Devastated by support group meeting: I'm doing everything wrong

@wheel1 - thanks.

My visit tomorrow is actually related to my prostatectomy. Immediately following surgery, I had a severe round of Afib, something new for me.

That resulted in following up with a cardiologist, and he had me wear a monitor for 30 days (no issues), ordered an echocardiogram (no issues), and a nuclear stress test (aced the treadmill, but imaging showed something concerning).

The cath is to find out more about that “something concerning” - he told me he thinks there’s a very good chance it’s a false positive, but he wants to be sure.

If I’m lucky, nothing but a poke around, if I’m a little less lucky, a stent, and if I’m really unlucky, there’s some kind of blockage in there.

They’ll be going through my wrist for this one. He said they don’t do so many groin ones these days. My wife has had two (same cardiologist), and those were both done using the groin to gain access.

@wheel1 In three days-so time has run out unless I want to go radical and cancel. But, it's a major center and the surgeon is incredibly experienced and leads the fellowship program, so I'm confident in his skills.

@fritzo I had my Radical in 1989. I am still alive 35 years later. I have a penal implant and no incontinence. 3 of my friends chose the radiation and they are dead. 10 others chose radical and are doing fine. get all the rehab therapy and Live! You will always get all the negative stuff.
Good Luck.

When my urologist explained the post procedural external drains, extended foley catheter and fairly high incidence of impotence and incontinence...I opted for IMRT, HDR and six months of ADT.

My research suggests surgery and radiation treatment regimens have very similar outcomes. I think Dr Scholz feels that few of us should opt for surgery as radiation has gotten so much better over time.

@capatov Radiation has dramatically changed over the years. My daughter is a family practice doctor and she sees lots of people that had radiation a long time ago and the side effects from the less targeted approaches. The new approaches are so much better.

When my urologist explained the post procedural external drains, extended foley catheter and fairly high incidence of impotence and incontinence...I opted for IMRT, HDR and six months of ADT.

My research suggests surgery and radiation treatment regimens have very similar outcomes. I think Dr Scholz feels that few of us should opt for surgery as radiation has gotten so much better over time.

@brianjarvis

This is SO helpful!
On that first one, is that one you can message me? Didn't see the link. I like the idea of speaking more freely.

Pizza and a meeting - love that. Do confess, during my now tragic/not-so-tragic recent meeting, I did noosh on pizza during the zoom. It had been a long work day. My bad.

Yeah, finding forums/groups is super challenging. Seems like you have different needs at different times. My next need will be post surgical recovery and the first year adventure.

I am so THANKFUL for this Mayo Connect forum. So much better than a few others that I have joined.

@brianjarvis
You should check out ancan.org advanced prostate cancer meetings. First and third Mondays of every month at 5 PM Pacific time second and fourth Tuesdays at 3 PM Pacific time. You can go to the website and watch one of them to see what’s going on. They’re not Affiliated with any medical institution. They’ve been giving advice to people for about 15 years on what to do, how to get treated. They have meetings for low and intermediate as well as Active. surveillance and Many other meetings, including those in the military, who need help getting treatment and they have even started to cover other diseases. They have meetings for though was under 60 with cancer and meetings called speaking freely, where people can talk about everything but treatment, Emotional issues.

When new people come to the meetings? They are helped First. They go over their cases and give advice about treatment. There’s usually at least three doctors in the meetings, when they are giving advice they can call on them for medical recommendations.