Treatment Final Decision Made

AZ, The best treatment decision for each of us is an informed one. You’ve done your due diligence and I wish you a very successful treatment. Terry

The treatment decision can be difficult for the very fact that there are often two valid paths and weighing the various factors is not always easy. This is why we suggest to newcomers that they learn their specific options, keep an open mind, become informed, and ask questions. You'll no doubt be much more relaxed, as most of us were after deciding.

All the best to you!

I was considering both options and I chose surgery. Apart from the expected secondary effects on sexual functions, my pertormance was already not too brilliant anyway, the rest was ok. I considered most of the points in your list and one more: with surgery you will have more precise followup psa tests and the red flag indicating the need of further treatment is shown earlier. I hope this will never be your case and also that both surgery and recovery come and go as smoothly as possible.

Wishing you the very best outcome, and will look forward to hearing from you on the other side of surgery.
Michael

Thanks for the replies everyone! And yes, I do feel relieved -- I can put the options behind me and focus on the definite path ahead. In thinking about it some more, I suppose the one thing that concerned me more than anything is how my PCa came about: totally unnoticed, even though I've had at least annual PSA tests and DRE exams for about 20 years. The reason for all those regular tests? I've had BPH problems since at least my mid-40s. The only reason my PCa was discovered was because last fall I got fed up and scheduled a TURP procedure. The shavings from the TURP were sent to pathology -- and well, the rest is history. And then the biopsy came back with 12 out of 17 cores positive. Even my urologist - who specializes in urologic cancers - was floored. Every medical diagnosis I've ever had over the years has been BPH and nothing more. Anyway, everything about this PCa has been oddball. So, maybe it's partly an emotional decision -- but I want a little bit more certainty than RT can provide. It's not that RT is a bad choice -- it may have served me quite well in the long run. But my head needs some more closure. Certainly -- that wasn't the only reason and there was no real "overriding" reason. But my situation weighed very heavily into it.

AZ, it must be such a relief to have made the treatment decision. Wishing you a great outcome and a speedy recovery.

Also, there are a few threads with tips about surgery and the recovery. My favorite tip was to get a plastic bucket to hold the catheter bag, especially at night, to avoid spills. We also rented an electric recliner because it was easier to get out of the chair than to get out of bed after surgery. Finally, pants with snaps up the sides were really helpful. Good luck!

Godspeed, Brother. We stand with you.

NJ Fred

Wow, I'd never think it could be done out patient, but I know nothing about the procedure.
What hospital or facility are you having it done at?
I think my doc uses Chandler hospital since that's where my implant was done.

As others have said, one of the most difficult parts of initial treatment is figuring out which one you want to go with. The best advice is what it sounds like you did - research the hell out of it, talk to several doctors (often with different opinions) and do what seems best to you based upon it all. It's really all you can do. Once you make that choice, never look back and second guess. I remember when I made my choice it was like a weight was finally lifted off my shoulders. I felt much less anxious once I had a definite plan and schedule for fighting back.

On the surgery suggestions, two priceless ones that I got from guys in this forum for post surgery - a five gallon plastic bucket from Home Depot and a large plastic cup. Don't write me off as crazy yet, these are really helpful. When you come home from surgery you will have a catheter and larger urine bag for at least several days. The five gallon bucket works perfectly for placing the bag into. If the bag should happen to leak, it will catch the urine instead of soaking your carpet, the bucket hides the clear bag so you and your family don't need to constantly see the contents, and the wire handle on the bucket makes it much easier to carry the bag around. The cup is quite helpful after you have the catheter removed. For whatever reason, many guys, me included, noticed that after the removal, your stream is split into two or three or more streams for a few days going every which way which can obviously make a heck of a mess. If you hold the large plastic cup up close and pee in that you can easily catch all the streams and then just dump it in the toilet mess-free. I used one of those plastic quart cups that you get when you order soup from a Chinese restaurant which worked perfectly. I took a black sharpie and wrote "piss cup" on it and kept it on the lid of the toilet tank. Yes, my wife screamed when she saw it but that was the point. After surgery you need a little humor and lightness. I still get a laugh to this day from her when I threaten to bring back the "piss cup"!

You are on your way.

For those first couple of nights after surgery it would benefit you tremendously to have a recliner. You can actually rent them if you do not have one.

The cup idea from schoolpsych is really good, if only because those first few days squatting can be uncomfortable. Instead of a cup you can get one of these….

https://www.walmart.com/ip/equate-male-urinal-with-spill-proof-lid-32-fl-oz/1120337

I just underwent significant abdominal surgery and not having to sit on the toilet to urinate was amazingly helpful!

Stephen S and azroadrunner,

Ah, you guys are no fun with that high-falutin, fancy, portable urinal. When you have that you miss the look on your SO's face when they see that the container they just got soup out of is now sitting on the toilet with "Piss Cup" written on it!

Just kidding of course, in retrospect, that made for purpose, portable urinal is probably a better idea!

-Bill

AZ, what a great attitude going into your treatment. I had a Turp also and remember the catheter. A bother yes, but long since forgotten. Wishing you the best outcome and many great years ahead.
Jack