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How different is the recovery from surgery (RARP) sompared to biopsy?

Posted by albcan @albcan, Nov 16 11:48am

How much different or worse is the recovery after the surgery compared to the biopsy? My surgery is next month and I just trying to get mentally prepared. Thanks in advance

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trusam1 | @trusam1 | Nov 19 8:01am

Nuances about recovery:
1. If you engage in any sort of physical activity, eg walking, golf, bike riding, weight lifting...anything ...ask your surgeon both before and after the surgery what you can do and when you can do it. Don't rely on general advice from friends, the internet (even this forum). Only your surgeon knows what they did inside you and what your specific risks might be.
2. Educate yourself about how to deal with the two major side effects which follow the surgery: incontinence and erectile dysfunction (loss of erections). There are specific things you can do pre and post op to help recover both those functions.
3. Be prepared to deal with the fact that unseen healing is happening in your pelvis. Your body will be sending a lot of fluid and repair resources to the area, sapping your energy for other things and causing strange swelling anywhere from the waist down.

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pieperfarm | @pieperfarm | Nov 20 6:52am

No erections after surgery and will leak around 80 years old.

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bens1 | @bens1 | Nov 20 8:11am
In reply to @cdl21 "I have a general question that isn't directly related to your discussion, but has to do..." + (show)
@cdl21

I have a general question that isn't directly related to your discussion, but has to do with decision making regarding treatments. I am 78 years old, and have had progressive increases in annual PSA results over time - the most recent being 4.7. I went to a urologist and was told that I had to decide whether I should have an MRI to screen for cancer, or whether to even continue with having PSA blood work taken. It is likely, according to the doctor, that an MRI would indicate that I did have prostate cancer at my age and with the previous PSA tests. Even after having an MRI that was positive, I would then need to decide whether to have a biopsy or not.

My age has much to do with this, but I'm wondering whether I should decide to do nothing or have an MRI. I feel at least I should continue with PSA tests, perhaps every 6 months. Any thoughts?

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@cdl21 If it were me going through that process again, I would add the PSE blood test to your psa test. It supposedly raises the discovery accuracy to 94%. The VP of clinical diagnostics at oxford biodynamics welcomes emails about their products.: joe.abdo@oxfordbiodynamics.com. This test is supposed to help you make a decision to take the next step of having an MRI or not and then a fusion biopsy, if you are so inclined.

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1 reply
albcan | @albcan | Nov 20 9:35am
In reply to @ricardo7 "Recovery after surgery is more lengthy than post biopsy. From my experience, I had RARP almost..." + (show)
@ricardo7

Recovery after surgery is more lengthy than post biopsy. From my experience, I had RARP almost 6 weeks ago. It took about 3 weeks for the stomach and stitches to feel better. Bruises starting coming out during the first week but they weren’t as painful as the biopsy ones. The painful bits post op were reduced flexibility and changing position. I found sleeping on my back was better but I had started to do this prior to the op. Do light exercise as soon as you can but don’t push it. Reply if you want any more feedback. NB it gets better - be patient. Good luck

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Thanks Very Much for the feedback and well wishes, looking forward to moving past the surgery.

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cdl21 | @cdl21 | Nov 20 3:30pm
In reply to @bens1 "@cdl21 If it were me going through that process again, I would add the PSE blood..." + (show)
@bens1

@cdl21 If it were me going through that process again, I would add the PSE blood test to your psa test. It supposedly raises the discovery accuracy to 94%. The VP of clinical diagnostics at oxford biodynamics welcomes emails about their products.: joe.abdo@oxfordbiodynamics.com. This test is supposed to help you make a decision to take the next step of having an MRI or not and then a fusion biopsy, if you are so inclined.

Jump to this post

Thank you very much, this is very helpful. I'd never heard of the PSE blood test, and will give it a try. Thanks again.

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