I had my bladder and prostate, 18 lymph nodes (I think) and associated bits out four years ago, aged 69. I was advised that I would need a fortnight in hospital. Five days later, I was out, walking the dog (gingerly and carefully). That is probably unusual, but shows what is possible. The stoma was relatively easy to accept. I chose the site in an effort to miss the slips that I wear and avoid the belt to which I was accustomed, too. The tricky part was finding a leak proof pouch and I opted for a microskin one. The hospital ones were useless, given the little mound from which the stoma protrudes. My flat stomach was no more! With trouser fashion having changed to flat fronted, it has become a little harder to find pleated front trousers that give adequate room for the pouch and mound, but I have coped.
As I view things now, I have a much simpler Urinary tract than most blokes, less to go wrong and my way of life is largely unaffected.
Unfortunately, in my case, some PCa was left in the urethra stump and, despite Abiraterone, it spread into my lymphatic system, hence the chemotherapy that I'm one cycle into. Learning point there for the surgeon - do it the old fashioned way and take out the urethra, too. Apparently, that is easy, like pulling out a bootlace, as one Urologist told me. How I wish that had been done!
I certainly don't regret my decision to have the big op. It is well worth thinking about.
AC in Leics