Post by Rick Redner on Mar 5, 2013 12:24:00 GMT -5
Welcome,
If you've been recently diagnosed with prostate cancer you are either in a state of shock, numb, or terrified. I chose terror. I didn't really choose it, terror overwhelmed me because I associated the diagnosis of prostate cancer with three words. They were pain, suffering & death.
What was just as shocking as receiving the news I had prostate cancer was the fact that I had to decide a course of treatment for a potentially life threatening disease that I knew nothing about. I went to the library and checked out a dozen books about prostate cancer. The best all around book I found was:
Dr. Patrick Walsh's Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer.
Additionally I searched the net for on-line prostate cancer support forums. I was surprised to discover some of the best information, help and support came as a result of my joining a few on-line prostate cancer support forums.
While I received useful information and lots of support from existing on-line forums, I didn't find one that was geared specifically for men and couples who were leaning toward surgery as their treatment option. Another feature that makes our pre and post surgery forums unique is that our threads are in chronicle order, appearing the way in which issues come up in the life of a couple facing prostate cancer and considering surgery. I want to be clear that these forums were not designed to take a position for or against surgery.
On my website at:Whereisyourprostate.com
Only 22% of the men polled felt they were very prepared for surgery.
Even though this is an "unscientific poll" these results are unacceptable when surgery permanently changes a man's life and sexuality. Our goal is to provide accurate information so you'll be in the minority of men who say they were very prepared if you choose surgery as your treatment option.
I had my prostate removed via da Vinci Robotic Surgery when I was fifty-eight. Even though I've had Medical Social Work experience and my wife is an RN with Oncology experience, both of us were not prepared for the issues we faced before and after surgery. I was angry no one told us what our life would be like without a prostate. We didn't want anyone else to choose surgery and find themselves as unpleasantly surprised as we were.
Therefore, my wife and I made a very difficult decision. We decided to write a book which provides a very intimate glimpse of our lives, struggles and the life lessons we learned along the way. Most of the chapters end with a series of questions to help you and/or your partner share your experiences in a way that will bring you closer together rather than have these issues drive you apart.
In addition we wanted to arm you with the information you'll need to get the best medical care possible. Our book is titled: I Left My Prostate in San Francisco-Where's Yours?
In an effort to reach, support and provide information to the greatest number people, I also created and host this Pre-Surgery forum, and a Post-Surgery Forum.
I'm glad you found us! As you read through our threads you'll find many of the threads are specifically geared to issues and challenges you and your partner will face before surgery. In each of threads I've posted the first thread to share my experience and provide information for each of these topics. I hope you'll post about your own experiences and questions.
Another unique feature of our forums are the many faith-based threads. As the Forum Administrator I created this forum to be a Christian oriented forum. That said, people of every faith or of no faith are welcome here. However there are threads that are specifically oriented toward faith. If this is of no interest or offensive to you, you don't need to visit those threads. I'm not interested in arguing matters of faith. Those who are interested can read the faith-based threads. Those who aren't can easily avoid them.
This forum would not exist if it were not for my faith, which is what motivated me to create and host both our Pre and Post surgery forum. No matter what your faith is or isn't, I want both forums to provide you with helpful information, and support.
One of the major lessons I learned was how important it was for men starting out on this journey to have access to other men further along the journey. Obviously, this is true for women as well. It's my belief this forum will provide that to you. As we are just starting out, we don't have a lot of other people posting, but I believe as we gain members, other men and their partners will share their thoughts, doubts, and concerns and experiences about choosing surgery, and the life altering consequences to expect after surgery.
We want to keep growing by adding information and personal experiences. It's both my dream and belief these forums will make in a difference in the lives of men and couples thinking about prostate surgery. I look forward to hearing your story and meeting you on this forum.
May I also suggest to visit our Post-Surgery Forum BEFORE you decide to have surgery. By doing so you'll know about the issues you'll face after surgery, so you can make an informed decision whether surgery is the right treatment option for you.
Check out our website which provides additional information and links about prostate surgery.
Where Is Your Prostate Website
God bless you on your journey,
Rick Redner
If you've been recently diagnosed with prostate cancer you are either in a state of shock, numb, or terrified. I chose terror. I didn't really choose it, terror overwhelmed me because I associated the diagnosis of prostate cancer with three words. They were pain, suffering & death.
What was just as shocking as receiving the news I had prostate cancer was the fact that I had to decide a course of treatment for a potentially life threatening disease that I knew nothing about. I went to the library and checked out a dozen books about prostate cancer. The best all around book I found was:
Dr. Patrick Walsh's Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer.
Additionally I searched the net for on-line prostate cancer support forums. I was surprised to discover some of the best information, help and support came as a result of my joining a few on-line prostate cancer support forums.
While I received useful information and lots of support from existing on-line forums, I didn't find one that was geared specifically for men and couples who were leaning toward surgery as their treatment option. Another feature that makes our pre and post surgery forums unique is that our threads are in chronicle order, appearing the way in which issues come up in the life of a couple facing prostate cancer and considering surgery. I want to be clear that these forums were not designed to take a position for or against surgery.
On my website at:Whereisyourprostate.com
Only 22% of the men polled felt they were very prepared for surgery.
Even though this is an "unscientific poll" these results are unacceptable when surgery permanently changes a man's life and sexuality. Our goal is to provide accurate information so you'll be in the minority of men who say they were very prepared if you choose surgery as your treatment option.
I had my prostate removed via da Vinci Robotic Surgery when I was fifty-eight. Even though I've had Medical Social Work experience and my wife is an RN with Oncology experience, both of us were not prepared for the issues we faced before and after surgery. I was angry no one told us what our life would be like without a prostate. We didn't want anyone else to choose surgery and find themselves as unpleasantly surprised as we were.
Therefore, my wife and I made a very difficult decision. We decided to write a book which provides a very intimate glimpse of our lives, struggles and the life lessons we learned along the way. Most of the chapters end with a series of questions to help you and/or your partner share your experiences in a way that will bring you closer together rather than have these issues drive you apart.
In addition we wanted to arm you with the information you'll need to get the best medical care possible. Our book is titled: I Left My Prostate in San Francisco-Where's Yours?
In an effort to reach, support and provide information to the greatest number people, I also created and host this Pre-Surgery forum, and a Post-Surgery Forum.
I'm glad you found us! As you read through our threads you'll find many of the threads are specifically geared to issues and challenges you and your partner will face before surgery. In each of threads I've posted the first thread to share my experience and provide information for each of these topics. I hope you'll post about your own experiences and questions.
Another unique feature of our forums are the many faith-based threads. As the Forum Administrator I created this forum to be a Christian oriented forum. That said, people of every faith or of no faith are welcome here. However there are threads that are specifically oriented toward faith. If this is of no interest or offensive to you, you don't need to visit those threads. I'm not interested in arguing matters of faith. Those who are interested can read the faith-based threads. Those who aren't can easily avoid them.
This forum would not exist if it were not for my faith, which is what motivated me to create and host both our Pre and Post surgery forum. No matter what your faith is or isn't, I want both forums to provide you with helpful information, and support.
One of the major lessons I learned was how important it was for men starting out on this journey to have access to other men further along the journey. Obviously, this is true for women as well. It's my belief this forum will provide that to you. As we are just starting out, we don't have a lot of other people posting, but I believe as we gain members, other men and their partners will share their thoughts, doubts, and concerns and experiences about choosing surgery, and the life altering consequences to expect after surgery.
We want to keep growing by adding information and personal experiences. It's both my dream and belief these forums will make in a difference in the lives of men and couples thinking about prostate surgery. I look forward to hearing your story and meeting you on this forum.
May I also suggest to visit our Post-Surgery Forum BEFORE you decide to have surgery. By doing so you'll know about the issues you'll face after surgery, so you can make an informed decision whether surgery is the right treatment option for you.
Check out our website which provides additional information and links about prostate surgery.
Where Is Your Prostate Website
God bless you on your journey,
Rick Redner
