Open main menu ☰
HealingWell
Search Close Search
Health Conditions
Allergies Alzheimer's Disease Anxiety & Panic Disorders Arthritis Breast Cancer Chronic Illness Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes
Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Migraine Headache Multiple Sclerosis Prostate Cancer Ulcerative Colitis

View Conditions A to Z »
Support Forums
Anxiety & Panic Disorders Bipolar Disorder Breast Cancer Chronic Pain Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux
Hepatitis Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Multiple Sclerosis Ostomies Prostate Cancer Rheumatoid Arthritis Ulcerative Colitis

View Forums A to Z »
Log In
Join Us
Close main menu ×
  • Home
  • Health Conditions
    • All Conditions
    • Allergies
    • Alzheimer's Disease
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Arthritis
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Illness
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Migraine Headache
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Support Forums
    • All Forums
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Pain
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Hepatitis
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Ostomies
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Log In
  • Join Us
Join Us
☰
Forum Home| Forum Rules| Moderators| Active Topics| Help| Log In

What do we ask doc at pre-op visit?

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
profile picture
Hopeso
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2004
Posts : 231
Posted 11/29/2007 8:10 PM (GMT -8)
Hi Kids,

Well tomorrow (Fri) we get pre-op tests done, then see Robo-doc on Monday.  I need to get a list of questions together to ask him and am drawing a blank.  Any suggestions?  Also is it normal that we have to wait this long(almost 2 months to get the surgery)?

Thanks, Les and DB

profile picture
Doting Daughter
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2007
Posts : 1064
Posted 11/29/2007 9:25 PM (GMT -8)
We were told that it is normal to have a wait of around 8 weeks for the body to heal after the biopsy before they will do the surgery. What is his info again? (It is not showing up in your signature) Best of luck tomorrow and you will be in our thoughts and prayers.

Doting
profile picture
IdahoSurvivor
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2007
Posts : 1015
Posted 11/29/2007 9:49 PM (GMT -8)

Hi Hopeseo,

You need to wait 6-8 weeks for your body to heal after a biopsy before you have a radical prostatectomy.  So, two months would be a normal wait post-biopsy.  My surgeon told me that 4-6 months to wait between diagnosis and surgery is usually not an issue at all in terms of long-term prognosis.

Also, you may find some helpful questions for the doctor at this link:

http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org/site/c.itIWK2OSG/b.189974/k.C0A4/Questions_to_Ask_Your_Doctor.htm

And, I'll include some questions at the end of this post as well.  Really, any question is fair game.  What ever satisfies your need or curiosity is pertinent.  You are paying the bill and you are in the driver's seat.

I wish you the best,

Barry

You may find it helpful to ask the following questions:

 

Could you write down my exact type of prostate cancer?

 

May I have a copy of my pathology report?

 

If I wish to have another pathologist look at my prostate biopsy, how do I get the slides?

 

What is the clinical stage and Gleason score of this cancer?

 

What treatment option do you recommend?

 

Watchful waiting (Why would you recommend this option for me in particular?)

 

Surgery (What type, can the nerves be spared, and how often do you do this procedure?)

 

Radiation (What type do you use, and what can be done to minimize side effects?)

 

What are the short- and long-term side effects of this particular treatment?

 

What are my chances of:

 

Becoming incontinent

 

Becoming impotent

 

Having other urine or bowel problems

 

What are the chances of the cancer coming back if I have this treatment?

 

What is the expected survival rate?

profile picture
Tim G
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2006
Posts : 3052
Posted 11/30/2007 12:44 PM (GMT -8)
Barry (IdahoSurvivor) provided a comprehensive list of the questions that I would have suggested asking, so I won't repeat his list.

Prostate cancer treatment is usually not urgent, so a delay of months is not unusual. I waited 4 months from diagnosis to surgery for a couple of reasons: (1) To give my wife and me a chance to research and discuss treatement options and (2) my work schedule. It was nice to have the luxury of a few months before taking the plunge and undergoing surgery.
profile picture
Tony Crispino
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2006
Posts : 8160
Posted 11/30/2007 1:24 PM (GMT -8)
You have a bunch to go on. I joked with my surgeon on the day of the surgery and asked him if he slept well that night, that all was well at home. He just stared and replied that he did sleep well, and that he had no issues at home. Just when I thought there was no joking with him he added "the hang over will probably subside when your in recovery." True story. I added back "what about yours?".


He did very well, and I knew I was safe because I knew he didn't drink. And my hang over did subside in the recovery room.

:-)

Tony
profile picture
Tamu
Veteran Member
Joined : Oct 2006
Posts : 626
Posted 11/30/2007 5:37 PM (GMT -8)
My questions were mostly about the day of surgery and what to expect. I asked all I could think of but was still surprised at some of the things that happened. As an example, I assumed that I would be able to have at least ice chips right after the surgery. The protocol for nothing-by-mouth was held to until the morning after surgery. I expected to be in surgery about two and a half hours but ended up being there for four hours. The difference was mostly prep time. I expected to be put to sleep in the operating room. They gave me what they called a valium shot as I was being wheeled out of the holding room and I did not know anything until I woke up in recovery. I knew about the pulsating leg bags but what I did not know was that they could be set for either heat or cool. The nurses assume that most people coming out of surgery are cold so they set them on heat. In my case I was warm and it was the middle of the night before a nurse told me she could switch it to cool. I assumed the morning after surgery I would get something solid to eat but I was only allowed a liquid breakfast. I expected some pain but I had none. I expected to be groggy but I was just the opposite as I was wired and was calling family on my cell one hour after getting to my room.

This just gives you an idea of what you could ask. All of the questions concerning the catheter will be answered for you before you leave the hospital.

Tamu
profile picture
Hopeso
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2004
Posts : 231
Posted 12/2/2007 8:34 AM (GMT -8)
Thanks guys for all the help! Tomorrow is the day, so I'll let you know how it goes.
Les and DB
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply


More On Prostate Cancer

7 Ways To Stay In Control And Reduce Stress While Battling Cancer

7 Ways To Stay In Control And Reduce Stress While Battling Cancer

Side Effects Of Prostate Cancer Radiation Treatment

Side Effects Of Prostate Cancer Radiation Treatment


HealingWell

About Us  |   Advertise  |   Subscribe  |   Privacy & Disclaimer
Connect With Us
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest LinkedIn
© 1997-2023 HealingWell.com LLC All Rights Reserved. Our website is for informational purposes only. HealingWell.com LLC does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.