Thoughtfulgold, Thanks for your suggestion to tell my journey.
I agree, any experience with something like cancer should be shared, and I included you comment ( copy below), as I feel it was important – hope you don’t mind.
(Copy - Most of us think removal of a prostate is the end of the road for any kind of sexual activity so someone who has had the prostate removed and still getting erections and performing PE is confusing to say the least.)
I was diagnosed with PC in 2014, and due to an enlarged prostate I needed to have a urethral rebore (TURP) before radiation treatment could commence. Unfortunately, it scared and was re-done 3 months later, once again scaring, this was 9 months after the diagnosis.
Decision time, rebore again (3rd time lucky) no way. There was no guarantee it wouldn’t happen again, and if not, then radiation treatment and wait to see if reoccurrence, 6mths/12mths 2 years NOT HAPPENING !!
Having done my homework, the only option was total removal of the prostate, knowing the risks;
1. Major surgery
2. Recovery with Cavernosa nerves intact.
3. Incontinence
4. Penis retraction (length)
5. ED
The successful total removal of the prostate (Radical Prostatectomy) due to cancer, lies with the urologists experience/ability to retain the Cavernosa nerves that control erections, they adhere fully to the prostate and connect to the penis, and the urologist has to peel them off the prostate before removing same.
In my case they were peeled with no damage. However, due to the peeling, they suffered trauma (which is normal), and needed time to recover (anything from 1-2 years approx.).
The surgery went well, nerves are intact.
Incontinence was bad for about 3 months, wore nappies, and then reduced to pads as I continued with Kegel exercises (pelvic floor muscle). Now I only wear a pad overnight just in case of a drip.
Penis length, lost about an inch. (Recovering with pumping)
ED, the nerves gradually coming back (from about 10 months), and with a combination of 5mg Cialis and pumping daily to get blood flowing and simulating erections/exercising my penis, I get woodies during the night, and can get almost normal erections, although not as big at this point.
Sustainable erections for penetrative sex need some help at the moment, but I have Caverject Impulse 20MCG I inject as needed, which is effective for up to 3 hours. As I continue improving, the day will come, and I will pre-cum without Caverject.
I still have my Cowper’s glands intact, producing pre-cum.
This journey is, and has been filled with mixed emotions for both my partner and myself. I have learnt to trust my judgement, take responsibility for my decisions, and bite the bullet when needed.
To anyone who reads this post, PLEASE, have your PSA checked on a regular basis, and take action, life is too short, and after all, as they say, Cancer is only a 4 letter word.
PS - My cancer was found, believe it or not, I had a urinary tract infection, which led to discovering the cancer.