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David's Story

Ethnicity
White British
Age
70-79
Work
Retired
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Geography
South East
Relationship status
Widowed
Listen

Radical Prostatectomy (Surgery)

Tips and advice for any sexual side effects of treatment

This is very much an individual thing, each person being different. I have been lucky, not as lucky as some but more than others. I was always keen on sex with a good libido and didn't allow my condition to interfere with my sexual desires. I was unable to get an erection for quite a while following my operation but persisted with trying. I did not find medication helpful due to the headaches that came with taking them and the same applied to the derivatives. I do use them from time to time but can manage without them though maintaining an erection for long periods is difficult, but there are other things one can do !

How this treatment impacted my life the most

I was unaware that I had prostate cancer which was picked up following regular PSA tests and confirmed by two biopsies. My radical prostatectomy was carried out robotically two months after diagnosis and I was up and running fairly normally very quickly. I did suffer from leakage straightaway which gradually decreased from probably total to where it is now, about 40-50 ml per day. I dare say I could get this lowered if I was determined and actually did my pelvic floor exercises. I wear a small pad and this is not inconvenient. I can empty my bladder normally when required

If I had to do it all over again, would I choose the same treatment?

Yes

Why did I give this answer?

Not keen on the idea of alternative treatments, but do wonder whether a radical prostatectomy would have been suggested in today's world

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