In Cancer Update #17, follow Gary’s uplifting recovery outside Gold Coast University Hospital, where he received top-notch care for prostate and bladder cancer. After his radical prostatectomy, Gary’s catheter is removed, and he’s embracing gentle pelvic floor exercises and short walks to regain strength. For the next six weeks, he’s resting to let pelvic tissues heal, awaiting a scan to confirm the surgery cleared all cancer. Gary’s journey underscores the power of early detection and men’s health awareness. Join us to support his story and learn about post-surgery recovery!
00:00So you're back at Gold Coast University Hospital and you've had what removed
00:07today? I had the caffeta removed after two weeks. Two weeks it's been in since I've
00:14had my operation and that was something I was really looking forward to getting out.
00:18So this morning at nine o'clock came in, had the caffeta removed, all went well
00:23and then came back now it's just after 12 o'clock now and they did a scan
00:29just to scan the bladder and make sure that you're emptying your bladder and
00:34everything okay and she was very happy with that. So yes, all went well and I feel
00:41so good not having a good old caffeta around anymore. You're really masked. So I know
00:50that we've spoken a little bit about it and throughout you know the two weeks of
00:54your recovery after the surgery. So can we talk about the catheter for a second
00:59like for other guys that might have to then go through this. So you had a small
01:04bag during the day that was strapped to your leg wasn't it?
01:07Yeah, just so you're not cutting a large bag around. It's called a holster so it's strapped
01:14to your leg. So it was pretty cool really. It made it pretty easy to go to the toilet actually.
01:22It had its good points. So it's just like a 300mm holster strapped to your leg and then at the night time if you only had that you'd be up all night just having to go to empty it and stuff. So then you'd add an extension.
01:26on for two litre caffeta, two litre bag on that which yeah you can get right through the night basically without getting up. So that was really good because I was a bit worried about that. I thought I'm going to be up and down all night emptying this bag but that wasn't the case. So like no one wants to have a caffeta in it.
01:43at all. I couldn't imagine. Male or female. It's not fun. But in saying that I had no issues with it whatsoever. It was just didn't cause me any drama. No urine infection. Nothing. So I was pretty lucky really.
02:00But in saying that it was very good to get it out. And I was a bit worried about getting there because I thought it would be a lot worse than her. But no. The nurse was excellent. She's done thousands of them. She said it was all over the point. No issue whatsoever.
02:16So now we're just in the process of for the next probably next four weeks you're still not allowed to lift anything or do too much. You've got to be very careful. So like any operation you don't damage the stitches around them.
02:32But it was very good to get it out. It was very good to get it out. It was very good to get it out. And I was a bit worried about getting there because I thought it would be a lot worse than her. But no. The nurse was excellent. She's done thousands of them. She said it was all over the point.
02:40So you don't do too much. You've got to be very careful. So like any operation you don't damage the stitches or anything. But no. I've been pretty good so far.
02:49And you even said going back to the night sleeping with the larger bag or the catheter. You even said that it wasn't too bad at night that you sort of worked out a position to sleep in. And so it wasn't causing you any discomfort or anything.
03:01No. After the first night I was sort of a bit worried just sleeping on my back. But no. After a couple of nights I worked it out. Just strapped on the leg in the rice pot. One leg. Not hanging out of bed. But just on the edge of the bed. And I just slept on my side and everything. And just. Yeah. I had some pretty good night's sleep.
03:20So yeah. Didn't have to get up in the middle of the night and go to the toilet.
03:24Yes. You have joked a couple of times about being comfortable on the couch. But I did say that Homer Simpson has already done that. I think he worked out a contraption.
03:33Yes. I said to Sylvia I'm going to have to work out so I can wear one of these all the time so I don't have to get off the couch. But no. I don't think I'll be doing that. I don't want to become a Homer Simpson. Homer Simpson.
03:45So now that the operation. So you said the doctors they're happy with the operation. But what happens now? Because they're still going to be examining you to see that they've got it all out for sure. And so what are the next steps for you?
04:00I haven't got the dates. I haven't got the date yet. But in the next week or so I'll be coming back and they'll do some sort of scan to actually check to make sure that everything's fine.
04:12And do a PSA test to make sure. Because that should drop right down to nearly zero I think. So they'll do those checks and everything and make sure that they've got it all. And if they did then I won't have to have any radiation treatment or anything. I'll be just done.
04:34I think they leave it every three months or something to come in and get checked again to make sure that nothing's happening. Nothing's coming back around. So yeah.
04:44And are you eating well? Yes. What did you just have for lunch?
04:48I just had a beautiful wrap of chicken and avocados. Greens?
04:53From the hospital too. Hospital food. Yep.
04:55The cafeteria. It was really nice and got a nice fresh juice. So yes I'm eating healthy. And yeah I've got no problems eating or anything. So I've probably done pretty well.
05:09Well thank you so much for continuing to share our story. And I think you would agree with me in saying that medical staff are really awesome. And we're very lucky to have good medical care here.
05:22Every step of the way so far has just been fantastic. They are just so good. Well trained and everything. So we are very lucky here in Australia. And on the Gold Coast we've got an amazing hospital. And yeah it's been really good.
05:37So I've had no issues with them whatsoever. And yeah still on the journey. It's not over yet. But it's not all as bad as everyone thinks. No one wants to get any sort of cancer. But you've got to just be positive. And hopefully it all goes your way.
05:56Thank you so much for sharing. Thank you. And here's the beautiful place you were at.
06:02Yeah it's a pretty cool hospital. It is a beautiful hospital.
