgury and each recommend the best method. All three different treatments. 1) had removal the 2nd recommended seed implant and the 3rd recommended Proton laser at Loma Linda in Calif.
It seems removal is the most sure way but am concerned with impotency issues.
1)Has anyone had successful errections after removal of the prostrate and if so how long?
2) What is the best way to find the surgeon who has had the most experience in removal? I live in the Dallas, Texas area.
3)If you had a chance to do a different procedure than you did what method what you use.

It seems almost all from what I have read that most men are impotent after removal.
Thanks for you imput.

swimom · New User Joined: 14 Nov 2005 Posts: 7 Location: Michigan

Lardog,
This is MHO only and should only be taken as such but..and there always is one...surgery for such a young man is absolutely indicated. You have a low PSA and a 6 Gleason. Please seek a second opinion on the biopsy ASAP from a well know pathologist. You have some time to make decisions anyway. MY justification for surgery is simple...it's a first line treatment leaving radiation as a potential salvage treatment should more be indicated later. ED is a problem ,but not impossible to deal with in almost all cases. Incontience is the other problem that has to be dealt with but again, you are young and with low grade cancers, if there are few comorbidities and no complications it usually isn't a lasting issue.
Please feel free to e-mail direct to plp40@wowway.com I'd was 48 a year ago when I had robotic and it sounds like our stats are about the same.
Good luck, Paul
_________________
swim

johnw100 · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:27 am Post subject: removal and impotency questions

Lardog,

Some food for thought:

. No rush to decide

. WHO you select is very important as there is a huge difference in results.
eg, someone with a good surgeon can be active in a very short time with few if any side effects.

. I have contacted many who have been to Loma Linda for Proton treatment and every person speaks very highly of them.

. Best information I've read on PC is the book by Lee Nelson: let's know if you need more detail on it.

My own story is similar to yours: in June 2004, 2 of 10 biopsies were abnormal. I have undertaken diet, supplement, and lifestyle improvements and recent biopsies were all OK.

I did seriously consider Proton, but for now I have chosen to continue watchful waiting which seems to have worked for me to date.

Please contact if you have any questions.

Johnw100

lardog · New User Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 7

johnw100

Yes of course I am interested.

I would like to know more about what supplements , diet and life style. If you want you can email me directly at invdall@sbcglobal.net.

I found an article on the internet where a man was drink breastmilk once a day and had had a significant drop in his PSA readings for over seven years.

All the research I have done recommends against Pro Ton Therapy at Loma Linda in California. Especially if you are under the age of 65. I have spoken to one Doctor friend who swears by it and the only treatment but he is 72. As with all radiation therapies the damaging affects usually don't appear for three to seven years, ie: bladder scarring or bladder malfunction, incontience problems and later bowel problems.

The seed also has many problems down the road. If you are older you may not have to worry about the problems.

Wait and watch I was told since I am 52 is not a good option.
Let me know what you have done, really interested.
Thanks Larry

johnw100 · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:33 am Post subject: removal and impotency questions

Lardog,

Yes, radiation can have side effects.
Proton treatment is a lot different to usual radiation.
Past users have a web site where many have posted their story.
I was given 7 contacts in Australia who had been to Loma Linda and all replied to me within a few days with positive reports.

If thinking of watchful waiting, one would need to carefully check for any change. Although PC usually progresses slowly, it can sometimes change in a short time.

The book by Lee Nelson ia called "Prostate Cancer Prevention and Cure"
He covers all aspects, nutrition and treatments, it's a very good book.

Will email you with further details and what I've done.

Regards,

Johnw

R.Uff · New User Joined: 28 Apr 2006 Posts: 4

[quote="lardog"]I was hoping to get some advice. I am 52 and diagnosed with prostrate cancer last week. I had a PSA of 4 and a Gleason of 6. PSA was normal 22 months ago.
I have been to one Urologist who recommended removal. I have spoken to three people who have had the surgury and each recommend the best method. All three different treatments. 1) had removal the 2nd recommended seed implant and the 3rd recommended Proton laser at Loma Linda in Calif.
It seems removal is the most sure way but am concerned with impotency issues.
1)Has anyone had successful errections after removal of the prostrate and if so how long?
2) What is the best way to find the surgeon who has had the most experience in removal? I live in the Dallas, Texas area.
3)If you had a chance to do a different procedure than you did what method what you use.

It seems almost all from what I have read that most men are impotent after removal.
Thanks for you imput.[/quote]

Lardog, I am 51 and had the op 2 years ago, I had no choice at the time due to the state of the growth, so the radical removal was the only option. Prior to the removal I was told that given 6 weeks and every thing should start repairing back to normal. No way, here I am 2 years later, and only achieved erections by injecting myself. That initself has caused problems, because whereas the result could have punctured holes in armour plating, the pressure was so great that I wanted to rip my penis off and stick it into a bucket of ice for 4 hours!

I am currently experiencing some renewal, which has occured after advice from a visiting person to our church with a healing ministry, but it is only a start. As an additional means of encouragement I am taking Cialis each day, and using another injection with less effect as and when, and progress is being made. From my own personal point of view I have lost a major part of my libido, and the effect of not being able to perform as per normal is only mildly irritating, although, like a lot of men who love their wives, I enjoy making her sexually satisfied from my own egotistical point of view. One major result of this situation, is that I no longer judge myself as a man, but purely as a person.

Make no mistake this op is life changing, however rather this than die in a very painful and prjected way as a friend of mine did a few years ago.

If you can communicate to your wife, and she is a patient and loving person, unlike how us men are, then you will find a way of living and loving through it. There are many ways to please a lady, and this could be the oportunity of finding out a few more for yourselves.

Criogenics ( please excuse spelling) would appear to be a new way of cure, which is being pioneered in the states.

All the best with which ever way you go, the decision will always be yours.

lardog · New User Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 7

R.Uff
Thanks for the reply. What type of surgery did you have the open method? Did the Doctor do nerve sparing surgery on you?

\Sorry about your problems, but I am still a little ignorant on the subject.
What type of injections were you taken?

Who recommended the Cialis and what type or brand of injections are you taking now. Does the injections or the Cialis help you get potent or is that just not a real possibility?

Did you have or do you still have any incontience problems? Not trying to be nosey just looking on what I should expect down the road.

You said your friend died a painful way can you explain?

R.Uff · New User Joined: 28 Apr 2006 Posts: 4

Lardog,

The surgeon, who is very highly rated globally, had some difficulties with some nerve ends to one side.

There are a selection of erection giving injections. Cavaject is the one I have had best success with so far, however all of them may cause fibrosis over a period of time.

A registrar reccomended the Cialis daily, when she heard that I was achieving some unaccountable success after many months of nothing. I did not tell her about the prayer effect, as they don't normally react to that type of thing very well.

When I inject myself I do not take the Cialis, in an attempt not to overdose myself and develop Prapism. The resulting erection is a definite result of the injection. The daily tablets are as an encouragement to look for any other signs of hope which would have normally occured as a result of metal stimulation.

The incontinence is an ongoing annoyance, reduced to a certain extent by a regulat intake of Yentrieve, which works, but has loads of potential side effects, and I experience most of them, but the net effect is better than uncontrollable wetting myself. It is now down to a stress reaction, mostly, which reduces my activities greatly.

I am possibly going to have a couple of corrective operations, although they may well have rejection problems. Life is never easy is it.

The friend who died painfully, was as a direct result of the cancer being found too late.

All the best with your experiences.

Richard

lardog · New User Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 7

I just wanted to put a quik note on the board, and say thanks to those whose responded. I finally had surgeryJuly 14, 06 at New York Presbyterian Hospital with Dr Ash Tewari.

After I did an extensive amount of research and based on my personal findings and age of 52 I decided to have Robotic surgery. All the research I did led me to contact Dr Ash Tewari Cornell University / Presbyterian Hospital in New York. I sent an email and reports to his office one evening and Dr Tewari office promptly called me the next morning. I further discussed my case with one of Dr Tewari assistants and received a call from Dr. Tewari that evening. Dr Tewari confirmed that he would do the surgery himself and I would not be passed on to an associate.

My surgery went as discussed and I was out of the hospital the next day.
My cathter was removed 6 days later and I have not had any leakage problems or contience problems at all.

If anyone would like any further information please email me and I would be happy to discuss the situation. invdall@sbcglobal.net

I was extremely happy with Dr Tewari and his staff. I was treated wonderfully and I highly would recommend him and his office. The hospital also had a great staff. Very Happy

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