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User
Posted 26 Aug 2025 at 10:59

I was diagnosed with PC by pure chance. I visited my GP for an unrelated reason and she kindly reminded me that I am 'of an age' (55). She performed the standard GP inspection and assured me everything was as it should be, but to cover all bases she requested my PSA as part of a blood test i was having for my original visit as a second check.

Lucky for me she was thorough. My PSA test returned a score of 11.3! After a MRI quickly followed by a Biopsy, my urologist confirmed that I had cancer in all 4 areas that samples were taken from. 28 of the 32 samples taken were positive.

After discussions with the urologist and oncologist my partner and I decided that RARP was the best of the 2 options I was provided with.

I am now 15 days post op. Catheter removed on day 10 & now coping with bladder control. Like most, when laying and sitting I remain dry. Walking for any period of time is (at the moment) very frustrating and something that could easily get you down. My partner has been amazing. She attended every appointment so far and no doubt will continue to do so. When I am feeling a bit sorry for myself, she is the one that puts a size 5 foot in to me and brings me round. Self pity is an easy hole to fall into. The incontinence is quite demoralizing although (as her size 5s reminded me) it's early days.

My surgery itself was non nerve sparring so I am now waiting for appointments for both the follow up with urology and a trip to the ED clinic.

We both know the journey ahead may be a long one and it is something we are both prepared for. I have zero regrets of choosing to rid myself of cancer & zero embarrassment talking about it.

As men, I don't think we talk enough. My family have been amazing, mum, brother, sister, nieces, nephews & especially my partner and my 2 sons.

They were initially hard conversations to have but their support has helped mentally and that has been the toughest part of the journey so far.

If you are not luck enough to have that level of support around you, use this community. The journeys men have been through can be both frightening and inspiring but there is always someone here to help.

 

 

 

User
Posted 26 Aug 2025 at 10:59

I was diagnosed with PC by pure chance. I visited my GP for an unrelated reason and she kindly reminded me that I am 'of an age' (55). She performed the standard GP inspection and assured me everything was as it should be, but to cover all bases she requested my PSA as part of a blood test i was having for my original visit as a second check.

Lucky for me she was thorough. My PSA test returned a score of 11.3! After a MRI quickly followed by a Biopsy, my urologist confirmed that I had cancer in all 4 areas that samples were taken from. 28 of the 32 samples taken were positive.

After discussions with the urologist and oncologist my partner and I decided that RARP was the best of the 2 options I was provided with.

I am now 15 days post op. Catheter removed on day 10 & now coping with bladder control. Like most, when laying and sitting I remain dry. Walking for any period of time is (at the moment) very frustrating and something that could easily get you down. My partner has been amazing. She attended every appointment so far and no doubt will continue to do so. When I am feeling a bit sorry for myself, she is the one that puts a size 5 foot in to me and brings me round. Self pity is an easy hole to fall into. The incontinence is quite demoralizing although (as her size 5s reminded me) it's early days.

My surgery itself was non nerve sparring so I am now waiting for appointments for both the follow up with urology and a trip to the ED clinic.

We both know the journey ahead may be a long one and it is something we are both prepared for. I have zero regrets of choosing to rid myself of cancer & zero embarrassment talking about it.

As men, I don't think we talk enough. My family have been amazing, mum, brother, sister, nieces, nephews & especially my partner and my 2 sons.

They were initially hard conversations to have but their support has helped mentally and that has been the toughest part of the journey so far.

If you are not luck enough to have that level of support around you, use this community. The journeys men have been through can be both frightening and inspiring but there is always someone here to help.

 

 

 

User
Posted 26 Aug 2025 at 22:40
Thanks Rich for your story.

Based on my experience, your continence situation should improve massively over the next weeks and months - and if you are lucky become a non-problem.

Good luck with the continuing recovery, and particularly with the ED issue - it is helpful you have such supportive family.

User
Posted 27 Aug 2025 at 09:10

Hi Rich,

Welcome to the forum and thanks for posting your RARP experience, mate

Good luck with your post op histology and PSA results.

Please keep us updated. 👍 

 

User
Posted 27 Aug 2025 at 18:57
Rich342,

Am sorry you have ended up here and so understand how the incontinence will get you down at times. It's great that you have a wonderful partner who is keeping you out of self pity. I am just as lucky!

My prostate was removed in Mid June 2024 and I am now 100% continent. It took from mid June to mid December to arrive at this point. I still marvel that my body has adjusted. Keep those pelvic floor exercises up! I still do two lots per day.

As Adrian has said - stay on here and keep us posted on your journey!

User
Posted 15 Oct 2025 at 21:01

Thanks Adrian, really appreciate the information. I'll be sure to ask at the next appointment.

Stay well mate & keep up the humour 👍 

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User
Posted 26 Aug 2025 at 22:40
Thanks Rich for your story.

Based on my experience, your continence situation should improve massively over the next weeks and months - and if you are lucky become a non-problem.

Good luck with the continuing recovery, and particularly with the ED issue - it is helpful you have such supportive family.

User
Posted 27 Aug 2025 at 09:10

Hi Rich,

Welcome to the forum and thanks for posting your RARP experience, mate

Good luck with your post op histology and PSA results.

Please keep us updated. 👍 

 

User
Posted 27 Aug 2025 at 18:57
Rich342,

Am sorry you have ended up here and so understand how the incontinence will get you down at times. It's great that you have a wonderful partner who is keeping you out of self pity. I am just as lucky!

My prostate was removed in Mid June 2024 and I am now 100% continent. It took from mid June to mid December to arrive at this point. I still marvel that my body has adjusted. Keep those pelvic floor exercises up! I still do two lots per day.

As Adrian has said - stay on here and keep us posted on your journey!

User
Posted 15 Oct 2025 at 08:10

Morning all,

so yesterday was my first appointment with my urologist post RARP surgery. 9 weeks post surgery my PSA results report 0.01. Urologist used the words "free of cancer" which felt like such a weight had been lifted, although I am aware of the return rate and my bloods over the monitoring period will be the judge of that BUT I'm taking it as a win. 💪

On a schedule of quarterly bloods for 1 year moving to bi-annual for years 2-4. 

Incontinence has improved rapidly. Nights have been dry for a couple of weeks now and down to 1 pad during the day for occasional mishaps. 🤭

I have taken the initiative with regards the pump after reading some great advice on here. All is good, it works for training/rehab and beyond that 😉.

My consultant is now writing to my GP with regards injections 😬 but, as with all options I appreciate there have been both good and bad experiences. Still, onwards & upwards (hopefully 😂)

User
Posted 15 Oct 2025 at 13:07

Hi, Rich.

Thanks for your update, mate. It's fantastic news about your first post op PSA test. Presumably, as your urologist announced that you're cancer free, it's undetectable and it is actually <0.01. 

Your incontinence recovery is very good and keep 'pumping the penis'. It's great that that the hospital have already contacted your GP regarding the prescription of penile injections. Most men seem to wait for many months before getting help with ED.

Have you had your post op histology results yet?

User
Posted 15 Oct 2025 at 13:23

Hi Adrian,

From the conversation we had there is no change from the originally diagnosed 4+3=7.

Although, there were no specific discussions around histology.

Do you think it is something I should ask for or does his confirmation of the unchanged original score cover it?

User
Posted 15 Oct 2025 at 20:12

Hi, Rich.

I'm just a little confused, mate. There is no mention in this conversation of your initial Gleason score or cancer staging.  However, on your profile you state you started with a Gleason 7 (3+4)  You now say that you're Gleason 7 (4+3).  This means you've either been upgraded after the op, or your initial Gleason score on your profile is wrong.

 Presumably your pre op cancer staging was T2 (prostate confined) and that the post op staging hasn't changed?

What I would ask is, if your margins were positive or negative.

None of the above details really matter when you PSA level is undetectable.  However, the final Gleason score, cancer staging and negative or positive margins are factors in evaluating the probability of recurrence. BCR is more likely the higher the Gleason score, the higher the cancer staging, and having positive rather than negative margins.

Edited by member 15 Oct 2025 at 20:22  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 15 Oct 2025 at 20:17

It is a bit confusing (well for me anyway 😂). Prior to surgery we were told 3+4=7 T3a, my discharge letter the day after surgery says 4+3=7 T3a.

During our call (Telephone appointment) yesterday he reiterated 4+3=7 T3a but no other information 

User
Posted 15 Oct 2025 at 20:58

Okay mate.

T3a means the cancer had breached the prostate capsule, it is a higher staging than T2 (prostate confined) disease. Gleason 7 (4+3) is likely to be more aggressive than Gleason 7 (3+4)

As I said, none of it really matters if surgery proves to have removed all the cancer. Your first post op PSA appears to be undetectable, which is a great result. Long may it continue. However, I would still ask if you had positive or negative margins.

 In my case, my pre op staging was T3a, my Gleason score was 8 (3+5)

My post op staging remained at T3a, my Gleason score was upgraded to 9 (4+5), but I was lucky enough to have negative margins. (no cancer cells on the incisions)

Two and a half years later my PSA is still undetectable. 

User
Posted 15 Oct 2025 at 21:01

Thanks Adrian, really appreciate the information. I'll be sure to ask at the next appointment.

Stay well mate & keep up the humour 👍 

 
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