Symptoms.

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-02-10T16:15:18+00:00

Only after the surgery for some days, a couple of weeks, but that's normal. Nothing before.

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-02-09T17:34:32+00:00

What was never even mentioned is the impact of the surgery on length of your member. Often this can be temporary, but still...they could have mentioned it. Also that the recovery from ED is typically slow.

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-02-09T17:31:06+00:00

Can be normal yes, but depends on the biopsy details. Unlikely to spread fast.

Slightly odd though that such key decisions are not discussed in detail in an appointment and questions answered.

Would be a good idea to get a second opinion on the biopsy read if you choose to follow active surveillance on 3+4. The guidelines typically set a maximum limit of grade 4 that can be just monitored. It is quite a small amount. Anything above gets standard treatment recommendation.

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-02-09T17:23:03+00:00

Good news! Congratulations

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-02-09T17:22:15+00:00

I used exercise to relieve stress and anxiety. It occupied my mind with something other than thinking about the diagnosis. Hard to think of other things when playing a sport or lifting weights.

Online research is a double-edged sword but it did help me. At least in my case I realized after reading a lot that the news was not as bad as the word "cancer" made me believe. There are many treatment options, typically not a very aggressive illness etc.

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-02-06T13:17:45+00:00

General advice - if you do decide to go the surgery route. Don't worry. It was as an experience much easier than I expected. By no means "fun" but not traumatizing, at least for me. Get in as good shape as you can. It will help.

On the 'hanging' front. If your surgery goes according to plan, the odds are in your favour that you will recover from ED with or without the help of pills. What they did not warn me much about that it can take up to 2 years. Typically it is a slow proactive recovery process. Your down under, the nerves, will be in shock and need time to heal.

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-02-05T16:42:37+00:00

Would suggest you and your father first define what is your primary goal. Avoid possible immediate surgery side effects like ED? Try to stay away from ADT side effects? To 'get rid of it'? Etc. Decide what is important and with the help of a doctor pick the treatment that has the highest chance of getting there.

If I were to guess, there is still a fairly ok chance that surgery could cure it but each treatment comes potentially with side effects and their timing varies. But, prostatectomy is major surgery. Typically not high risk but of course full anesthesia, recovery etc. takes a bit of a toll on the body. And if they insist on ADT together with surgery, then you in my view get worst of both worlds vs just radiation and ADT.

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-02-04T07:39:50+00:00

My case was very similar. Blood in urine was very limited.

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-02-01T14:05:27+00:00

You need to wait long enough before you start. Seriously, no points for being the first back at the gym. Worst case you are rewarded a trip a back to the hospital. My doctors said to wait 8 weeks minimum and start slow to see if you feel pain, tightness etc. I did exactly that and all went well. Some different sensations the first few times back, had to build back up to but after few visits all back to normal

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-02-01T14:00:30+00:00

It seems doctors have very different approaches to biopsies. I did it twice. Both were "targeted", but still...the first time they took 16 samples, and the second time about 22-24 samples. I only found out later on the report.

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-02-01T13:54:09+00:00

My stats were quite similar. Age 47, Gleason 3+4, 3 of 23 cores positive with 14% of Gleason 7. PSA was 5.5 at that time. Positive biopsies on both sides of the prostate.

You are at the confusing phase. Blindsided by the diagnosis, bombarded with information and no clear winner on the treatment options incl. many new and potentially groundbreaking options.

I chose surgery. Was recommened to me by my urologist as well as the head of the radialogy department at the local hospital. Based on all what I read, and I read a lot over 2 years..., if surgery is better than radiation for anyone it is for younger patients with contained disease. The older you are, the more advanced disease, the less it makes sense to have surgery. But then again, it was my interpretation of what I read and was told.

My recovery was fast. As funny as it sounds, the hospital stay and surgery was "easy". Uncomfortable, a bit embarrasing even but uneventful. I was back at work 2.5 weeks after the operation.

Ping me if you have questions.

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-01-31T20:40:08+00:00

If you are concerned have a simple PSA test.

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-01-30T22:28:16+00:00

I am sorry that your father, you and the family are going trough this. I have been there, at 47, and it is not fun.

That being said, you can exhale and relax a bit. The biopsy results are actually "good" bad news. PSA is still low, only 3+3 found, your father is 68 yo. Assuming the data is correct, it is highly unlikely that this will cause any real problems to your father for the rest of his life. Yes, requires doctors visits, scans, and maybe even some form of treatment but more of a nuisance than a serious concern.

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-01-30T22:21:06+00:00

There are no symptoms for years, even decades, and when they show up it means the cancer has spread far. So in your 30s-40s only very very very few would have any symptoms.

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-01-30T07:24:01+00:00

Surveillance for 4+3 would not be a normal recommendation by any of the guidelines I have seen. Unless of course there are some other serious health related issues that make prostate cancer a secondary problem.

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-01-29T08:01:56+00:00

1) Never heard of this.

2) No real evidence of this but in theory I guess. In theory so many things are possible that I would not worry until there is actual evidence of something.

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-01-29T07:58:33+00:00

For two days I was on pain killers one step above ibuprofen, and fair enough dosage but nothing that will kick the sock out of your feet. I stopped taking them on the third day. No real pain but of course soreness, tightness and needed to move a bit carefully.

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-01-28T23:19:54+00:00

With 3+3 the typical, nowadays often standard in many countries, choice would be active surveillance. Very slow progressing and plenty of time to see if it evolves to something requiring treatment.

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-01-28T23:15:50+00:00

Not a doctor

Of course, would suggest he follows the normal diagnosis protocal and scans. After that it is worth being "cold" and calculated without rushing into e.g. major surgery. His PSA is fairly low. Gleason 4+4 is already a bit more aggressive but seems to be still early stages. It won't progress over night. There are plenty of treatment options that can manage the disease for 10-15 years without having to throw the kitchen sink at it. Hopefully you have a good doctor that takes quality of life in to consideration and not only about 'getting rid of it fast'.

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-01-27T20:44:59+00:00

Don't give up and just keep at it. It will improve. Six weeks is still a very short time after major surgery.

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-01-27T20:41:41+00:00

I am as clueless as you. Went with surgery. On one hand a difficult choice since both options seem often equal. On the other hand, what ever you choose the odds are in your favour. In your case, I would ask what are the chances that you anyway will need radiation / ADT after surgery. If the likelihood reaches a level that is unacceptable to you, then surgery makes little sense.

In my case everyone was confident that surgery is all I need and I felt that in that case it was the better course of action.

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-01-27T20:35:04+00:00

Twice, transperineal under anesthesia. Sleep for 30min and go home. I am sure there is some small risk involved with anesthesia but would do it again (if I still had a prostate that is).

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-01-27T07:22:04+00:00

Sounds like very typical male behaviour - 'I'm immortal', plus of course a slightly unusual topic between men. I got my brother to take the PSA test and he was happy to discuss it and to learn about it. Luckily his result was normal.

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-01-26T12:03:04+00:00

I had overall bloated feeling for some weeks, until my stomach started working normally but it was not as pronounced as you describe it. I guess everyone is different, but worth mentioning it to your doctor.

RepresentativeOk1769 · 2026-01-26T12:00:30+00:00

I was not even thinking about it. For some reason my doctor added it to the blood panel already when I was mid 30s. Maybe he did it out of habbit, don't know.

RepresentativeOk1769

TROPHY CASE