Re: New York Times piece about sex after prostate surgery (Question for Laurel)

[Guest guest]

Laurel - When your prostate is removed your sex life never returns to normal. Who are these urologists you are referring to that tell their parients otherwise? Have you heard this personally? Mick yellow_laurel wrote: Members who are contemplating surgery might find this informative. It is closer, I think, to the truth than what most

urlologists are telling their patients.Laurel..last month, researchers from Washington University and NewYork University reviewed interim data from their own study showingthat fewer than half of the men who had surgery felt their sex liveshad returned to normal within a year."http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/15/health/15well.html?ref=scienceGod rewards those that keep on keeping on. Stay positive. Think positive. Pray positive. And talk positive.

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[Guest guest]

Hi Mick, I am on two of the prostatepointers.org lists. One of them

is PCAI (prostate cancer and intimacy) and as you would imagine,

about 95% of the discussion revolves around sex after treatment. The

article I mentioned was posted there and a number of men are

currently posting about having been, misinformed, mislead, whatever

you want to call it by their docs. I did not know until about 6

months ago that when a doctor quotes potency rates they do not

differentiate between natural erections and those that occur with

medication etc.

Our friend who just finished his proton treatment was told by his

Kaiser urlologist that IF he had ED problems after surgery that he

could " fix it " with a 95% percent degree of confidence. I was not in

the doctor's office, so I can't verify. Up until quite recently

Kaiser, at least in my area did not have The DaVinci equipment.

If you have not read my message from yesterday (#17778) in which I

copied another article which kind of backs up what I said, in that

doctors in this country are not talking about sex with their

patients. It would seem that many of the prostate cancer survivors

either do not report, or under report difficulty with ED to their

doctors and lots of doctors are not asking. This leaves the doctors

with very inaccurate information with which to counsel new patients.

Even Loma does not have any kind of follow up data base

regarding side effects. I asked, because I thought it was a no

brainer, but alas they do not. All they want from Gregg is his

subsequent PSA tests, and they are relying totally on us to take to

care of that. No doctor to doctor communication.

On a personal note, Gregg has been seeing his urologist for nearly 3

years. He treated Gregg for his bladder cancer and is following

through with his post prostate cancer treatment. I asked Gregg if he

has ever, once asked him about his sexual function. He never has. It

is as though it is a non issue. I guess he is waiting for Gregg to

bring it up. How often every day in doctor's offices all over the

country does this scenario repeat itself?

So while I do not think that the vast majority of doctors are

deliberately giving men bad information, I still think that a rosier

picture is painted in many cases than will be the reality of life

after prostate cancer treatment.

Sorry this got so long. Aren't you glad you asked?

Laurel

> Members who are contemplating surgery might find this

informative. It

> is closer, I think, to the truth than what most urlologists are

telling

> their patients.

>

> Laurel

>

> ..last month, researchers from Washington University and New

> York University reviewed interim data from their own study showing

> that fewer than half of the men who had surgery felt their sex lives

> had returned to normal within a year. "

>

> http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/15/health/15well.html?ref=science

>

>

>

>

>

>

> God rewards those that keep on keeping on. Stay positive. Think

positive. Pray positive. And talk positive.

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo!

Search.

>

[Guest guest]

Laurel - I only have my own experience to draw from and all I can say is that my little-known surgeon here in tiny little nowhere Nebraska has had a personal 20-30 minute consultation with me every time I went in for my PSA test for the last 2 years. And his plan is to continue this up to 3 years. Every time they ask me how my urine stream is and if I'm having any leakage issues and how my erections are. I don't know how much better it can get than that. I will also give myself a pat on the back here for something equally as important. I took control of my treatment from the second I was diagnosed. I engaged in conversations with my surgeon. I studied and I asked the right questions and I demanded answers. I'd be curious what percentage of men actually do that. In my opinion far too many men set back and just allow the doctor to do whatever they feel is best. Good communication takes effort on the part of

the doctor and the patient. There is no excuse for the men in these studies to not understand what their potential outcomes could be after treatment. Mick yellow_laurel wrote: Hi Mick, I am on two of the prostatepointers.org lists. One of them is PCAI (prostate cancer and intimacy) and as you would imagine, about 95% of the discussion revolves around sex after treatment. The article I mentioned was posted there and a number

of men are currently posting about having been, misinformed, mislead, whatever you want to call it by their docs. I did not know until about 6 months ago that when a doctor quotes potency rates they do not differentiate between natural erections and those that occur with medication etc. Our friend who just finished his proton treatment was told by his Kaiser urlologist that IF he had ED problems after surgery that he could "fix it" with a 95% percent degree of confidence. I was not in the doctor's office, so I can't verify. Up until quite recently Kaiser, at least in my area did not have The DaVinci equipment. If you have not read my message from yesterday (#17778) in which I copied another article which kind of backs up what I said, in that doctors in this country are not talking about sex with their patients. It would seem that many of the prostate cancer survivors either do not report,

or under report difficulty with ED to their doctors and lots of doctors are not asking. This leaves the doctors with very inaccurate information with which to counsel new patients. Even Loma does not have any kind of follow up data base regarding side effects. I asked, because I thought it was a no brainer, but alas they do not. All they want from Gregg is his subsequent PSA tests, and they are relying totally on us to take to care of that. No doctor to doctor communication. On a personal note, Gregg has been seeing his urologist for nearly 3 years. He treated Gregg for his bladder cancer and is following through with his post prostate cancer treatment. I asked Gregg if he has ever, once asked him about his sexual function. He never has. It is as though it is a non issue. I guess he is waiting for Gregg to bring it up. How often every day in doctor's offices all over the country does this

scenario repeat itself? So while I do not think that the vast majority of doctors are deliberately giving men bad information, I still think that a rosier picture is painted in many cases than will be the reality of life after prostate cancer treatment. Sorry this got so long. Aren't you glad you asked? Laurel > Members who are contemplating surgery might find this informative. It > is closer, I

think, to the truth than what most urlologists are telling > their patients. > > Laurel > > ..last month, researchers from Washington University and New > York University reviewed interim data from their own study showing > that fewer than half of the men who had surgery felt their sex lives > had returned to normal within a year." > > http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/15/health/15well.html?ref=science > > > > > > > God rewards those that keep on keeping on. Stay positive. Think positive. Pray positive. And talk positive. > > > > --------------------------------- > Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.

> God rewards those that keep on keeping on. Stay positive. Think positive. Pray positive. And talk positive.

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[Guest guest]

Rick, seems you do a good job of covering bases. My Uro did mention

that he believed a higher percentage of people recovered to better

share intimacy after treatments that were " proactive " in their

recoveries. Seemed like a good observance to me.

Mick -- Abilene, TX

> > Members who are contemplating surgery might find this

> informative. It

> > is closer, I think, to the truth than what most urlologists are

> telling

> > their patients.

> >

> > Laurel

> >

> > ..last month, researchers from Washington University and

New

> > York University reviewed interim data from their own study

showing

> > that fewer than half of the men who had surgery felt their sex

lives

> > had returned to normal within a year. "

> >

> > http://www.nytimes. com/2008/ 01/15/health/ 15well.html?

ref=science

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > God rewards those that keep on keeping on. Stay positive. Think

> positive. Pray positive. And talk positive.

> >

> >

> >

> > ------------ --------- --------- ---

> > Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with

Yahoo!

> Search.

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

> God rewards those that keep on keeping on. Stay positive. Think

positive. Pray positive. And talk positive.

>

>

> Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.

Try it now.

>

>

>

>

_____________________________________________________________________

_______________

> Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.

> http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

>

[Guest guest]

My last visit to my Urologist didn't go so well. He asked me do I

have a sex life and I told him I do not at this time, and haven't in

about two years. I may already have toached on this before but with

my brain spinning, I just don't know. This is the day that I dreaded.

This was the day I was suppose to come to a decision. He used the

deVinci' method, and went over that again, along with radiation, and

pellets.I told him that I had ED now and have had for sometime. With

a partner it is fine for about ten minutes then I go into the flacid

state.He said with me having ED at this time you sure want get an

erection after surgery. But there are medications we can use. i don't

think he meant Viagra, or Cialis but I will find out. I have heard

the shot works fine. My former lady friend gave her partner the shot

and it really worked. You never see that advertised. The sex part

does not bother me as I have always wanted to satisfy my mate instead

of me. Like I said before I have lost sensitivity, or the feeling

associated with ejucaulation.

My stree test was delayed until this coming Wednesday, along with

the neculeur injection to see if my heart can take the surgery. I

will get my risk factors from my Cardiologist, and Urologist and they

will compare notes evenf with the anesitist.

If I am say 50/50 it may just be a coin toss for me. Anything less

that that I will " ride this monster out " . It has changed, and is

changing. My PSA continues to rise as last jump was over 2 points.

I started out at 2.2 and not at 8.4. That is over a period of seven

years.But it has been the last four that it has gone wild.

Everytime I think about surgery all I can see is a coffin. Yes I am a

card-carrying, born again pessimist. Just ask my friends.

Sorry to bother you but I just don't have the money to fly everywhere

seeking a cure. In my mind is have a psa test each year or sooner,

and if it goes above 4.0 get the bi-op. He said I am curable at this

stage, but WHY DO I STILL THINK I CAN OUTLAST IT? I have to get out

of this denial as I have seen my chart both from the Cardiologist,

and Urologist. Scared in Alabama-Bob/Rody_o

> > Members who are contemplating surgery might find this

> informative. It

> > is closer, I think, to the truth than what most urlologists are

> telling

> > their patients.

> >

> > Laurel

> >

> > ..last month, researchers from Washington University and

New

> > York University reviewed interim data from their own study showing

> > that fewer than half of the men who had surgery felt their sex

lives

> > had returned to normal within a year. "

> >

> > http://www.nytimes. com/2008/ 01/15/health/ 15well.html?

ref=science

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > God rewards those that keep on keeping on. Stay positive. Think

> positive. Pray positive. And talk positive.

> >

> >

> >

> > ------------ --------- --------- ---

> > Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with

Yahoo!

> Search.

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

> God rewards those that keep on keeping on. Stay positive. Think

positive. Pray positive. And talk positive.

>

>

> Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.

Try it now.

>

>

>

>

______________________________________________________________________

______________

> Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.

> http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

>