ABSTRACT
Introduction This chapter aims to enhance urologists’ understanding of certain subjective events surrounding radical prostatectomy. We both had radical prostatectomies several years ago and were emotionally, and in one case practically, involved in each other’s surgical process (Paul H Lange (PHL) performed the radical prostatectomy on Paul F Schellhammer (PFS)). We are urologists whose practical and academic interests (and accomplishments) have principally centered on prostate cancer. Also, we have been close friends for many years and thus have had frequent occasions to reflect on and discuss many facets of prostate cancer in relation to our own experiences. We will individually describe the experiences surrounding our diagnoses, surgeries, and subsequent events, using them as discussion points for academic commentaries. Finally, we will present our mutual insights about these experiences. While this effort is highly personal, for a variety of reasons we have chosen to say very little about the sexual aspects of our experiences other than to state that the outcome has been satisfactory to both of us: PHL had a bilateral nerve-sparing prostatectomy and has no problem, and PFS had a unilateral nerve-sparing prostatectomy and uses some assistance. In the realm of sexual performance and urinary function, satisfactory post-treatment outcomes are very much predicated on pretreatment knowledge and expectations. In brief, we both were very much aware of what we were getting into and were very satisfied with the quality of life afterwards. The key word is “awareness.” Unrealistic expectations that life will not be altered after treatment can lead to a dissatisfied patient.
