PROSTATE SURGERY,,,ROBOTIC OR HANDS ON?????

Hotrod,

You already have a significant advantage over myself and plenty more folk on here had, you have found this site to help with probably the most difficult decision of your life. Add to that, your most positive mental attitude which certainly bodes well for the start of your journey.

A few points I'd like to add:

My first thought was to "get the cancer out"! Then after talking to my Urologist, who sent me to meet with the Surgeon, who sent me to meet with the Radiation Oncologist and then back to Surgeon.

I was offered either surgery or robotic. Robotic would have meant another trip to a Hospital further away. Also the Surgeon mentioned that Robotic was a fairly new procedure and that I would have similar outcomes - just slightly quicker recovery time. He was much more experienced in open but said that eventually all operations would be Robotic.

One of the reasons I chose open rather than Robotic was that Robotic would take more time and therefore I would be under anaesthetic for longer. Also, I preferred the Surgeon having more room to do what he had to with more feel. Surprisingly, (after having general anaesthetic years ago) I didn't have any adverse effects from the anaesthetic this time.

I went in for surgery at 7am on the wednesday and came out mid-day on the friday. Didn't need much in the way of pain relief other than paracetemol for a few days after. Catheter was in a bit longer than usual as surgery was on 15 December and because of Xmas break it came out on 27th.
I have no incontinence - from day one but do have ED.

I remember one of the meetings with my Surgeon and he said that he was confident that I wouldn't have any incontinence problems and I would have ED and would probably need some SRT further on as although he used the nerve sparing technique, where possible, there was a possibility that some minute cancer cells will be left behind. As you will read from my sig. that is exactly what happened.

So as you digest all the information from all the knowledgeable members here, I wish you well in your decision making,

Sincere best wishes,

Chris.

I had open on a monday morning , was walking 2 miles with spouse to our apt the following wed @ noon. I have 1 4.5" scar that is barely visible. 99% continent when catheter came out. successful penetration 2 -2.5 years out with cialis/viagra mix. surgeon feel is important imo. uretha restitch is done with Hi power mag glasses, which arguably is on par with robot. 5.5 hr. op, due to 29 lymph nodes dissected, all clean. don't think a robot could do that. surgeons team did it, worked for me.you should be fine either way, It really is the surgeon… Regards

Hotrod,
Welcome. Sorry you have to be here, but your in good company. I can only echo what others here have said an also give my personal story. So, take your time, get some other opinions (Rad Onc would be a good one and another surgeon or too), figure out what other outcomes other than a cure that you want and then mke a move.

I went for RALP. My hospital stay was less than 36 hours and I was walking a half mile in less than 72 hours after the surgery. A friend of mine who had open was laid up for about 4 months after surgery. Good luck and keep us posted!