What's it like having radical prostatectomy for intermediate prostate cancer?

Your thoughtful approach to exploring treatment options shows great self-advocacy during this challenging time. Many community members have shared experiences with radical prostatectomy for similar diagnoses, and their insights about recovery timelines, side effect management, and decision-making factors could provide valuable perspective as you weigh your options alongside your medical team's guidance.

Dear Chuck D — I could more accurately reply if you were to relate your key numbers; e.g., Stage, PSA, Gleason, grade, size & location. But based on your saying “intermediate…favorable…localized” it appears extreme to be considering RP. But not surprising, as chances are good your “care” team is mightily inclined to over diagnosis and overtreatment. (Because that’s how they make a living.) In my now 3-year misadventure with PCa, I learned of at least two sources of information that are far better than the many physicians I consulted: 1. Peer-reviewed professional medical journals—which is where doctors and other medicos report both the benefits AND THE RISKS AND SIDE EFFECTS AND COMPLICATIONS of the procedures they tout to their patients. 2. Outcomes4Me—which I didn’t know about before I made my much-regretted treatment decisions. I suggest you read every single posting and comment on O4M that you can possibly make time for, because these hundreds of survivors have already experienced everything that you’re going to experience in your coming days and years. They relate the good, bad, and ugly—the WHOLE story—of PCa that will comprise the best guidance you can get anywhere.

I had surgery for radical prostatectomy. Overnight stay in hospital. Discharged the next day. The plan after the surgery was catheter and foley for a week. Go back in week to urologist and have catheter and foley removed. In my case I had complications during the surgery and was on in operating room for more than hour I believe they could not complete my surgery because I also have anklyosing spondylitis. I woke up after surgery I had 1 incision about 1 inch long above belly button. A smaller incision below navel and 4 tiny less than 1/4 inch incision. 2 on each side. All have healed. No external stitches. Infernal stitches that don’t need appointments to remove. Liquid stitches on the external incisions. I was amazed. I thought I was gone end up with all those old fashioned stitches the dr would have to yank out later with me awake in his office

I opted for radiation, the only issue is I lose 2 hours a day & pee at least 12-18 times a day from all the water 💦