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Stephen's Story

Ethnicity
White British
Age
60-69
Work
Retired
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Geography
North West
Relationship status
Married/In a Civil Partnership
Listen

Radical Prostatectomy (Surgery)

Tips and advice for any bladder or bowel side effects of treatment

I was prescribed a mixture of drugs to counteract both stress and urge urinary incontinence. They help up to a point, but I am still reliant on pads 8 tears on. I recently had a synthetic sphincter fitted which also helps with stress but not urge. I manage to lead a pretty normal life, as long as I am careful about managing the incontinence.

Tips and advice for any sexual side effects of treatment

My op was done manually rather than robotically and I haven't had an erection since. I tried a pump and then injections, which worked but were absolute agony for up to 5 hrs in my case. Speaking to others who had the robotic op, or the cancer had not spread, it seems they had a lot less nerve damage and have kept sexual and urinary function.

Tips and advice for any physical side effects of treatment

For me, it's difficult to tell whether some side- effects are a direct result of the op and radiotherapy, or long-term use of incontinence drugs.

Tips and advice for any mental and emotional side effects of treatment

Probably sounds a bit trite, but 8 yrs on, I'm still here, living a good life after a devastating diagnosis . Understanding friends and family help too !!

How this treatment impacted my life the most

Post-op sexual dysfunction and loss of certain freedoms due to urinary and some fecal incontinence after radiotherapy.

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

Not sure

Why did I give this answer?

It seems there have been some really significant advances in treatments since 2014, so not at all sure I'd go for prostatectomy now.

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