Sorry about the repeat post. I meant to post this to the prostate cancer NS
Wayne

I am taking the max dose of xatral and am now ready for a TURP (the only
procedure available here in Ottawa.) My PSA has also been rising but as
yet, after 3 biopsies, no cancer found. I expect that it may come
eventually or the biopsies haven't hit existing cancer. My concern with
either PVP or TURP, is that the urethra is destroyed and what is left is
scarred prostate tissue through which the urine can pass. If the
prostate is removed, there is no urethra where the prostate used to be.
Does this make sense? Does anyone know if there a problem with
prostatectomies performed on patients who have previously had a TURP or
PBP?
Wayne in Ottawa

===> hi wayne - have no fear,  the area that the TURP and PVP is done is
usually in the temporal zone of the prostate, which is the middle part.  

when the prostate is removed from cancer,  they remove the bladder valve
too because it is next to the prostate and as a rule, will have pca in
it as well.

the urethra is cut at the point where it goes into the prostate, so all
work that was done on the prostate is gone.  you have no worries about
what's been done in the past.

they sew in the other bladder valve that a man has into the place of the
original, attach the urethra back on and you are back in business.

i'm over 4 years post op and all my BPH troubles are long gone.  i can
pee like a race horse and don't have to worry about all the nightly
trips either.

oh, one more thing to mention while we are on the subject of prostate
cancer.  

if you have the prostate moved,  as i've stated, all the problems with
the prostate are gone.  but if you have radiation done as a prostate
treatment,  then, you may still have prostate problems later, such as
prostate infections and the like.

~ curtis

knowledge is power - growing old is mandatory - growing wise is optional    
"Many more men die with prostate cancer than of it. Growing old is
invariably fatal. Prostate cancer is only sometimes so."
http://community.webtv.net/PALMER_ENT/doc