Post by Rick Redner on Apr 14, 2013 13:27:20 GMT -5
Welcome,
One of the last places on earth that I expected or wanted to be is on a prostate cancer support forum. After all, how many of us were expecting to face a diagnosis of prostate cancer? After I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, I discovered the most useful help, information and support came from on-line forums.
While I received lots of support from existing on-line forums, I didn't find one that was geared specifically for men and couples who were facing post surgical issues. A unique feature of pre and post surgery forums is the topics presented are in chronological order, appearing the way in which issues arise in the life of a couple facing prostate cancer. This is true for both our pre and post surgery forums. Each thread begins with a post I've written sharing my own experiences or with helpful links which provide relevant information.
On my website at:
Website Poll (which I hope you will take) only 24% of those who answered my survey felt they were very prepared for surgery. Only 44% said if they could go back in time knowing what they know today, they'd choose 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 for the difficulties, challenges, and permanent changes brought about by prostate surgery.
Life without a prostate is much different than your Urologist and the websites promoting surgery will tell you.
I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and 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. Therefore, my wife and I got together and wrote a book titled:
I Left Prostate in San Francisco-Where's Yours?-Coping With The Emotional, Relational, Sexual & Spiritual Aspects of Prostate Cancer
My wife and I wrote our book to give men and couples the opportunity to learn and discuss with each other a host of issues you and your partner will face as you adapt to life without a prostate. Prostate surgery will change your relationship with your partner. Either your relationship will get better or it will get worse. It will not remain the same. My wife and I believe those who read our book will have the greatest opportunity to grow closer together.
In an effort to reach, support and provide information to the greatest number people, I created and host both a pre and post surgery support forum.
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. 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.
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. So I hope you'll join our community and post about your experiences, questions and concerns.
Even though you may be post surgery, you may find some of the threads in our Pre-Surgery Forum useful. The link to that forum is here:
Pre-Surgery Forum
It's both my dream and belief these forums will make in a difference in the lives of men and couples choosing surgery. I look forward to hearing your story and meeting you on this forum.
God bless you on your journey,
Rick Redner
One of the last places on earth that I expected or wanted to be is on a prostate cancer support forum. After all, how many of us were expecting to face a diagnosis of prostate cancer? After I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, I discovered the most useful help, information and support came from on-line forums.
While I received lots of support from existing on-line forums, I didn't find one that was geared specifically for men and couples who were facing post surgical issues. A unique feature of pre and post surgery forums is the topics presented are in chronological order, appearing the way in which issues arise in the life of a couple facing prostate cancer. This is true for both our pre and post surgery forums. Each thread begins with a post I've written sharing my own experiences or with helpful links which provide relevant information.
On my website at:
Website Poll (which I hope you will take) only 24% of those who answered my survey felt they were very prepared for surgery. Only 44% said if they could go back in time knowing what they know today, they'd choose 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 for the difficulties, challenges, and permanent changes brought about by prostate surgery.
Life without a prostate is much different than your Urologist and the websites promoting surgery will tell you.
I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and 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. Therefore, my wife and I got together and wrote a book titled:
I Left Prostate in San Francisco-Where's Yours?-Coping With The Emotional, Relational, Sexual & Spiritual Aspects of Prostate Cancer
My wife and I wrote our book to give men and couples the opportunity to learn and discuss with each other a host of issues you and your partner will face as you adapt to life without a prostate. Prostate surgery will change your relationship with your partner. Either your relationship will get better or it will get worse. It will not remain the same. My wife and I believe those who read our book will have the greatest opportunity to grow closer together.
In an effort to reach, support and provide information to the greatest number people, I created and host both a pre and post surgery support forum.
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. 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.
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. So I hope you'll join our community and post about your experiences, questions and concerns.
Even though you may be post surgery, you may find some of the threads in our Pre-Surgery Forum useful. The link to that forum is here:
Pre-Surgery Forum
It's both my dream and belief these forums will make in a difference in the lives of men and couples choosing surgery. I look forward to hearing your story and meeting you on this forum.
God bless you on your journey,
Rick Redner
