HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Post surgery questions

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/31/2012 3:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hello--

First I would like to share that this forum has been incredibly insightful and has answered many questions. I feel like the last couple of months have been a blur and it's been very helpful to refer to this site. I have a couple of questions for the group. I'm 6 weeks post-op (RRP) and things are going fairly well. However, I have question regarding my pathology report. There was 0.2 centimeters involved in the bladder neck margin. My doctor was not too concerned because he said that this was tissue that cauterized when reattaching the urethra. Anyone have a similar experience or additional insight to share on this one?

My other question is about exercising. My doctor cleared me to begin lifting very light weights (less than 10 pounds). My question is what safe leg exercises can I perform (again assuming light weights)?

Thanks for your advice and insight.

Craig
Posted 12/31/2012 3:43 AM (GMT 0)
Craig,

Welcome to HW.

I am not a gym/weights guy, so can't speak to exercises, but the standard suggestion is to walk a lot. I found that multiple periods of walking combined with Kegels afterwards helped me with the incontinence issues.

As to the bladder neck, you will really be looking for undetectible PSA values. As long as you have those, I would not be concerned with the positive margins, as they may or may not be significant at this time. Your surgeon is the best resource for information until the first PSA is done.

 

Posted 12/31/2012 4:20 AM (GMT 0)
Your doctor's take on the 2mm of positive margin on the bladder neck seems sensible. That part of the dissection is done with a cautery and a fair amount of the surrounding tissue gets cooked as the prostate is cut loose from the bladder. There are never any guarantees but you ought to be OK.

As for the exercises you'll need to ask your doctor. He will probably tell you to wait a bit before you do much more than walking.
Posted 12/31/2012 6:52 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

As the others have noted, I would not be too concerned over a 0.2 cm positive margin. I had a DaVinci about 14 months ago. The next day, the surgeon told me that my right posterior apex margin was involved by tumor over a 0.2 cm length. He went on to explain that they have found that anything under 0.5 is never a problem and that "you should consider yourself to be cured."

I don't know if the location of a positive margin matters. If not, then it would mean the same thing for you -- nothing to worry about at all. :)

Good luck!
Chuck

7/11 PSA 6.41 (4.1 2009) DRE-BPH,no lumps PCa Dx 8/11 age 62 adenocarcinoma 3/20 cores,T2C Glea 3+3 DaVinci prostatectomy 11/1/11 Mayo Clinic, nerve sparing Dr. Matthew Tollefson-highly recommend! Pathology-tumor confined to prostate 5 lymph nodes, seminal vesicules, extraprostatic soft tissue negative 1x.6x.6 cm mass involving R post inferior, R post apex, L mid post prostate R post apex margin involved by tumor over .2 cm length
Catheter out 7 days, no incontinence
Post-op exams 2/13/12, 9/10/12, PSA <0.1
Posted 12/31/2012 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
Positive margins can go either way. Many men have them, and never have recurrance. Others, myself included, had one tiny one, <.1cm, and had recurrance within 9 months of surgery. In my case, I don't think it was the margin, they feel I am dealing with an agressive strand of PC.

Once you start getting post-surgery PSA tests, you can probably put your mind to rest.

david in sc
Posted 12/31/2012 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum Craig
It can sound like a problem to have positive margins, but I think that what is actually going to matter will be your first PSA test
Not a gym guy myself, but I guess that as with everything post op you have to start small and build it up very gradually, and when in doubt ask a doc.
Are you doing okay ofherwise as you don't mention other stuff.
Alf
Posted 12/31/2012 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
Alf -
My catheter was removed 2 weeks ago (my uro prefers to leave it in for 3 weeks after surgery) and I'm experiencing incontinence. I'm using 2-3 pads a day depending on my activty level. Nights have been pretty good and dry. ED hasn't been a big issue although my erections aren't 100%. Maybe 80 - 85%. Will this improve over time? Uro prescribed 5mg of Cialis (daily).

Any tips on using Depend pads? Lessons learned? etc.. I'm still getting used them and being out in public.

Craig
Posted 12/31/2012 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
Group --
My first post-op PSA is on Friday which is 6.5 weeks after sugery. Has enough time elapsed to get an accurate measure?
Posted 12/31/2012 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to our corner of the world. Sounds like you're doing great. I'd go easy on the weights for another month and just do walking to build up the legs before hitting. Then build back up and in a few months you'll be fine.

Six weeks after surgery should give you an indication of how things went. You'll be getting plenty of PSA tests. Not sure I'd use accurate and PSA test in the same sentence but you'll get a good indication of how things are progressing.

Keep us updated on your progress.
All the best,
Andrew
Posted 1/1/2013 2:10 AM (GMT 0)
Craig,

Email me at the address in my profile - I'll send along my "pads" doc.

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply