Scared

Hey there. Just got diagnosed about a month ago. Going to seattle tomorrow to talk to surgeon. I am a g 9 68 years old with a psa of 25. Any way, I'm not to bothered by incontinanse, catheter, or operation and recovery. Heck, I don't even care that much about erections. I have a great wife, and have had a great sex life with a softy for years . We just have found ways to please each other. The thing that blows my mind is likely penis size loss, so much so I have even been breaking up just talking or thinking about it. I don't have much to spare!

The thing that blows my mind is likely penis size loss, so much so I have even been breaking up just talking or thinking about it.

sorry you have to be here but you're in the right place. with your numbers and concerns about penis size you'll probably want to talk to a radiation oncologist too. good luck to you.

ed

Thanks guys. It helps to know there's others out there that understand.

Welcome to HW sorry you need to be here.

Are you going to talk to a radiation oncologist too? Best to get at least one second opinion.

Size? Things might change. I've heard reports of some shorting, likely due to a missing a prostate and need to shorten stuff on the inside. It's a really good question to ask the surgeon.

but you never know what will come up after treatment.
Hang in there and keep us updated on your progress,
Andrew

bigal said...
You might not lose any size. I didn't lose any length or size. I mean my penis was a little scary for awhile till a few months went by. Then he started turning back to normal in looks anyway. Still suffering somewhat from ED after a year but the Peyronies is whats killing me now. But I did not lose any length that I can see. So maybe you won't either.

Good luck---- Al

Cosby said...
Thanks guys. It helps to know there's others out there that understand.

I was having extreme anxiety about this very thing, and I was convinced that I was already shrunk right after surgery. But +1 on what Bigal says( I guess with the name BIGal he really did not need to worry about this!) Just get Mulhall's book or watch his videos and make sure you follow his advice for rehab. This will give you the best chance of coming out whole. Even doing all that, I was convinced I was cut in half, especially after my 1st try with the VED. But after a few injections and a little more VED use, plus the recommended nightly 5 mg Cialis as soon as the catheter came out, at 2 1/2 months out I think I am at least where I was before. Sometimes I think when it is "down" I tend to have a bit more, if I am not imagining it. For sure, when "up", I can't tell any loss, my wife agrees(but she might not tell me if she did not, not wanting to freak me out ) I don't know what is going to happen 5 months or a year out, even if I keep doing all that I have been doing, but right now, after a scary start, all is very good in that one department. And finally my incontinence seems to be getting a little better. Now all I need is to:
1: stay free of PC Lord willing and
2: miraculously grow me some new nerves in the next year or 2, since mine may well be cut on both sides, since he had to "cut wide" due to my G9. This is unlikely but one can hope and pray!

Lastly, with your starting specs, you may need or want to go some other route than surgery. If you decide that is right for you, this entire shrinkage devil probably might not even apply to you. Just research heavily to make sure you actually have better cure odds with surgery. If another therapy can offer you just as good or better a chance of cure, then just forget about the surgery. But of course, only you can decide what is right for you, what offers you the best chance of a cure, and that decision is an admitted *****, Brother!

Fauntleroy said...
Don't care about continence, catheters, erectile dysfunction, only penis size? With the first three, your size won't matter much, as you won't be doing anything with your "member" except changing catheters with it and reminiscing. The G9 high PSA combo should be more of a concern. Don't rule out other treatment methods, as they may have a better survival rate and no "shrinkage"

All good points! Cosby, God bless you, Brother, and good luck on your decision on treatment, and take your time to decide.
Bill

Also, Cosby, for a little more encouragement read this thread, and here is an interesting post from it:

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?r=q&f=35&m=3070068

halftrack said...
Franco, I wasn't crazy about the VED and those rings, but I did find that the largest ring works best for me. It's tight enough to keep an erection for as long as we want, but not too tight to cause extreme discomfort. With use, the ring gets more comfortable, but that big snap when it slides off the pump is still a jolt. I can say that I've gained a little size with the VED. I haven't been this hard since my 20's. She likes it.

I get nocturnal erections and I get erections without a pump that are usable for other play besides penetration. Maybe that's why I don't need a ring that's quite so tight.

Keep at it. This disease sucks, but it's not gonna steal what I have left.

Cosby,

Don’t worry too much about shrinkage, it unshrinks itself again later. The VED pump helps!

Just get well, from a fellow G9-ner

.

best of luck on your journey.

on the "size" issue, I lost no size. I believe the trick is to allow blood to flow after treatment and not allow atrophy to set in.

I agree with John T.

With your high risk PC, there's a high probability that surgery alone would not be curative. The first step should be to check for evidence that it has spread outside the prostate using an MRI, preferably an mpMRI.

Combo therapy with brachytherapy+external beam is often curative and doesn't incur shrinkage, climacturia or incontinence. Seattle is brachy central - you're fortunate to be closeby.

_ Allen

I had surgery in 2008. Had minor temporary shrinkage right after surgery, but only in the flaccid state. Mostly because you lose a "mounting " point for your bladder when your prostate is removed. So the new angle and the weight of the bladder pulls in on your penis, making it appear smaller. However, in the erect state, never noticed any difference in size.

Five plus years later, no size difference, either flaccid or erect. I don't think that's a good thing to be worrying about, personally. The real trick, is to either rid your body of the prostate cancer, or at least with a more serious dx. like your own, to keep it well under control for many years to come.

There are all kinds of new "tools" out there for dealing with more serious bouts of PC, so there is plenty of reason for you to be hopeful, both now, and in the future.

David

Cosby- I lost about half an inch, but it magically came back about 6 months after surgery. Use the VED for therapy. Regards Inkhorn