Quality of life feed back . Radiation vs.surgery 54 years old

I had my RARP in May roughly 3 months ago I am 60. Your results are close to mine and the PSMA and MRI both showed no Metastatic disease. The Urologists and surgeon both agreed that surgery was the best option based on the fact that chemo radiation first could have serious consequences on my bladder kidneys colon and rectum.
So I had the surgery. My surgery path report came back clean and there was no evidence of cancer in my Lymph nodes and no abnormal tissue structures were present when they did the "fantastic voyage" part of my RARP.

I have my post op PSA blood work review soon and I *should* pass based on my PSMA/MRI and Path report.

I did Pelvic floor PT and I have No Incontience. I'm getting my erections back and my sex drive is back. I'm slowly getting back to normal. So my quality of life is getting back to the "old me". Overall I feel better. This forum is amazing and you are in the right place to get support and guidance. Keep the forum updated on what you decide.

Thanks that was actually how i was feeling like this support group really helps a lot. I have had a lot to process and learn so any chance of hope is great. As I’m sure you and I like many others never imagined this could be you in this journey. . What scared me most is that I had no symptoms but I’m thankful for my tests when I got them but I wish it would have been sooner . That was my fault and it cost me a lot but could’ve been worse if I continued to wait . How is it going for you to do daily activities at this stage . If you work or active just want to get a feel for what to expect if you keep positive and active .

I returned to work about 2 weeks after my RARP and have resumed all of my previous activities. They give you some restrictions about bending lifting etc. right after surgery once that was over, I was mostly back to my regular schedule. The PT helped getting the last of post surgery soreness over with. I work full time and am active during my work hours.

I have some anxiety over my Post OP PSA but I try to keep a positive attitude. I focus on my hobbies and I'm a gamer so escaping into an online game has helped. I lost almost 20 full pounds before surgery and I'm slowly regaining that weight back. Trying to make healthy food choices etc.

Once my Post op PSA results come back. I'm heading to the gym again to get back to cardio and core training.

@ktk3260
How was your Gleason score broken down? Was it 3+4=7 or 4+3=7? Research Gleason Scores and you will see why I asked the question. Great news on your PSMA.

Was the Decipher test explained and offered to you? If not asked about it and consider it. It (Decipher) changed my treatment plan.

You are a young man still. I was 76 when diagnosed. I think age has very significant impact on choices. You mentioned no symptoms. I had none either other than an rising PSA over years that was still under normal PSA guidelines.

Are you being treated at an experience medical facility? How about your doctors? A lot has changed over the years on choices available to those with prostate cancer. Some really new ones coming will drastically changed the way it is treated.

Consider getting a second opinion after you receive treatment options from your doctors. Just remember choices made by others like me may not be the best treatment for you.

Thanks for that gives me more of a positive outlook at surgery. Only here all the negative benefits. Glad to hear your decision is working for you at this point.

Thanks for the Information my Gleason score was 3+4=7. I haven’t been explained about the decipher test that I can remember but I will be asking they Quentin and researching it . I have my follow up appointment soon with my doctor. I have a very experienced doctor and I have a lot of confidence in him. From the start of this journey until present I like him and the staff. Trying to find a radiologist equal to him in there field to just listen but at the end of the day I feel my quality of life is the most important thing to me after my decision. I have to really figure out what is best for me in that regard 100% . My choice is the right choice for me . This group really helped to be able to talk with real people that live with this like me . Not a easy diagnosis to get and navigate through.

Welcome and sorry you have to be here. Unfortunately, I cannot shed any light on your decision because I didn't have to make that choice. Due to the metastatic nature of my disease, surgery was never an option. The good news is I never had to make that choice. This is the place to learn all you can to help with your decision. Best wishes in whatever direction you choose.

It is TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE for any of us to predict your QOL after either treatment.
I put that in caps because it’s a fact.
Side effects vary GREATLY from person to person - even with the same surgeon/RO over a wide population. I think your main thought right now should be, “Holy shit, I have prostate cancer - I want it GONE!”
Do as much research as you can to try to determine what treatment will effect that end in YOUR case.
Remember, cutting it out may not do it; burning it out may not either. You have to look at your Gleason, Decipher score (very important) and volume. Go from there….and always have a plan B!! Best,
Phil

I'm 54 and had surgery at the end of January and my quality of life is quite good. Everyone has their own experiences, of course, but at this age we are more likely to fully recover from treatment - I had zero ED and zero incontinence and lead a life that is little changed from before prostate cancer. I still get a few pings from the incisions now and then but it's nothing of concern, I was mostly back to normal within a week or two.

I repeat this often here, and I'll do so again: I talked to 9 doctors before I pulled the trigger and not a single one recommended radiation for my 3 + 4 and decipher 0.68, saying that at my age it wasn't a good idea since you will live long enough to experience potential complications from that down the road, whereas surgery addresses the problem and still leaves the door open for radiation if it comes back. I also spent 5 months before surgery getting in better physical shape and hammering the living crap out of my pelvic floor to make sure I was doing everything in my power to prevent ED and incontinence.

It saddens me to see more and more guys come here at our age, it really does. This used to be an "old guy disease" but anymore it's an "every guy disease". But know that your life will be impacted for a couple of weeks for sure, and hopefully that's it, the only thing you lose for certain is ejaculation, everything else is not a for-certain side effect and the vast majority of men who experience ED or incontinence after treatment recover from it.

Wow that was putting as real as you can in plain words . I really respect this response it helps a lot I don’t take any or this lightly I appreciate the transparency completely