Blackhawk
Member
The time is nigh.
My prostate story is a bit unique. I've had some degree of BPH since my 40s, but it's remained tolerable until more recent years. Had a real initial PSA scare, but for 4 years it has bounced around, and at no point were any markers indicative of agressive prostate cancer.
It has/had cancer cells in it, but due to infiltration of the gland with leukemia cells, not prostate cancer. I had MRI and biopsy 4 years ago, and zero prostate cancer, but chockablock full of the leukemia cells. PSA hit a high of 11.2. Then I went into remission and it came down to around 2. Then it went back up again, and I've had more urinary trouble. So 3 MRIs now. A lesion which has been there the whole time is getting larger, as is the whole gland. Volume is about 100ml. Night time has been progressively more difficult. So finally having it fixed.
I'll be having a plasma button vaporization (more modern revision of TURP with less side effects/complications) to reduce the medial lobe which is bulging into the bladder, followed by TULSA-Pro to ablate the majority of the rest of the gland three days later.
Mentally preparing, these are two procedures requiring general anesthesia with paralytic and intubation, and 36hr clear liquid diet prep twice in 5 days. I am going to be HUNGRY! I reckon I'll be pretty spent from the procedures, not looking forward to that, but I am looking forward to being able to urinate normally again. Also then, a couple weeks with catheter.
These procedures spare the neuro-vascular bundle. No 100% guarantees of course, but risk of ED and sexual dysfunction is very low compared to knife surgery except that with so much of the prostate tissue removed, it won't be producing fluids any more, and the seminal ducts won't be as original, so dry ejaculations.
Hoping urinary function works as it should again, and that sexual function isn't too life changing.
Wish me luck!
My prostate story is a bit unique. I've had some degree of BPH since my 40s, but it's remained tolerable until more recent years. Had a real initial PSA scare, but for 4 years it has bounced around, and at no point were any markers indicative of agressive prostate cancer.
It has/had cancer cells in it, but due to infiltration of the gland with leukemia cells, not prostate cancer. I had MRI and biopsy 4 years ago, and zero prostate cancer, but chockablock full of the leukemia cells. PSA hit a high of 11.2. Then I went into remission and it came down to around 2. Then it went back up again, and I've had more urinary trouble. So 3 MRIs now. A lesion which has been there the whole time is getting larger, as is the whole gland. Volume is about 100ml. Night time has been progressively more difficult. So finally having it fixed.
I'll be having a plasma button vaporization (more modern revision of TURP with less side effects/complications) to reduce the medial lobe which is bulging into the bladder, followed by TULSA-Pro to ablate the majority of the rest of the gland three days later.
Mentally preparing, these are two procedures requiring general anesthesia with paralytic and intubation, and 36hr clear liquid diet prep twice in 5 days. I am going to be HUNGRY! I reckon I'll be pretty spent from the procedures, not looking forward to that, but I am looking forward to being able to urinate normally again. Also then, a couple weeks with catheter.
These procedures spare the neuro-vascular bundle. No 100% guarantees of course, but risk of ED and sexual dysfunction is very low compared to knife surgery except that with so much of the prostate tissue removed, it won't be producing fluids any more, and the seminal ducts won't be as original, so dry ejaculations.
Hoping urinary function works as it should again, and that sexual function isn't too life changing.
Wish me luck!
