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Waiting times for surgery?

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User
Posted 07 Mar 2025 at 18:00

My partner has been diagnose with a Gleason score of 8 and the cancer is contained at the moment. We saw the consultant this week and he said we have to wait 6-8 weeks for surgery even though the cancer is “aggressive” I was rather shocked it was this long to wait and mentally it is torture for us both. What are others experiences on waiting times please? According to the guidelines it is 62 days from initial referral, we have been waiting nearly 2 months already from the positive biopsy as he had to have a bone scan too after, so the 62 days are about there! Then another 6-8 weeks for surgery. Any help and experiences would be appreciated. Thank you 

User
Posted 09 Mar 2025 at 00:28

Mouse, sometimes posts slip down the list without being seen, hopefully someone can give you recent experiences of waiting times. My surgery was over 10. Years ago.


Thanks Chris 

User
Posted 09 Mar 2025 at 08:02
Hi Mouse
Sorry to hear the sad news about your partner .Your story seems identical to mine .I was diagnosed with Pc in the End of October 2024 ,Gleason 8 and T3a ,I had a couple of scans to determine that the cancer had not spread.These were done within 1 week of diagnosis and results took 2 weeks.Once it was determined that surgery was an option for me I informed the Senior Urology Nurse that I wanted to opt for Surgery .We met the surgeon on 12th December and I had the surgery on the 25th January.During my meeting with the surgeon I did say that if he had a cancellation I was willing to step in at short notice.Like you I was concerned about the waiting time.Unfortunately I did not get a cancellation,However two of the other patients on my ward in Hospital were pulled forward 2 weeks so it does happen.I would suggest that your partner makes it known that he would step in at short notice ,because it clearly does happen.I have my 6 weeks review with surgeon on Monday ,so I have got my 🤞 fingers crossed for positive news.I know exactly how you both feel .What I tried to do was focus on the things I could control ,use the time up to surgery getting mentally and physically prepared .
The surgery is generally very straightforward,I had Robot assisted , excellent recovery time ,minimal pain .Good luck to you both ,if you want any additional information feel free to message me .
John
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User
Posted 09 Mar 2025 at 00:28

Mouse, sometimes posts slip down the list without being seen, hopefully someone can give you recent experiences of waiting times. My surgery was over 10. Years ago.


Thanks Chris 

User
Posted 09 Mar 2025 at 08:02
Hi Mouse
Sorry to hear the sad news about your partner .Your story seems identical to mine .I was diagnosed with Pc in the End of October 2024 ,Gleason 8 and T3a ,I had a couple of scans to determine that the cancer had not spread.These were done within 1 week of diagnosis and results took 2 weeks.Once it was determined that surgery was an option for me I informed the Senior Urology Nurse that I wanted to opt for Surgery .We met the surgeon on 12th December and I had the surgery on the 25th January.During my meeting with the surgeon I did say that if he had a cancellation I was willing to step in at short notice.Like you I was concerned about the waiting time.Unfortunately I did not get a cancellation,However two of the other patients on my ward in Hospital were pulled forward 2 weeks so it does happen.I would suggest that your partner makes it known that he would step in at short notice ,because it clearly does happen.I have my 6 weeks review with surgeon on Monday ,so I have got my 🤞 fingers crossed for positive news.I know exactly how you both feel .What I tried to do was focus on the things I could control ,use the time up to surgery getting mentally and physically prepared .
The surgery is generally very straightforward,I had Robot assisted , excellent recovery time ,minimal pain .Good luck to you both ,if you want any additional information feel free to message me .
John
User
Posted 09 Mar 2025 at 11:05

Hi John


Thank you so much for your reply it was very reassuring and lots of information. Although it’s not good you had to wait too at least I know it’s not just where we live! I really hope you have a good result when you see the consultant and wish you all the best. 
many thanks 


Michaela 

User
Posted 09 Mar 2025 at 12:21
Hi Michaela, sorry you’re going through this … we know what it’s like! I think it comes down to so many factors, including area and what’s going on in the NHS at the time! My husband was Gleason 7, all contained and he opted for surgery in August 2023, we were told at the time it would be 6-12 weeks wait but sadly turned out to be 5 months with his surgery in January 2024; our main concern at the time was the cancer breaking out of the prostate … the wait was impacted by the continual doctors strikes during 2023. Fortunately his cancer once removed was all contained!

I hope it’s considerably quicker for your husband as the waiting is torture!

Debbie
User
Posted 09 Mar 2025 at 15:11

Oh thank you Debbie 🙏


wow that’s dreadful to have to wait that long! And yes I agree it doesn’t depend on area possibly and what is going on in the NHS. I will just keep contacting the hospital for updates and see what happens! We are also worried about it breaking out of the prostrate as it’s very close to the nerves and when he has the op they won’t be cake to save the nerves on that side! What side effects did he have? 
thank you for your kind words and hope all is still going well for you both x

User
Posted 09 Mar 2025 at 18:12
Steve’s surgery was very successful with all of the cancer seemingly contained and 75% nerve sparing which bodes well for future regaining of erections. Not much happening yet down there but it can take 2-3 years for the nerves to heal fully. We are coping with that; a penile pump has been prescribed to keep the tissue healthy and that’s easy enough to use. He’s tried tablets but no use so we are about to consider injections to get some life down there….but all of this is par for the course and the main objective was getting rid of the cancer which, according to 12 months of blood tests, has been a success.

Steve was unlucky in the incontinence department (statistically 5/100 men don’t recover continence due to damaged sphincter)…we now have a decision on him either living with it (he is 63) or having an artificial sphincter and pump fitted…we are going to meet with surgeon to discuss before deciding.

Anyway hopefully you won’t have to worry about that, most men on here do regain continence, if not straigh away, within a number of weeks, Steve’s case is not typical in that department so don’t dwell on it.

The ED will be a factor though but there are ways to get through it; just remember the key thing is eradicating the cancer!

Lots of advice on here…don’t be scared to ask.

Best wishes to you both
 
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