Hello everyone.
I have been a ‘silent’ member of the Forum during my ongoing treatment and have found the contributions from other members to be an enormous source of information and support. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences that really do provide newly-diagnosed folks (like I was) with the help they need in choosing their own treatment. You’re all heroes.
For me, at least, possibly the single biggest question was whether to opt for RP with its incontinence/ED side-effects or for RT with the particular PCA diagnosis that I was given (you learn quickly that everyone’s condition and diagnosis is different). I have seen lots of posts, mainly from younger members with early diagnosis, asking for guidance and direction on their own treatment so thought it might be useful to others to see what I opted for.
I was a fit 53 year old when I was diagnosed and as you’ll read in my bio you’ll see that I opted for the radical surgery option. I had open surgery in September 2019 and the recovery has been longer than that experienced by our robotic friends, but the post-prostatectomy PSA test results I received last week should mean that I can really enjoy Christmas. I won’t lie, it’s been really, really tough...I wouldn’t wish this condition and its treatment on my worst enemy, but I’m through the pain and discomfort and I’ve been fortunate to have had no incontinence at all and, after 3 months, ‘Little Andy’ is beginning to wake up again which, according to Mr Whocannotbenamed, is well ahead of the curve.
I thought I’d post this in the hope that if it helps just one person to make their own informed decision then it has been worth the 20 mins to post this into the Forum. I’ve absolutely no regrets and am pleased with the decision I took and, obviously, with the eventual outcome.
Happy Christmas everyone!
Andy.