Has anyone had their prostatectomy cancelled after disease spread was found?
Hi all. I was scheduled for robotic prostatectomy on Friday, Dec 13. When the surgeon found cancer in the lymph nodes, and the location of the disease increased the likelihood of involvement of the rectum, he aborted the procedure. So it looks like I’m headed to radiation and hormone therapy. Wondering if others have had an experience like this and could share their experience, strength and hope.
Hi richradct. I can't speak specifically to your situation, but I can tell you that research research has found promise in what is called cytoreductive prostatectomy for individuals with locally advanced or spread to lymph nodes. This article goes into more detail: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5449684/. "[T]he concept of cytoreductive prostatectomy has been described where surgery (often Combined with an extended lymph node dissection) is performed in the setting of metastatic disease." Your doctor should be able to provide additional information. Wishing you the best. Richard (ProstateCancer.net Team)
Thanks Richard.
Some clarification... the combination of the positive lymph node dissection along with seminal vesicles involvement, and the likelihood that if he proceeded with the prostatectomy, the surgeon felt there was a high probability of damage to the rectum and subsequent need for a colostomy, he aborted the robotic RP.
I have started ADT and will start radiation in a month or so.
Hi richradct. We have had a few in our education group who were they were no longer candidates for surgery. Almost all to my knowledge opted for radiation combined with Lupron.
In my own case I had surgery and then 6 years later needed to go back in for follow up radiation (40 treatments) and 6 months of hormone therapy. Candidly the second time around scared me more than the original surgery.
I will say he treatment in my case went well -- and so far so good here. Current PSA is 0.02 More than willing to chat more if you want. In the meantime wishing you the best as well. ...Dennis (ProstateCancer.net Team)Thanks Dennis!
I have adjusted to the understanding that my particular case is a bit more unique than most. Part of me was expecting to wake up from surgery “cancer free,” and have only my urinary and sexual rehab to focus on... I understood that there may have been a risk that the cancer had spread, and that radiation/androgen deprivation therapy may have been needed to “clean up” any microscopic cells that could be left.
Now radiation/hormone is my primary treatment, and it sounds like hormone therapy will continue for 2-3 years. I will post another question about Lupron/Zytiga(Abiraterone) and sexual side effects... radiation will start in about a month and will last about 9 weeks...
So, like life, I’m learning that flexibility is a key in fighting cancer...
