How To Ensure A Smooth Prostate Cancer Surgery Recovery
For many men with prostate cancer, surgery is the best treatment option available. Whether you're getting robotic surgery or a more traditional procedure, recovery can be a little difficult and uncomfortable. By following the tips below, you can make your prostate cancer surgery recovery as smooth and easy as possible.
Ask Your Doctor For Advice
Speaking to your doctor about your fears, concerns, and recovery is typically one of the best ways to ensure a smooth, problem-free recovery from prostate cancer surgery. You should ask your doctor about different surgical methods, such as robotic surgery. Robotic prostate cancer surgery, as Cancer Research explains, generally means that you'll spend less time in the hospital and experience a quicker recovery.
You should also ask about any medication you'll need to take, and the different side effects that you might experience. Find out what you should be expecting in terms of recovery timeframes, and how you can make the process go smoothly. Don't be afraid to ask any question you can think of, or to ask your doctor to explain things more simply.
Take Some Time To Heal
As with any surgery, planning some time to rest and recover is important. You should book at least a couple of days off work – longer if you work a manual job – and avoid lifting heavy objects while you recover. Take over-the-counter painkillers if you feel you need them or ask your doctor about prescription pain relief if necessary. HealthDay explains that many men tend to rush back into their everyday activities without taking time to heal, which is typically a mistake – only do as much as you feel like, at least until your body is healed.
Learn How To Take Care Of A Catheter
One of the biggest challenges when recovering from prostate cancer surgery is that you will have to use a urinary catheter after surgery, generally for between one and two weeks. Find out how to care for the catheter, how to clean it, and how to empty the bag – your nurse can offer advice on this, or there are many resources available online.
As Seattle Cancer Care Alliance suggests, you might also want to start learning Kegel exercises in advance of your surgery, as this will make doing them with the catheter is removed much easier. This will strengthen your muscles and reduce your chances of incontinence post-surgery, making your recovery much more pleasant.
As with any surgery, recovering from prostate cancer surgery can be challenging. Be gentle with yourself, ask your doctor what to do and what to expect, take ample time to heal and your recovery is sure to go as smoothly as possible.