Diagnosed with Prostate cancer 4 weeks ago

Chappy, asking for a RO to be part of your diagnostic team is critical at this point. One thing many of us have learned here is that the pushy doctors are to be avoided. Confidence is good, but telling us "I'm right and you don't have to talk to anyone else" is a problem.

What I found, also, is when I met "the guy", I somehow knew in my gut that I was where I needed to be. Ask them (both the surgeon and the RO) how many successful patients they've had. The good ones will be more than willing to answer the question.

I would also encourage you to slow down, really take your time. There really isn't a rush. Honestly, I probably could have waited....but I didnt' want to be laid up during the outdoor season. I wanted to be fully able to enjoy the summer when it got here. And I think that will be ok.

Chappy,
As you can see, most of the radiation guys are very vocal about using their choice of treatment. Most of us surgery guys suggest you investigate ALL options, talk to several doctors and as Halbert said when you meet "the guy" you will know in your gut what direction to take.

That is what happened to me. When I met Dr. Patel, he had obviously read all my records and talked to me as if I had known him a long time.

I had a guy working with me who had seeds 2 years before my surgery and he had many bowel problem. While I was changing a pad for incontienence in the rest room, he was changing and throwing away a pair of shi**y underwear. The "runs" came along when he least expected it and was never prepared. He also had ED issues.

Whatever treatment you choose, you will have side effects. Surgery has immediate side effects while radiation can have them later on.

My surgeon had great post-op percentages yet I was incontinent for 22 months after surgery. The patient who had his surgery 1 hour after me was continent 1 month later. You just never know, each of us are different, our cancers are different, are tumors are different and the size of our prostates are different.

If there was a BEST WAY, we would all do it.

This is "Your Decision" to make and yours alone.

Try buying the book "the Decision: Your prostate biopsy shows cancer...Now What?" It is written by Dr. John C. McHugh. I ordered
it from Amazon. It is about a urologist who gets DX with PCa. Good insight plus a little humor mixed in it at a time when you need a little laughter in your life.

Good luck with YOUR Decision


Bill from Florida

And there are also a great many surgical patients who are going along with minimal or no side effects and who are very pleased with their results. We just tend to keep our voices down. Or sometimes feel shouted down.

For me, coming up on six weeks since surgery, I feel good. I know I'm physically not all the way back, but I'm getting my strength back. I'm told I'm not "pasty" looking anymore. My sex life is as good as it's ever been...and better in some ways. I leak a little, but it's a minor annoyance. I can't accept that I'm rare or unusual, and that there aren't a great many surgical patients who are doing as well as I am.