Going into UCLH London to have focal cryotherapy today

Hope all goes well.

See you on the other side.

Cryo went well on Tuesday 22nd April.
Had typical post anaesthetic vomiting reaction.
Discharged from UCLH Wednesday morning.
Surgeon was also thinking of zapping the right lateral (see MRI pic on profile page-see signature), but I said only do anterior index.
No pain from cryo – instead, just discomfort now wearing 7-day catheter, to be removed 28th April.
Won’t know initial results until after MRI on 10th March.
Other side effects- I assume it’ll take several months before any permanent side-effects can be determined. Surgeon said possibly only 20% chance dry climax.
Just had visit from district nurse, who helped with a few catheter issues.
Signed off work until 29th April.
Surgeon just emailed me, said"
"Hi Andrew - yes spoke with you in recovery!" [Although I don't remember it - amnesia after general]
"Procedure went very well and I'm very happy with the way it went.
Yes we use a local anaesthetic [on perineum] at the end of the procedure.
I agree the catheter causes more discomfort than the procedure but hopefully will be out soon.
MRI in 2 weeks will give us a good idea about treatment but I'm confident the lesion was well treated."

Andy H said...
Cryo went well on Tuesday 22nd April.
Had typical post anaesthetic vomiting reaction.
Discharged from UCLH Wednesday morning.
Surgeon was also thinking of zapping the right lateral (see MIR pic on profile page-see signature), but I said only do anterior index.
No pain from cryo – instead, just discomfort now wearing 7-day catheter, to be removed 28th April.
Won’t know initial results until after MRI on 10th March.
Other side effects- I assume it’ll take several months before any permanent side-effects can be determined. Surgeon said possibly only 20% chance dry climax.
Just had visit from district nurse, who helped with a few catheter issues.
Signed off work until 29th April.
Surgeon just emailed me, said"
"Hi Andrew - yes spoke with you in recovery!
Procedure went very well and I'm very happy with the way it went.
Yes we use a local anaesthetic [on perineum] at the end of the procedure.
I agree the catheter causes more discomfort than the procedure but hopefully will be out soon.
MRI in 2 weeks will give us a good idea about treatment but I'm confident the lesion was well treated."

I can only compare it to my procedure 6 years ago. I only had a catheter for 4 days and there was never any talk or any mention of possible dry orgasms. I did lose about 60% of ejaculated volume but that was somewhat predicted to be around 50%+-. And I was a little sore for about 10 - 14 days afterward and did cut my daily walks by half then.

That said congratulations for you have received a 21st century treatment. My doctor has done over 700 TFTs with a success rate in the high 90 percentiles. Life for most have returned to pre Pca times as I expect it will for you too.

robertC said...
I had full cryoablation of my whole prostate in the USA . It was outpatient and I had to go home 90 minutes after I woke up, even though I was in pain. (they even offered to do it under regional pain block instead of general anesthesia).
Good luck with your results.

Wow! Ouch! I was very pleased they did mine under general!
I was to have gone home the same day, but because my procedure was delayed, it was too late in the day. So, I stayed in overnight, which I was glad about, because of my reaction to the general.
Which part of your prostate was your cancer in ?

Good luck Andy.

Catheter: wearing it and removing it - see new topic: "Catheter - wearing it, and it's removal"