My first URO did not use the ROBOT only RRP. Thanks to this board I was aware there were other options. I found a URO surgen who does both. He said go with the ROBOT. He did RRP many years and he said its much more accurate using the ROBOT when you are working on the nerves. Also lots less blood involved, quicker recovery, etc. I asked him "Why did John Kerry go with RRP?" He thinks maybe in 2002 the ROBOT was still new and John had Dr. Walsh to treat him. Also he said he saw no need for me to get a Bone Scan or CAT scan with the indicators I have. I am scheduled for the 23rd of September. Still major surgery but easier than RRP.

Glad you've decided azguy. I hope all goes well for you. The robot or even LRRP would have been 5 hours away for me so I went 'traditional'.

My first URO did not use the ROBOT only RRP. Thanks to this board I was aware there were other options. I found a URO surgen who does both. He said go with the ROBOT. He did RRP many years and he said its much more accurate using the ROBOT when you are working on the nerves. Also lots less blood involved, quicker recovery, etc. I asked him "Why did John Kerry go with RRP?" He thinks maybe in 2002 the ROBOT was still new and John had Dr. Walsh to treat him. Also he said he saw no need for me to get a Bone Scan or CAT scan with the indicators I have. I am scheduled for the 23rd of September. Still major surgery but easier than RRP.

My husband had the Robot RLP on Aug. 15th. He was diagnoised 6/7. He is going on 66yrs. old. His gleason score before surgery was 6 with T1C stage. The surgeon said this might changed after the surgery when we get the pathology report. We got the report 5 days after surgery. The gleason score is a 7 with the stage a T2. We also got the good news that it was organ confined, negative margins. All of this was predicted by the Dr. He was in the hospital for 23 hours. He experienced some severe bladder spasms for the next 5 days, mainly in the morning when he first got up. A couple of days after surgery he walked slowly for 10-15 minutes on the treadmill. Four days following surgery he was driving. With Drs. approval because he was off the pain meds. Seven days later he went back to work for 2-3 hours per day. Yesterday, 2 weeks after surgery the cath. was removed. He needed to wear it longer because his prostate was so large (70) and this required more work on the bladder. He is a happy man today. Now we have new challenges with the depends mens guards, but we have a positive attitude along with a sense of humor about all of this, so we will be fine. Sure none of this is a piece of cake.I am not going to paint a pretty picture. He gets tired easily. His bottom is discomforting at times, but he has been a real champion during all of this. We are happy we went with the robot. I hope I have helped you in some way. Good Luck


Peg

azguy2,
Congratulations ... From the indicators you have listed in this and other threads, you seem the perfect candidate for the Robot. Having been there myself, you are right on about the accuracy, minimal blood loss, and shorter recovery time.

Much like you, I had to wait for quite awhile (10 weeks) from the time I made the decision for surgery and the actual date with the da Vinci Robot. Be prepared for a bit of anxiety and frustration over the wait. For me, once I made that decision, all I wanted to do was to get the cancer out of me. I know things will go well for you. Keep us posted on how things are going.

Thom in VA.

Thom,
I saw a vidio on this operation. You can see it at http://www.ucihs.uci.edu/urology/prostate/prostate_videos/videos.htm.

Ouch! it is getting me nervous. I want this gland out also and get on with the next 35 years of life.

There are some excellent articles on the Robot in Forbes - July 27th issue. Business week and the Wall Street Journal also had very positive articles. Check them out when you have a moment. My husband had it done a month ago and it's the best decision he has ever made.

Good luck and Hang in there.

vienna woman

My husband had the Robot RLP on Aug. 15th. He was diagnoised 6/7. He is going on 66yrs. old. His gleason score before surgery was 6 with T1C stage. The surgeon said this might changed after the surgery when we get the pathology report. We got the report 5 days after surgery. The gleason score is a 7 with the stage a T2. We also got the good news that it was organ confined, negative margins. All of this was predicted by the Dr. He was in the hospital for 23 hours. He experienced some severe bladder spasms for the next 5 days, mainly in the morning when he first got up. A couple of days after surgery he walked slowly for 10-15 minutes on the treadmill. Four days following surgery he was driving. With Drs. approval because he was off the pain meds. Seven days later he went back to work for 2-3 hours per day. Yesterday, 2 weeks after surgery the cath. was removed. He needed to wear it longer because his prostate was so large (70) and this required more work on the bladder. He is a happy man today. Now we have new challenges with the depends mens guards, but we have a positive attitude along with a sense of humor about all of this, so we will be fine. Sure none of this is a piece of cake.I am not going to paint a pretty picture. He gets tired easily. His bottom is discomforting at times, but he has been a real champion during all of this. We are happy we went with the robot. I hope I have helped you in some way. Good Luck


Peg

Peg 29
How Very Alike Our Situations Are. My Husband, 63, Had Laproscopic Robotic Assist Surgery On August 24th. Diagnosed On June 15th With A Gleason Score Of 6, Final Pathology Report Of 4+3=7, Stage T2b. Also Good News Of No Capsule Penetration And Clean Margins And No Seminal Vesicle Invasion. Very Nerve Wracking Time Waiting For That Report. He Was In The Hospital For 48 Hours. We Cannot Say Enough About This Type Of Surgery For Anybody Debating About Which Way To Go. He Had Virtually No Pain Afterward, Other Than His Back Was Sore Starting The Next Day Which They Contributed To Lying On The Hard Table For 4 Hours. He Never Once Used His Pain Pump. Was Walking A Good Distance Down The Halls 6 Hours After Going To His Room. Also, Dr Said Minimal Blood Loss. Tomorrow We Go In To Have The Catheter Removed. He Is A Little Anxious Of That Knowing That The Challenges Will Really Set In Now. As The Doctor Said, Things Will Not Be Immediate And You Must Have Patience. They Will Come In Time But This Is Not A Day By Day Thing, But More A Week By Month Progress. So....................hopefully We Can Both Take This In Good Stride. The Main Thing Is At This Point, The Cancer Has Been Removed And Not Spread. Thanks For Sharing Your Info With All. These Boards Have Been A Life Saver For Me And Have Taken Away Many Of My Questions And Anxieties.

Hope things went well with the cath removal. I guess you are getting to know your new best friends... mens guards!! The first week after the cath was out, my husband described himself as running (leaking) like Niagra Falls. He was changing every hour and getting up 3-4 times at night. I bought him one of those mattress protectors that you find for baby cribs. He is now starting his 2nd week without the cath and most of the days he has noted improvement. Not changing pads as often and even a couple of times having some urinary control. As from the beggining until now we are postive about the entire outcome of this whole thing. He is now 3 weeks plus 3 days post op and is feeling so much better. This coming Monday will be one month. He will be so happy. He can then return to no restrictions. I see a round or two of golf in his near future. On Sept. 21 he will start a program his doctor wants him to go to for bladder rehab. He is very willing to get into this to help things along. He takes Viagra every other night since day one after the surgery. On the 14th of Oct. he will go in for his first PSA test and also meet with ED therapist to get started using the ErecAid vacuum. His doc believes to get things going as soon as possible. What an experience all of this has been. My husband is a champion and my hero. He is so positive about all of this.

Hope this helps some of you. I know this board and some others have really walked me through some tough times of not knowing what to do or expect. This is the least I can do.

Peg in Texas

Peg29,
Your post .... "My husband had the Robot RLP on Aug. 15th..." was very helpful... to me. It was informative, giving me the information I've been looking for! No one person's search (for the best road to travel) is easy, which is where my husband (and I) are. It feels as though we are limited on what options he actually has and that is very disconcerting... to us. I just wanted to thank you for sharing what you did!

I am delighted that my post has helped in some way. I would be glad to answer any questions or concerns you might have now or in the future. I am no expert, but we have gained some hands on experiences during all of this. Yes, everyone is different, but at least we can help eachother with some general experiences we have been through and still yet to go through. I am so grateful to these boards, but more grateful to the ones who are willing to help us walk our way through this.

Good Luck and keep reading

Peg in Texas