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Barry,

I think you wife is absolutely correct.  In the big picture, the majority of diagnosed PC patients are treated once and do not have lingering issues.  Those who do have secondary issues do need to look for secondary treatments.  Some have secondary issues with their PC, others have secondary issues with incontinence or ED.  If one were to survey the variety of posters on this site at any given time, you'd have mostly a mix of (1) the brand new guys who stumbled upon the site via web searches for any & all new information prior to their first treatment, and (2) the guys who are pursuing secondary treatments because of one of the lingering issues I listed.  I'd say most posters, not all, fall into these two categories.  Back to the big picture, the majority of guys, those who were successfully treated the first time, most of them might have been part of group (1), but they have moved on with their lives and no longer visit here (or some check-in infrequently).

At PSA below 10, GS 3+4, and 1 sample at 10% and 3 samples at 5%, you are a fairly low risk case and I wouldn't spend a lot of extra energy worrying.

Peace

Barry,
I have to agree with your wife. If I didn't have ED and incontinence I'd be in bed now with my wife instead of answering you!
You can look at our stats and notice that the guys that come and go, end up fine. They did what needed to be done, and a few months later their parts did what need to be done. Finished.
I'm an engineer and like to figure things out. I'm willing to bet we can come up with a correlation between the number of HW answers since joining vs. diagnosis and condition.
HWA =f(PSAd, PSAa, INC, ED)
Where:
HWA= Number of Healing well answers
PSAd= PSA at diagnosis
PSAa = PSA after treatment
INC = Incontinence in ml per day
ED = times per week.

I haven't quite pulled the equation together (I'll leave that to some other engineer or mathematician) but most guys sitting here typing after 3 months are here because they have issues with at least one of the last three variables.
Paraphrasing a recent study by Hu around 2/3 of patients were continent in 3 months. Of the remaining third, 2/3 were continent in a year. So, for every guy who is incontinent, there are 8 who are fine. The guys here are the one in 9. I don't remember the ED rates but they were in that study too.
Granted, you may have problems but odds are, you won't.
Jeff

Sorry... I can't help it... The constants need a little tuning but here it is:
HWA= 5*PSAd +5*(1000*(PSAa-0.04) + 1.5 *INC + 1/(0.02+ED))
Jeff

Post Edited (Worried Guy) : 1/17/2010 6:35:45 PM (GMT-7)

Purg, you probably fall into group (2) I listed above, don't you? I wrote the description of (2) with you and others in mind...secondary issues with PC (after primary treatment), or ED or Incontinence.  You are, I believe, dealing with at least one of these group (2) lingering issues...

Post Edited (Casey59) : 1/17/2010 9:16:16 AM (GMT-7)

My Dr. said that it is a crap shoot. Some have ED other don't. Just the luck of the draw. Some of us get a full house other get nothing.

Jeff T

Jeff -- you left boot size out of your equation again

More seriously, it is as has been said -- the majority regain function after the operation and need no further treatment. Of the remainder with ED, oral drugs and injections probably work for over half, so we are talking about odds very much in your favor. Remember that the whole point is to get the PC and you should note that everybody on this board regardless of their ED status is alive.

Casey, I may not have made my post clear. I will try again. Dr. said he would save the nerves if at all possible. If it looked like he had to take them he would. (In my case Nerves saved)

Now to the ED. Will willie come back strong? Here is what the Dr. reported. Many times the nerves are damaged in surgery. They take time to heal. Many do get erections after surgery but It is a bit of a crap shoot as to how your body heals. He does start the patient on Oral Drugs just after surgery. Recommends the pump if necessary and advises to keep the blood flowing. After that some get it going others just not good enough.

I hope this explains my response better.

Jeff T

I agree with the crap shoot analogy. The doctor does not know ahead of time how easy the nerves are to peel off the prostate, does not know how sensitive your nerves are to damage, and does not know how well the nerves will repair after the trauma.

You are right to be concerned about ED, and you should expect to have it at least for a time. But there are treatments, and injections work great even without nerves at all.

I am now 22 months out and even though I had non-nerve sparing (the doctor excised wide margins), I have seen some recovery in function. Occasional nocturnal erections. If I can get it up with the aid of a rubber band (with maybe the pump) and keep some physical stimulation going, it stays up. I still can't "think it up" -- that hasn't happened even once -- but even so, I feel happy with my situation -- it's a lot better than it could have been.

hi guys, many thanks for all your comments great support barry

Amen to that, Goodlife, well said

Let me third that Goodlife.  Well said indeed!

Skeener

Greetings, Barry.  Not sure exactly why I hang around.  I don't fit any of the categories - surgery went well, continent from the start, no ED from the time catheter was removed.  Do take Levitra (ADC version) based on doctors recommendation.  I have taken a break for a couple of months at a time, but I'm always drawn back to my brothers (and sisters) here on this board.  Just think it is important to be able to share positive experiences with those who have issues.  Someday I'll fade away but for now, its therapeutic for me just to come and read the comments and post an answer every once in a while.  I was blessed by those on the board when I had surgery 2 years ago and have always been grateful.  David