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Gleason7(3+4) - treatment options recommendation
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: 56 minutes ago | Replies (302)Comment receiving replies
@fritzo You have a good story... and you proactively did what you needed prior to and post surgery. That is much of the same mindset as myself. I am leaning towards the robot surgery and we have a well know hospital 45 mins. away that is known as being one of the best. That helps. I am 68 and do plan on spending lots of time before surgery enjoying frequent intimate time. Thanks also for the tips on PDE5 inhibitors, vacuum pump, therapist treatments...Basically, I will do everything possible to minimize the impacts while hoping to become cancer free which the doctor stated that I should be a "cured" patient following treatment...
I was not aware of the Da Vinci one incision vs the typical 5. How did that go for you?
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@johnnyz
Well known hospital near you - one of the best....that is huge. You are in good hands, but you still need to advocate for yourself every step of the way. Seriously.
I had to travel a bit to find a Center of Excellence at Northwestern in Chicago. Went with the team that basically wrote the book that is considered the prostate bible, "Dr. Patrick Walsh's Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer" (Dr. Schaeffer's team).
I think one of the other posters mentioned the one incision approach. I actually had six incisions. I saw his post before my surgery, but I was already scheduled a month out and didn't want to restart everything with further delay (though I had time).
It might be better, but in my quick research before my surgery, it looks like not many centers do it and research results haven't showed improved results (at least that is what I found online). But, it might be the way to go. Can't say.
Either way, key is to find a surgeon who has done more than 250 surgeries. Otherwise they are still learning this very complex surgery (results from a research study that shows outcome vs. number of surgeries does not level off until they have done more the 250 surgeries). Chart is in the book in the RP chapter.
In my case, I had a Pelvic fascia-sparing robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (PFS-RARP), which aims to save the structures that help with continence. It was also nerve sparing.
You are doing all the right things....it's a lot to take in, but you're on the right path.