How much short term disability to seek for robotic prostatectomy?

mrmac - So glad to see that you are doing your research and searching out for the best possible hospital. I did not research Mayo-Phoenix, but did do a lot of research on Mayo-Rochester. I have read several positive personal stories that discussed success with Mayo-Phoenix, but I would make sure they are rated as a center of excellence.

I went with a radical prostatectomy to ensure that all known cancer was removed and a full pathology could be performed to define margins. Our imaging devices are amazing, but I was unwilling to put 100% trust in their accuracy. I have heard far too many stories of missed cancer with non-surgical treatment plans. Many men have an excellent experience with radiation. However, given my age (55 at the time, 2021), a want for margin definition, and leaving the most options open in case biochemical reoccurrence happens, the only logical option for me was a robotically assisted radical prostatectomy - Doctor Igor Frank at Mayo-Rochester.

Best of luck and I pray all goes well with your treatment.

Jim

mrmac - Totally forgot to answer your question. I would recommend taking enough time post surgery to ensure you can fully heal and perform the required physical therapy before going back to work. I felt good after a few weeks, but would recommend three weeks before signing up for daily standing and demanding consultation. You will want to do all the physical therapy to ensure all bodily function return. For me, everything is back to normal, but I was very diligent with the physical therapy, had the radical prostatectomy at a center of excellence, and chose the best possible surgeon at that center of excellence - Mayo-Rochester, Dr. Igor Frank.

Jim

I had a laparoscopic robot-assisted prostatectomy in March 2023, 1 year after retiring. Looking back at it, I would have needed about 3 months off from my stressful desk job if I had still been working. It would have been possible to get back earlier but I would have been pretty distracted with all that was going on with my recovery.

I was 52 when had surgery. I took 6 weeks but could have easily take another week or two. When I went back to work after 6 weeks, I had trouble sitting or standing for more than 30 min or so. Laying down helped. It's a weird discomfort in the pelvic area when sitting or standing too long. I sit/stand at a desk managing software projects all day.

They told me 4 weeks before mowing lawn, don’t lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk for six weeks. Been nine day, get catheter out tomorrow, feel great. Not going to lift anything. Wounds healing very well. I was only 3plus 3 contained to prostate with family history. I could go back to work without lifting anything. Might have leakage for a few months

One word of caution. When I decided on surgery my Gleason score was 3+4 =7 in one of two cores with cancer. After surgery, my pathology report showed my Gleason to be 4+5. My point is, be as sure as the doctors can be that you biopsy score is accurate. Mine was not! BTW, my surgery went fine. I had ZERO incontinence issues(due to religiously doing my Kegels and an excellent surgeon). So far three post operation PSA scores have all come back < 0.01. Hoping and praying for more of the same. Best wishes in your decisions?👍🙏

mrmac- Given your age and yoru type of job , Ideal is 3 months . This is no easy operation. Your logic on your selection ( operation) is probably right , BUT im not a Dr to give medical advise. I had to prostatectomy when I was 58 years old. March 31, 2021. It was about three months after today felt quite normal. Still a little bit of a jumpy bladder but good enough to do daily chores. Four months would be better if you can swing it . You have the pathology after your surgery - you need to review and may have 'curves' , also surgery can vary and you just dont know yoru recovery time given what the surgeons have to do . 3-4 months is my best guess . Im sure things are going to go well for you . Keep us in the loop of how your surgery went and moreover pathology of Prostate ! God Bless you and yours . James from Vancouver Island .

mrmac,

Sounds like you have the same diagnosis I had for my cancer. I was out for 8 weeks and frankly I could have taken a few more. Like everyone else here I am not a doctor and can only relay what I have learned through this ordeal. I was stage 2a going into the surgery and came out stage 4a. I am so glad I went with the surgery since not all the the cancer in the nodes showed up on the psma scan, and who knows if they would have treated and caught everything with just radiation. I also have a job that required me to stand and walk I think my sweet spot would have been 12 weeks. I hope this helps with your decision and keep up the fight!

I had my RALP in May of this year (the day before my 52nd birthday - heck of a birthday gift) at Mayo Phoenix. I was a 3+4=7. My return to work was shorter than most of the responses here, i was back to work 3 weeks later, but i work from home, sittting at a desk. Though my work is also mentally demanding, I am able to take a break, go for a walk, jump in the pool, etc. whenever i want, because i manage my own schedule. Full recovery was (is) significantly longer... Something i am still working on. I had my first post-op checkup in early September, showing i am < 0.01 PSA. My recommendation is to take everything slow, and get daily exercise. If you're like me, your first 10 days will be the worst (i had extreme pain in my shoulders for the first 3 days, plus 10 days with that damned catheter). After that, things started to improve daily (dont skip the kegels!). Good luck!