Re: Husband has surgery on January 11.

[Guest guest]

wll Iam just an amateur at this .I had prostate surgery last year. No I had no other health problems. Iam 62 going on 63. Iam not even their and know that your husband has been checked out thoroughly(blood tests heart lungs etc) The surgery (laparosscopic) is very quick and though I was out in 24 hr, Yes being supportive and up beat is the greatest contribution you gave. I had a catheter put in. So become familiarized with that. Monitor your husbands care afterwards. By all means exercise exercise(walking) There is no pain from the surgery. I has bladder spasms(probably because of the catheter, Is he practising exercises to strengthen the urinary sphincter muscles,that's a must.Depending on the individual case pads need to be worn. Everyone is different. By all means stay in touch with your urologist. Go with him to all post operative appointments. Not to worry just be there

 

Dave

 

Hello, My husband is having laparoscopic prostate cancer surgery on January 11 and I am so terrified. I've been on the wonderful women's forum and they are awesome. Very supportive. But I was wondering if any men who've been through it have advice for me? Anything the women in your life did that helped? Anything they did that hindered? Any advice for the loved ones who watch you go through this?

Mike is 63 and was diagnosed in October. His PSA is 4.3, gleason 6 and his stage is T1C. Three out of 6 cores in his biopsy showed cancer - 5%, 15% and 20%. Mike elected for surgery and will have it laparoscopically.

Part of my great fear is that Mike had a quadruple bypass heart surgery 5 years ago. He never had a heart attack but for some reason, out of the blue, his heart enlarged. It's been a rough road back to health - full of heart arrhythmias - but Mike worked hard through exercise and diet to make things better. His cardiologist said his heart was in great shape and if he could have picked a time to have surgery, this was the time.

I'm just so terrified. Terrified his heart will give out during the surgery, terrified of losing him, terrified that the cancer isn't confined in the prostate and just feel so darn bad that Mike has to go through all this when he's been through so much as it is. It also didn't help that a 70 year old high profile judge from this area died suddenly from prostate cancer surgery. It was all over the news.

I'm trying hard to be cheery, upbeat, positive and supportive, but I'm really scared. Any advice or thoughts?Thanks for listening, Sue

[Guest guest]

Sue, I know that you are concerned. It is scary for not only you but for your husband. The main thing that you can do is to be there for him. If he has endured heart surgery, we already know he is a fighter. The best thing he can do as soon as he is able, get moving, the sooner the better. Be assured that you and your husband are in our prayers.

Subject: Husband has surgery on January 11.To: ProstateCancerSupport Date: Sunday, January 3, 2010, 8:42 AM

Hello, My husband is having laparoscopic prostate cancer surgery on January 11 and I am so terrified. I've been on the wonderful women's forum and they are awesome. Very supportive. But I was wondering if any men who've been through it have advice for me? Anything the women in your life did that helped? Anything they did that hindered? Any advice for the loved ones who watch you go through this? Mike is 63 and was diagnosed in October. His PSA is 4.3, gleason 6 and his stage is T1C. Three out of 6 cores in his biopsy showed cancer - 5%, 15% and 20%. Mike elected for surgery and will have it laparoscopically. Part of my great fear is that Mike had a quadruple bypass heart surgery 5 years ago. He never had a heart attack but for some reason, out of the blue, his heart enlarged. It's been a rough road back to health - full of heart arrhythmias - but Mike worked hard through exercise and diet to make things better.

His cardiologist said his heart was in great shape and if he could have picked a time to have surgery, this was the time. I'm just so terrified. Terrified his heart will give out during the surgery, terrified of losing him, terrified that the cancer isn't confined in the prostate and just feel so darn bad that Mike has to go through all this when he's been through so much as it is. It also didn't help that a 70 year old high profile judge from this area died suddenly from prostate cancer surgery. It was all over the news. I'm trying hard to be cheery, upbeat, positive and supportive, but I'm really scared. Any advice or thoughts?Thanks for listening, Sue

[Guest guest]

My story is a little like his. My Gleason was 9. My cancer spread outside my

prostate in 2 years, now I am on hormones and doing fine. I was going to have my

prostate taken out with normal surgery and then found out about lapiscopic

surgery. He is probably making the right choice with the lapiscopic surgery.

Less blood loss and faster healing time. One suggestion I would make is to find

a good support group. ie US TOO if they are local to you. We tried to attend a

MAN TO MAN group meeting and found out that it is just for the men. We attended

another groups meeting and found out all the stuff for post op. This POST OP

stuff scared my wife and was at that point not needed. We found a great group

with the US TOO organization. They want wives to come out and they even divide

up into men and women for part of the time. They cover post and pre op stuff,

just not as scary. Our group even has a mascot (Petey the Prostate).

I had my prostate taken out as I said and I am now in REMISSION for 2.5 months.

I had my prostate taken out on Columbus Day (10/12/09).

I have listed my sites and my wife's site as well if you want to look at what we

(she mostly) has done. You may want a caring bridge site to keep family up to

date.

Our Journey

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rayhoetger

Ray's progress with Prostate Cancer 09

http://prostatecancer09.blogspot.com/

Baja Turtle Designs

http://bajaturtledesigns.blogspot.com

[Guest guest]

Iam just a novice when it comes to commenting here " core samples ??) I had surgery for prostate cancer and thus far the psa checks have been good. If there are any other alternatives it would be proton treatments. Do doctors rush you to surgery? Mine took out my prostate ,Lymph glans and seminal vessels,to include part of my badder where they take out the sphincter. Do I regreat surgery.No . Do i still have erections,yes and orgasms. Do I have sex with my wife or anybody No The cancer did not spread so Iam thankful I would believe men do not get surgery because it has alot to do with there relationships.

 

Personally I do not believe his cancer is at the stage where surgery is necessary. If it were me I would wait and have another biopsy in 6-12 months. None of the cores were over 50%and his PSA is not that high if you believe in real PSA number, I do not. Mine is around 11 and cancer was found in two out of 12 core samples. Be careful, doctors overreact and insist on surgery.  I am not surprised your surgeon  wants to operate on someone who has a history of heart problems. Because I have found that they love to operate, even when  other methods might provide a better outcome.

 My advise may make you more confused. but please check out other alternativeses before you decide.