Partial Robotic-An unusual experience.

I suppose I grew up thinking cancer meant death and if anyone ever told me I had cancer, that I would freak out, act differently, change something and be terribly emotional. My experience seems somewhat surreal, even now 4 months after surgery.

In February, I had blood in my urine and did my doctors visits and CAT scan, with and without contrast. A few days later, as I was working, my wife called, freaked out, and told me to come home. Next day, the urologist said I had cancer. All of my expectations on hearing this did not materialize. I just said OK, now what do we do. Robotic surgery. A partial, which was scheduled in mid March. OK, cancer scared me not one bit, but I had never been in a hospital, and THAT freaked me out.

I made it to surgery, with a lot of wife pushing me along. Leading up to this, I never had any pain, symptoms, I felt fine as usual. Went in feeling fine. Surgery took about 3 1/2 hours I was told. I woke up groggy. Sitting up that night, my biggest pain was gas. That persisted until the 3rd day, when the relief came and I felt fantastic. I had some pain med drip, not sure if I needed it, but the gas was very painful. I was afraid to poop, but most things seemed to be in my mind, as I was walking the next day around the corridors.

I went home after 4 days, they gave me pain pills, but I never took one, as I never had any pain upon arriving at home. I had 5 scars, one bigger than the rest, which were most sensitive in my mind, they never caused any problem.

After surgery, of course, I had questions. I was told to go home, rest and enjoy life. What about radiation? Chemo? Pills? Nothing. It is gone, the only problem was my 5cm tumor and grown to 7cm and there was a question if robotic surgery was still the good option. I was back at work the 3rd week.

I must have won some sort of lottery. It all seems strange, as except for 4 days, I am the same now, as before. Of course I will have a scan again soon and will keep a lookout, but I keep asking myself how this could have been so easy and pain free. I really expected so much more problem. Of course I know I am lucky, but still not sure what to think....I do give credit to Doctors and Medicine these days. 40 years ago, I expect the outcome would have been different.