"Prostatectomy - Preparing for the After Effects"

I was diagnosed with low grade prostate cancer (Gleason 7, subsequently downgraded to 6) in September 2013. Following nine months on active surveillance, it was for various reasons that I decided to opt for a robotically assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy: I was relatively young (57 years old); I had always maintained a fit and healthy lifestyle; I had found it challenging from an emotional perspective, knowing that I was living with cancer, however low grade; I had been rather unnerved by recent media reports highlighting some concerns over PSA testing and biopsy sampling in providing a sufficiently accurate picture of the extent of the disease.

Although aware of the likely effects of having a prostatectomy, at the time I was almost entirely concerned with eradicating the cancer. I had researched the clinical side of things fairly extensively, yet without focusing on what would then transpire. So, following a successful nerve-sparing prostatectomy in June 2014 at Bradford Royal Infirmary and my delight at the speed of recovery from surgery, I was completely taken aback when following removal of my catheter, I realised I was quite severely incontinent. I felt a sense of humiliation and embarrasment as I came to an understanding in the days and first weeks that followed, that although starting a regime of regular pelvic floor exercises, it could be months before I would see any improvement.

It was only after my prostatectomy and the removal of cancer that I visited the Incontinence Clinic in the town of Huddersfield, did some research and realised that the process of regaining full continence is assisted by performing pelvic floor exercises not only after surgery, but before as well, and in conjunction with biofeedback.

It is now almost four months since my surgery. I returned to work after a month and although I continue to wear a pad when out and about and when exercising, I am steadily regaining both continence and confidence. I hope that the pads will soon become a thing of the past.

I have nothing but the utmost praise and admiration for the skills of the clinical team that carried out my surgery at BRI. I am truly thankful that they have removed my cancerous prostate in what is a complex, intricate and lengthy operation in as minimally invasive a manner as is possible. The fact that I have recovered from surgery so speedily is testimony indeed to the expertise and talents of Mr Sanjai Addla, my uro-oncologist, and his staff. I am most grateful, too, for the assistance and advice I received on my visit to the incontinence clinic and the subsequent help and support given by nurse Felicity Kendall, to enable me to begin the path to the recovery of continence.

I would, however, like to suggest that, as part of the extensive pre-operative meetings that take place, there is greater emphasis on the consequences of surgery; that despite focusing on the primary concern of removing the cancer, time is given to addressing issues of incontinence, teaching pelvic floor exercises and ensuring patients start these well before their surgery. Perhaps means should be sought to ensure greater and more seamless communication between clinical and incontinence teams so that patients are more fully prepared for the after effects and are less likely to be humiliated and embarassed as I, and no doubt countless others have been.