Would you go ahead with a Prostate removal?

Posted by casd57 @casd57, Sep 19 9:43am

Long story... 69 year old Male
I've had a enlarged Prostate for a few years....PSA has been as high 16's and as low as 5.27 on finasteride.
3 biopies the last one MRI-computer guided they only found a couple small lesions but no cancer... that was 2 years ago
July this year in the middle of the night..I couldn't pee... went to the ER
they did the optilume processor and catheterized me and sent me home...3 days later they removed the catheter and that night I stopped peeing again....Back to the ER..back in went the catheter..this time 7 days in.... 2 day after removal I couldn't pee back to the ER
and I went to see my Doc within a week..They taught me to self catheter until I could see the surgeon ... I catheterized a couple times and then I just said nope..lets wait and see and it was fine, no problems for a 10 days...Saw the Surgeon he set up my next appointment for Oct 7th..for all the test...
He does the robotic..removal through your penis Yikes...lol
So I've only had to catheterized one time in the last 3 weeks but I do get blood once in a while and I think maybe it was a clot that caused that...
My question is this.... Since everything seems to be working and if it does stop I know how to self-catheterize ...Should I go to the extreme and remove the prostate..if they don't find cancer on the 7th..I mean I don't know if they are looking or doing a MRI or ?..
I just feel like maybe I'm going to far and maybe the end results will be worse then the present problem..which other than maybe stop peeing, there isn't nothing new.
One other kicker.........I've hit my Out of Pocket max with my INS..so this would be 100% paid......LOL jeeezzz

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

tootall10 | @tootall10 | Sep 23 7:34am

If you don't have cancer have you looked into procedures like 'Rezum' which shrinks the prostate to relieve the incontinence and doesn't effect the bladder or urethra. It is one of the day surgeries and should be a lot less than removing the prostate.

saradruss | @saradruss | Sep 23 9:57am

In reply to @chippydoo "@saradruss Did he sever it while cutting a port for the robot arm?" + (show)

@chippydoo no, he severed it while removing the sack for the prostate. He was the 8th surgery of the day. We think he might’ve been too tired; this surgery took 6 hours to complete. That was way too long because we were told it would be a 2-3 hour surgery.

chippydoo | @chippydoo | Sep 23 11:18am

6 hours, wow! Hope he heals up quickly.

bobcleveland | @bobcleveland | Sep 23 1:09pm

or look into HoLep or TURP - removes some of the prostrate around the uretha.

Plus, then can test those better for cancer.

bobcleveland | @bobcleveland | Sep 23 1:12pm

In reply to @bobcleveland "or look into HoLep or TURP - removes some of the prostrate around the uretha. Plus,..." + (show)

@bobcleveland

I think the MRI would be done with a PSMA PET scan too to spot prostrate
cancer.

medicines that relax the prostrate are another option (FloMax, etc.)

wheel1 | @wheel1 | Sep 23 6:54pm

In reply to @saradruss "Sorry, but I do have One more Important recommendation. If & whenever you have surgery, make..." + (show)

@saradruss
So sorry to hear about your husband’s surgery. You are so right about not wanting to be the surgeon’s last surgery of the day, although I have also wondered maybe not the first in the early morning either if the surgeon likes to party and is out late.
Just to show it can happen to anyone, I have a cousin who was head of Radiology at at major hospital that is a COE. He knew all the surgeons and who was considered the best. He needed his gallbladder out and picked the top, the best and well known to be the best at the hospital. After surgery went home and was in so much pain later that evening that his wife called an ambulance. Was taken back to the hospital where it was discovered the surgeon had accidentally sliced his liver when he pulled out. He almost did not make it. It just goes to show, one never knows. When my wife needed her gallbladder out, while sitting with the surgeon for an initial consultation, she told him in a joking manner the story, and he said don’t worry I have never done that. I wanted to follow up with, but then what have you done, but decided not to. Hope your husband at least sees improvement.

saradruss | @saradruss | Sep 23 9:44pm

In reply to @wheel1 "@saradruss So sorry to hear about your husband’s surgery. You are so right about not wanting..." + (show)

@wheel1 my husband had to have a total reversal of the mess that the original surgeon did. A new surgeon repaired the colon and took out the colostomy bag. He still has urinary problems, but there’s nothing else that can be done, other than getting an implant for urinating.

casd57 | @casd57 | Sep 26 7:49pm

I pretty much stopped everything...Why poke the beast as I said before... everything is about back to normal except for a little dribble here and there, probably from all the catheterizing and optilume but even that is better... Libido is back...
I'm just not ready to commit to something just because I hit my out of pocket max and its paid for... I just don't like the odds for what I might have to pay for....For Life..
So I thank everyone for your opinions...and ideas!!....
Take care,
Chris from Idaho