My Bilateral Orchiectomy

[Wayne (imported)]

My Bilateral Orchiectomy – April 13, 2006

Background:

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early 2000. Due to job commitments, I wanted to postpone the surgical removal for 4 months. So I was put on Lupron & Casodex to reduce testosterone levels to zero until I had the surgery, this would halt or slow cancer growth till then. The prostate was removed, and the Lupron/Casodex halted in Sept of 2000.

My wife and I have been married for 37 years, but have not had intercourse for 15 years – her choice, not mine. We have a 25 year old son. The prostate surgery left me impotent for the last 6 years. So with my impotence and wife not wanting sex – I was sexually frustrated. I tried to talk with my urologist about castration, but was embarrassed to ask, so I asked how I might reduce my libido. He told me to get a girlfriend – not what I needed to hear from my urologist.

I went to a sex therapist [female] to discuss my sex drive and frustration. The discussion included castration, which she thought was rather “severe”. I gave her the phone number of a female urologist and asked her to call and ask about it for me, as I was too embarrassed. She did, and the urologist said it was a “very acceptable” option for me.

My wife and I visited the doctor together and since the surgery would further reduce my risk of prostate recurrence and eliminate my sex drive and it’s frustration – I decided to go ahead with it and had my wife’s support. It was scheduled for April 13, 2006. It was to be done with local anesthetic in the urological surgical center. I was asked to bring a jock strap or snug fitting briefs and that I would hand them over to the nurse when I arrived.

The Day Before:

April 12, 2006 – The nice thing is I had to do nothing in preparation, no fasting, no enemas etc.

The Day of the Procedure:

April 13, 2006

I was very relaxed. I had considered this option for six years and was now confident about the decision. Surgery was scheduled for 1 pm. At 10am I took one anti anxiety pill. My wife drove be to the doctor’s office. We arrive early, so we went for a leisurely walk around the block. We went into the doctor’s office to wait. I was called at exactly 1pm – the nurse lead my wife and I back to the surgical center. My wife waited in the lobby and I was instructed to put on one of those embarrassing gowns that’s open in the back. I sat in a easy chair near the nurses station while I waited for the doctor to arrive.

Shortly, she arrived and asked if I had any questions. I asked if she was going to use a midline incision. She said she could but preferred an incision on each side of the scrotum. I said I’d go along with her choice. A few minutes later I was asked to walk into this operating room and lie down. The doctor and nurse arrived, the doctor asked the nurse to pull back my gown. The nurse attached some kind of adhesive pad to my thigh. I think it was some kind of grounding for the laser. The doctor used two antiseptic wipes, that were cold, to clean the area. Then the doctor folded 4 sterile pieces of cloth and put one on each side of my genitals.

She looked at me for a minute and said “based on my anatomy” she would use a midline incision. Not sure what she meant by that, but I suspect she meant “small”. She told me she was about to inject the anesthetic and it would sting a little. Very minor sting and she injected it in several places. She made the incision then tried to use the laser to cauterize something. It needed adjustment. Right at that moment I got anxious, maybe even a panic attack. My face got all sweaty, guess I was thinking that laser might not work and I’d bleed to death or something. Anyway, after a few minutes, I just took a deep breath and told myself to relax and enjoy it – a once in a lifetime experience. Amazingly, that did it – I totally calmed down and just enjoyed it.

During my operation, the doctor was telling me that her dad had the same operation. By the time he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, his psa was 20, it was advanced. So they gave him the seed implants and bilateral orchiectomy. That was 15 years ago, he’s now 80 and doing great. That was a very encouraging story.

After she started with my left testicle as she was on my right side. I could feel no pain, but could feel her massaging it toward the incision. I could feel movements and tugging, could hear hemostats clamping and every now and then she’d use the laser to cauterize and I could see the light and hear sort of a sizzling sound. Soon, she was massaging my left testicle toward the incision. A bit later, she turned away to get something and I asked if they were still there. She replied “oh no… they are gone”. Wow … I don’t think I will ever forget those words. She put in a little drainage tube and dissolving stitches, cleaned me up and said I was done. The nurse helped me get into my briefs.

I got up from the table, went back to the dressing room to change back into my street clothes. My wife joined me back at the easy chair near the nurses station for my “release instructions”. They gave me prescriptions for antibiotics and pail killers. Told me to take it easy and use ice packs for swelling. To return on Monday to have the drain tube removed. I told the nurse that I wanted to see my testicles. They were in jars of formaldehyde headed for the lab to check for cancer. She opened one to show me. My wife turned away, she didn’t want to see. The one I looked at was white, floating in a reddish liquid…sort of gross. We walked to the car and my wife drove me home, first car ride with no testicles.

After the surgery:

It’s now one month since that operation. It has healed fine, libido is gone, and no side affects so far other than a few very mild hot flashes. In the time period prior to the surgery, I kept doing some soul searching – “am I doing the right thing? Is this crazy?” But now, I feel great about the decision.

My only concern is now, whether or not I want to keep the empty scrotum or have it removed. I don’t know how much it will shrink. But my urologist said it was small and would shrink up. If so, I am fine with that. However, sometimes, when warm it sags down and looks unsightly to me. All of my pubic hair was permanently removed many years ago, so the empty scrotum can’t hide within curls of pubic hair.

Also as a surviving prostate cancer patient, it really saddens me about the number of men that are unwilling to have this procedure as they think they will be “less of a man” etc. A good friend of mine is dying as we speak, he refuses to consider either surgical or chemical castration because he tells me he is “a stallion”. He has two daughters graduating from high school … will be still be a stallion in the grave? From the discussions I’ve had, especially older, married men – if the wife is supportive it is a “very acceptable option” [to quote my uro].

My wife:

We first discussed surgical castration during the summer of 2000 while I was chemically castrated with Lupron/Casodex – at that time we both felt surgical would be better if desired for long term or permanent. Once we discovered at surgical castration was possible, she was very supportive. However, she did have mixed feelings. She didn’t want me to do it for her. She didn’t want to be responsible for the decision if it didn’t work out well in the future. I think that is very important. I promised her that it was my choice and that I’d never blame her if it didn’t work out. However, on the other side of the coin, I didn’t want to have the operation if she had any negative feels about it being done. She had no objections. We are still working on our marriage relationship and I feel that the castration is very helpful to me in freedom from sexual frustration and also for her as she doesn’t feel pressured for performance. I’m not sure it’s the best thing for everyone, but if it’s a good fit for someone … I’d say it’s noting to fear and I find only positive things with it so far.

If you have any questions please send them to me at [email protected]

Wayne

[SplitDik (imported)]

Wow, I'm surprised noone else has responded yet. Thanks for sharing this frank and important experience with us.

It is interesting how final such an act is, but on the other hand it is not that important, and yet some of us still feel so completely defined by having testicles that we'd rather die than lose them.

Half the population does not have testicles, and half again are seniors, and half again are pre-puberty. So having functioning testicles is only really defining one-eighth of the population. Everyone else gets by without them.

Thanks again for sharing. By the way, where are you located? Was this in the US?

[Henri Meunier (imported)]

Thanks!

[farharbour (imported)]

A very useful and frank description.. .thank yo u for posting..

[tugon (imported)]

Yes thank you very much for sharing your story. I am glad you survived cancer. I think it is excellent that you are available to help others via your e-mail link.

[ALLREADYDONE (imported)]

Impenitence was a very frustrating experience for me. The 6 month prior to my castration I was unable to achieve a erection. I was in my mid thirties so it was tough to take. My wife was in her early 30 and very much active. At least after the procedure I never had the urge so my end was looked after.

[Hairless (imported)]

Quote:

Also as a surviving prostate cancer patient, it really saddens me about the number of men that are unwilling to have this procedure as they think they will be “less of a man” etc.

Wayne, Congratulations on getting your Orchi. I hope you get all that you expect to get out of it. It's always a wonderful thing to have a wife that is supportive in these matters. It takes a real man to get his balls cut off. All others are wimps. Steve

[Paolo]

Impenitence was a very frustrating experience for me.

You mean "impotence"?

This line makes you sound like a rebel Catholic.

[I Worship Women (imported)]

Wayne, I'm glad you're doing well. First I have to say you are proving, as have many others, that if cancer is detected early and treated decisively right away one can be cured and live a normal healthy happy life. Continuing to tell people that and stories like yours will help save other lives.

There are some obvious questions that do come to mind. How did you find a woman urologist to perform your castration? Where is she located and what else can you tell us about her?

Yes I would like a description of what she looks like.

Also, how was she dressed when she performed the castration surgery on you? Did you have an erection or cum at any time while she was operating on you? I have often wondered what it would really be like being castrated by a woman and your manhood being destroyed at the hands of a woman.

Please excuse me for asking, but with my interest in castration performed by a woman, I'm just curious about these things.

Again, glad you're doing well please keep us informed.

[A-1 (imported)]

Remember, in surgical scrubs and masks men and women surgeons are difficult to differentiate.

A-1