one or more things that surprised you about prostate cancer

[Darryl]

For a list I will post here, please reply with one or more things that surprised you about prostate cancer after you were diagnosed and up until today. Things about the disease, treatments, journey, your home, family, friends, and work-life....anything at all that you can characterize as a surprise or unexpected aspect about prostate cancer. Thanks.

[RMontana]

Check out my 'Would-Coulda-Shoulda' list of what I would do differently next time as that has a lot of what has 'surprised' me during this journey...the top 3 would be;

1. ED - What you are told by your surgeon, RO or Dr; its all marketing B#llsh@t regarding your recovery percentages, yada, yada, yada...expect that it will be a miracle if you retain much of any of your natural sexual function after treatment starts. If you so recover then celebrate; you are a rare bird. For the rest plan accordingly. Also, if you want to keep as much as you can of your sexual function after treatment starts, you better study up on what you need to do BEFORE you start treatment (see #2).

2. Treatment Selection - you must do you own work and know your condition before you start this journey and when your maneuvering thru the treatment regimes. Know what your outcomes should be; adjust as you go. Do not expect your Dr's to spend a lot of time tailoring your treatment to your specific needs; they are busy-busy-busy...they treat you like they hit their tennis balls; with the sweet spot of their racquet. Any treatment on the margins will not interest them; if you need these find someone who will listen and give it to you.

3. Documentation - write down what you feel, how you decide on treatments, what regrets you have. Document what Dr's tell you, what their prognosis is. Take images (creepy I know) of anything that will be changing. Ask for baseline testing of EVERYTHING that can be impacted by treatment (blood work especially)...basically, know where you are starting from so that as you go and as your mind plays tricks on you, you have hard evidence of what you were like before this journey starts. DO NOT expect that your Dr will order baseline tests; they treat symptoms, and baseline testing wont interest them. If you document well you will be amazed, later, what you think you remember. Then, you will go back and read what actually was the case, prior to treatment...not always, but many times you remember wrong. Documentation can help you survive the 'mistakes of memory,' and make your journey easier. You wont beat yourself up so much...

These are my top 3...Rick

[Darryl Partner in reply to RMontana]

Thanks

[j-o-h-n]

That j-o-h-n is funny...

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 09/29/2023 4:16 PM DST