It is 14 months since my RARP and the biggest problem for me has been fatigue. It seems to happen fairly randomly but has certainly improved in the last two months. I have taken anti-depressants for the past 20+ years and fatigue made this worse. I found I lost interest, put off activities I used to enjoy, then felt even more miserable not having done them. I am a regular runner and forced myself to go out at least twice a week once fairly soon after the operation. That helped enormously. I also took up swimming. My advice to others would be to tell yourself that your body changes after treatment and everything takes time to adjust. Don't beat yourself up: be kind to yourself and take each day at a time.
It is very important to talk about how you feel to people you trust around you. That might, or might not include your partner. I shared everything with my oldest friend and he is a great support. I felt better talking with him than my wife, because I thought it might increase her worry about me. Strangely, I felt a bit guilty confiding in him more than her. Also, the cancer support nursing team at my local hospital have been great over the phone. They are not fazed by anything and offer kind and constructive support. I have great faith in them.
It slowed me down. I became frustrated and cross that I couldn't do the usual jobs I used to because I was either too tired or couldn't be bothered - e.g. cutting a big hedge, putting up a fence.
Yes
I was 73 when I have my RARP. The treatment, the surgery and aftercare I received has been outstanding. I explored the other options for treatment but at my age I didn't want to be "ill" for any longer than necessary. Yes, I did have a leaky bladder for a few weeks and lost my erections - but I figured those were a small price to pay. The thought of having six weeks of daily radiotherapy in Portsmouth (a 90-minute round trip); or the brachytherapy with rounds of further treatment did not appeal. It would have disrupted my life too much. I wanted it over and done with.
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