likely to have PC

User

Posted 13 Apr 2017 at 06:52

Thanks, Chris, I quite understand what you are explaining above.
I wonder why the surgeon didn't mention adjuvant RT. I can see it is likely to be neccesary. Or maybe he'll mention it at next appointemnt before surgery.

I know I must be prepared for everything.

Regards,

Lola.

User

Posted 13 Apr 2017 at 06:58

Thanks, Chris.

I really appreciate your advices and answers to my frequent questions. You all are being a great support to me. I've got nobody around to talk with and I really need it.

Regards,

Lola.

User

Posted 13 Apr 2017 at 07:55

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

I know I must be prepared for everything.

Regards,

Lola.

No Lola, you are letting your imagination run wild ... based on the current information it is not likely that Paco will need adjuvant RT. Remember that when you first gave us the results of the MRI we couldn't tell whether it translated as 'evidence of minimal extraprostatic extension' or 'minimal evidence of extraprostatic extension' which mean different things.

In the UK, when the prostate is removed it is encased in a wax block by the pathologist. The wax block is then sliced very very thinly so that each thin layer of the prostate can be inspected closely. If any cancer cells are touching the wax edge it is called a positive margin because it means that there is a possibility that some cancer cells were also left inside the man. Some men who have a positive margin don't have any further problems and their PSA stays nice and low. Some men have adjuvant RT because the wax slice shows that cancer cells were definitely left behind in the man. Some men (like my husband) have positive margins but wait to see whether the PSA goes up and if it does they have salvage RT 2 or 3 or 5 or more years later.

Some hospitals in the UK send a bit of the prostate to the pathologist during the operation to help the surgeon check for margins - I think they also do this in some European hospitals. You could ask the specialist whether they do that in Spain but don't assume that Paco will need further treatment as everything you have been told so far indicates that it is a very small tumour.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 13 Apr 2017 at 09:02

Lyn, as usual, your words are wise and calming to me. Thanks for reading and responding my posts. I guess you can feel my anxiety by means of Internet, really perceptive. But I'm glad Paco and I are doing well: gardening, enjoying our grand son etc. etc. I mean I don't seem to be making him overworry, I'm behaving myself ;)

Yes, the surgeon said samples would be frozen and taken into lab while in theatre.

Very interesting the stuff about the wax block, had no idea. I don't think many doctors are so knowledged as you.

As far as my first translation of MP MRI I think I can properly translate it now: the report said "there is possibility of minimal extraprostatic afectation", from what I assume there could be some small extraprostatic afectation?

Thanks again. Have a nice thursday. It's holyday here but it doesn't really make any differenceas Paco is retired.

My best wishes to you, OH and Dad.

Lola.

User

Posted 20 Apr 2017 at 05:22

Well, we are already I'm Madrid. Counting down to the next Tuesday.

Everything is ready for OH prostate removal.

Appointment and talking with surgeon yesterday. I asked him why he had never mentioned RT or any other treatment after op. He said his expectations are to solve the issue just by surgery but in case the PCa was upgraded from post op biopsy, maybe low dose RT. We will see.

He also said Paco would stay all night at UCI and that two bags of blood were ready just in case. It all sounds scaring, but I understand this is the usual way the procedure goes.

Crossing fingers and trying to enjoy family here during the previous days .

Lola

User

Posted 22 Apr 2017 at 20:31

Hi all.

Information about post Da Vinci surgery would be appreciated.

How long are they supposed to stay at the ICU after op?

I'm confused. Shall I stay all night in the hospital while he is at ICU ? I don't know how it goes, when I can see him in his bed etc.

As days goes by I m becoming more and more nervous.

Three days left.

Regards,

Lola

User

Posted 22 Apr 2017 at 21:03

Lola

I can only give you my own experience in a UK Hospitial. I went into theatre about 0830 came round in the recovery room about 1230 had a cup of coffee and two slices of toast and was in the Urology ward by 1330.

My wife came to see at about 1800. I was tired and slept quite alot. The ward was quite noisy at night and I did not get much sleep in the night.

We keep telling you to relax, it is a major operation but most guys are home in one or two days.

My wife enjoyed a couple of good night's sleep while i was being looked after in Hospitial.

Take care and stop worrying.

Thanks Chris

User

Posted 22 Apr 2017 at 21:17

John's operation started at 4.30pm and finished around 10pm - the hospital told me to go home and come back later! He had a cup of tea about 2am before he was transferred to the ward. He was in hospital for 5 days I think, but his was open surgery not Da Vinci.

It may be another difference between the UK and Spain but over here, we wouldn't expect men to be in an ICU after RP. They are taken from the operating theatre to a recovery room where they wake up from the anaesthetic and then they go back to the ward (or their room if they have one). If someone ends up in intensive care after RP it is usually because something went very wrong :-(

I imagine the nursing staff would rather not have you there all night?

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 22 Apr 2017 at 21:38

It seems to be different.

The consultant said after surgery Paco would be taken onto " some kind of ICU" that they have for resuscitation" (is this word correct? It sounds awful :( )

He also said I could see him for a while and then I'd rather go home, but i wouldn't like to be absent on his coming back to his bedroom.

To be honest it results to me a bit strange him staying the whole night in that place.

I hope more information will be provided.

Thanks for your help.

Best wishes

Lola

User

Posted 22 Apr 2017 at 21:48

At Southampton they have ITU wards where you go immediately post op , which is completely different to ICU altogether. Just better care for the first couple of hours and not emergency care. Fingers , toes and everything crossed for you x

If life gives you lemons , then make lemonade

User

Posted 22 Apr 2017 at 22:00

I guess it must be something like that, Chris. Some place we call «reanimación»

My sisters and my brothers in law are concerned about the operation and they are traveling to join us. And my children, of course. I'm happy I'm not going to be alone.

Thanks to the three of you for helping.

Lola

User

Posted 23 Apr 2017 at 10:17

Reanimacion - the best translation i can see is recovery room. This is where everyone goes after an operation to make sure they wake up normally after the operation. There are also ITU's or HDU's high dependency units where he could be taken for a few hours after the op particularly if there has been any bleeding to make sure he is fit before going back to the ward. This is not the same as ICU intensive care.
In our case OH went down for his op at about 12:30 and was in the recovery room before 17:00. His surgeon then phoned me to let me know everything had gone well and give me the details of the surgery. He also told OH the same but he didn't remember any of it as he was still a bit sleepy.
He then came back to his room at about 19:30.
As OH was in a side room on his own i was allowed to wait there for OH to come back although I did go out in the afternoon for a few hours. He then had some food and a cup of tea and I left at about 21:30 much to OH's horror as he was still panicking quite a lot.
The next morning OH was up and and walking and left hospital about 18:00 the day after his operation.
Don't worry. Paco will be well looked after and remember blood in his catheter is perfectly normal if a little alarming at first.
All the best. Julie

Edited by member 23 Apr 2017 at 10:17 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 23 Apr 2017 at 10:35

Julie, that's very clarifying to me. Thanks.

I was told he would stay at recovery room all night long.

Surgery will start at about 16:00. It will be finished at 20:00 or so, I reckon. Maybe they want Paco at recovery room as it will be night and in case of any problem, the ward staff is reduced during the night?

Or maybe because he's 68 or whatever...

The surgeon said I'd rather go home but I'd like to stay in the room as it is possible since we are going on private insurance , not on the "Seguridad Social". But my daughter and sisters don't want me to, so I'll go back to the hospital very early in the morning.

How is OH doing?

My regards,

Lola

User

Posted 23 Apr 2017 at 11:42

Lola, wishing you and Paco all the very best for Tuesday!

Un gran abrazo y beso para ti!

Pablo

User

Posted 23 Apr 2017 at 13:53

Thanks, Pablo.
Tuesday will be am important day in our lives as it was 30 years ago when his left kidney was removed because of the same issue. Cancer twice. Despite all, I don't think we are entitled to complain.

Un abrazo grande desde Madrid

Lola.

User

Posted 25 Apr 2017 at 08:57

Well, now it's time to go to hospital for hub to be admitted and then taken to theatre.

Hard day

Lola

User

Posted 25 Apr 2017 at 08:59

Hey Lola,
thinking of you and Paco today. Hope all goes well.
Julie

User

Posted 25 Apr 2017 at 12:19

Keep strong today Lola.. big hugs

Clare

User

Posted 25 Apr 2017 at 12:45

Be thinking of you and Paco today. All fingers and toes crossed! Tom

User

Posted 25 Apr 2017 at 15:21

Lola,

Wishing you both the Best of Luck.

Hope everthing goes ok.

Steve

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