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Recovery prostratectomy: What should I expect? How long?

Posted by sbo @sbo, Apr 15, 2023

My husband will be having a prostratectomy. He is late 50s. Grade 4 prostrate cancer that involves the base of the bladder. He will have a catheter for 10 days. What is the typical recovery time? He works remote on a computer. His doctor is willing to give him up to 3 months off… but when could he realistically go back to work. He was hoping a couple of weeks. I am guessing 4-6 weeks. Is that reasonable? And how long should I expect to stay home with him during the recovery? Will 1 week be enough? Too much or not enough?

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maxvt | @maxvt | Jul 29, 2023
In reply to @matthew61 "Scheduled for August 29th." + (show)
Profile picture for matthew61 @matthew61

Scheduled for August 29th.

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I urge you to start Pelvic Floor PT BEFORE surgery.

I did, then resumed after the catheter was removed. I am one of those fully continent after surgery. My PT person was educated in these exercises (Baylor, Scott & White, Austin TX). She had some clients who only began PT after surgery and were having severe issues 4-6 months post-surgery.

Get & read the Dr Walsh book on surviving prostate cancer. Read all highlighted pages at each chapter beginning, read further in chapter if you feel the need.

Just start PT ASAP! Good Luck!

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kenhorse | @kenhorse | Aug 1, 2023
In reply to @matthew61 "What can I expect after radical prostatectomy surgery I am 62 years old in otherwise above..." + (show)
Profile picture for matthew61 @matthew61

What can I expect after radical prostatectomy surgery I am 62 years old in otherwise above average health. Of 13 core biopsy samples six were malignant, one is 4+3 =7 Gleason score, two 3=4=7, and the other three 3+3=6. Cancer described as moderately aggressive T2A NO. The 4+3 sample is prostatic adenocarcinoma and is involved in 10% of 15 MM core sample.

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I was diagnosed with Gleason Score 8 prostate cancer late last summer. I was scheduled for RARP at the end of November but came down with the flu 2 days prior (can you believe that?). Anyway, I actually underwent surgery on Jan. 31st of this year and came back with clear lymph nodes and total encapsulation within the prostate. PSA is < .04 (undetectable) as of 1 month ago. Gleason was revised to 7.

Still fighting (in)continence issues but I had a complication (called lung cancer and a right lower lung lobectomy on April 3rd (discovered as part of the CT scans for the prostate issue. Again, dodged a bullet as I was Stage 1a with no spread to lymph nodes.

BUT, it did put me off my pelvic exercises and I developed a cough due to a chyle leak (chylothorax) and underwent surgery again to fix it on June 23rd. I am now restarting my Kegals and hope to make progress soon.

However, overall recovery from the RARC was actually much easier and much less traumatic than my imagination led me to believe prior to the surgery.

You'll do fine

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matthew61 | @matthew61 | Aug 3, 2023
In reply to @matthew61 "What can I expect after radical prostatectomy surgery I am 62 years old in otherwise above..." + (show)
Profile picture for matthew61 @matthew61

What can I expect after radical prostatectomy surgery I am 62 years old in otherwise above average health. Of 13 core biopsy samples six were malignant, one is 4+3 =7 Gleason score, two 3=4=7, and the other three 3+3=6. Cancer described as moderately aggressive T2A NO. The 4+3 sample is prostatic adenocarcinoma and is involved in 10% of 15 MM core sample.

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Sounds like you have had quite a journey. I’m trying to get as strong as I can before surgery and eating as best I can. Thanks for the feedback. Best to you going forward. The worst is definitely behind you. ME

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kenhorse | @kenhorse | Aug 3, 2023
In reply to @matthew61 "Sounds like you have had quite a journey. I’m trying to get as strong as I..." + (show)
Profile picture for matthew61 @matthew61

Sounds like you have had quite a journey. I’m trying to get as strong as I can before surgery and eating as best I can. Thanks for the feedback. Best to you going forward. The worst is definitely behind you. ME

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Again, recovery from the RARP was much faster and, if I may say so, much less traumatic - with next to no pain and what little there was, was easily handled by Tylenol alone. In fact, I was back working (I am self- employed and work from home) within 5 days of getting home from the hospital

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bill1965 | @bill1965 | Aug 24, 2023
In reply to @hbp "I had RP 2 years ago when I was 74, Gleason 9 CR locally advanced PC...." + (show)
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I had RP 2 years ago when I was 74, Gleason 9 CR locally advanced PC. The surgery was Ro Bo, no real pain, catheter for a week ( an irritation but no pain) . Only Tylenol for pain for a day or so. Afterward, ADT for 6 months. Again no pain, but little energy and no libido. It was a necessary procedure to deal with a life threatening cancer. I think that the RP was a correct decision and I am hopeful for a long term good result.

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Hi! What is ADT? I just had RP last week and am a Gleason 9 as well

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bill1965 | @bill1965 | Aug 24, 2023
In reply to @hbp "I had RP 2 years ago when I was 74, Gleason 9 CR locally advanced PC...." + (show)
Profile picture for hbp @hbp

I had RP 2 years ago when I was 74, Gleason 9 CR locally advanced PC. The surgery was Ro Bo, no real pain, catheter for a week ( an irritation but no pain) . Only Tylenol for pain for a day or so. Afterward, ADT for 6 months. Again no pain, but little energy and no libido. It was a necessary procedure to deal with a life threatening cancer. I think that the RP was a correct decision and I am hopeful for a long term good result.

Jump to this post

Hi! What is ADT? I had RP last week and. Gleason 9 as well.

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Profile picture for bill1965
bill1965 | @bill1965 | Aug 24, 2023
In reply to @hbp "I had RP 2 years ago when I was 74, Gleason 9 CR locally advanced PC...." + (show)
Profile picture for hbp @hbp

I had RP 2 years ago when I was 74, Gleason 9 CR locally advanced PC. The surgery was Ro Bo, no real pain, catheter for a week ( an irritation but no pain) . Only Tylenol for pain for a day or so. Afterward, ADT for 6 months. Again no pain, but little energy and no libido. It was a necessary procedure to deal with a life threatening cancer. I think that the RP was a correct decision and I am hopeful for a long term good result.

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Hi! What is ADT? I had RP last week and. Gleason 9 as well. Did you have radiation after surgery or hormone therapy?

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hbp | @hbp | Aug 24, 2023
In reply to @matthew61 "What can I expect after radical prostatectomy surgery I am 62 years old in otherwise above..." + (show)
Profile picture for matthew61 @matthew61

What can I expect after radical prostatectomy surgery I am 62 years old in otherwise above average health. Of 13 core biopsy samples six were malignant, one is 4+3 =7 Gleason score, two 3=4=7, and the other three 3+3=6. Cancer described as moderately aggressive T2A NO. The 4+3 sample is prostatic adenocarcinoma and is involved in 10% of 15 MM core sample.

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The food that feeds prostrate cancer is testosterone which is a hormone/androgen. ADT stands for Androgen deprivation treatment which attempts to deny the cancer of its food. The ADT medication is a standard treatment and it effects different men in different ways

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