A Prostate Cancer Journey

Looking back with a years perspective, I think the key things I would suggest after my surgery are -  If you make the decision to have surgery then go with that. Face the facts & act. Don't waste time second guessing or wishing things were different. Find a surgeon that you trust and with a good admin team backing them up. Then trust them and do what they suggest. Get as fit as you reasonably can before the surgery. The fitter you are the quicker you recover. Work on pelvic floor exercises for a month or two before surgery. If possible see a specialist physio and get an ultrasound so you can tell you are doing it right.  Have as much sex as you can pre-surgery, and come on everything you have ever fantasised about coming on.  Plan around how to sexually interact with your partner without the ability to maintain an erection. Prepare a 'recovery nest' that you get onto from the same side that you get into bed (easier for catheter management). Put at least four weeks asi...

Writing my last post was cathartic and gave me the chance to think about things in a more objective manner. And one thing that's been nagging me ever since is the focus on erections as the primary driver when it comes to sexual relations. I think that this is a by-product of the treatment plans, which are focussed on different ways to regain your erection, and for me I took this mental preoccupation into the bedroom as well. When things worked well I was happy, and when they didn't (ie the first 9 months post surgery) I was despondent. The truth of course is that there are many different ways to bring pleasure to both yourself and to your partner without the ability to maintain an erection. In fact I'd assume that you  won't  be able to maintain an erection for around 6-8 months and plan around it so that you can still enjoy each others company sexually. I won't go into any specifics because it's a very personal thing, but I'd suggest discussing this with yo...

Now the hard one (no pun intended) - tackling the subject of erectile disfunction. If you're squeamish don't read this one.  When I first had surgery my primary recovery focus was on continence. I was certainly aware of the possible impacts on the ability to get an erection but I found was able to get stiff by stimulating myself after around a month, so I focussed on the continence side instead. That went very well, and so it was a little disheartening that the erections did not continue to improve at the same rate. This is apparently a fairly common state of mind as the bladder largely sorts itself out after three months but the erections can take a year or more. An erection also needs a relaxation of the pelvic floor, which is the opposite of what was worked on to improve continence, and I think that this can have an effect on recovery times.  The problem for me was not getting aroused in the first place but the level of stiffness and maintaining it during sex. Pre-surgery ...

I let this blog go and focussed on other things after a while, so thought I'd wrap it up with a couple of posts on the longer term effects after a year. First off I am healthy. I've had three blood tests this year all showing undetectable levels of PSA. In other words the cancer did not escape the prostate. Physically I am fit and riding regularly, although a little lardy after Xmas! I still get what feels like 'pinching' pains from my surgery scars occasionally (particularly when constipated) but this is apparently to be expected.  I was carefully riding bikes around 10 weeks after surgery and was back on the dirt after around 3 months. Four months in I was jumping my singlespeed down the local trails. Six months in I came off my bike and skinned my arm, but nothing popped or broke which oddly felt like a win.  I have not had any significant continence accidents, but my toileting patterns have changed. I bought a batch of disposable pads that I used for my peace of min...