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I attended Dr Miller’s Consulting Room on 31 January 2009 where he fully discussed the outcomes of the Brachytherapy Procedure Volume Test.

He then proceeded to discuss the procedure for undertaking Radical Prostatectomy. He fully explained the risks and the scope of the Radical Prostatectomy. These procedures included Laparoscopic Prostatectomy where surgery is undertaken using robots. Also offered was the Radical Prostatectomy procedure (Open Surgery).

Dr Miller advised he specialises in Open Surgery and he fully explained why he preferred this method. I elected to proceed with the Open Surgery. (I did this because of my confidence in Dr Miller’s capability and his honest and frank manner in all his discussions and actions he has had with me throughout. (For me, this enabled me to have the greatest confidence and respect for Dr Miller’s ability as a Surgeon.)

I made a commitment to Dr Miller that I would endeavour to get as ‘physically fit’ as possible prior to the operation (the exact date was not known at that time other than it would be approximately April/May 2009)

So in 10 weeks or so from 31 January 2009 to 21 April 2009, I lost 11 kg of weight and I rode a pushbike for a minimum of 20 minutes a day. (I missed a total of 4 days riding that bike in that period.)

On 4 March 2009, I had my PSA checked as a component of my usual annual Blood Tests – the reading was 5.2.

The date of 21 April 2009 was set by Dr Miller during a visit on 17 March 2009.

The Radical Prostatectomy Operation and thereafter

On 21 April 2009, I presented at Ashford Hospital in South Australia at 1.00PM. I had been fasting since 8.00AM that day.

At 6.40 pm, after a brief talk with Dr Miller, I entered the Operating Theatre.

My wife told me that Dr Miller rang her at approximately 11.00pm to advise her that he had completed the surgery and that I would not likely be conscious until the next day

I woke up in High Dependency Unit at Ashford Hospital at about 5.30 am on 22 April 2009. Tubes everywhere!!!! Two drain tubes immediately above the incision area, a Catheter, and a series of tubes in the neck region for administering pain relief drugs if needed. Additional tubes were still in the arm and wrist regions too.

High Dependency Unit

I was monitored very closely throughout the 22 April 2009. (I can recall being sent for an X-Ray early in the day of the 22nd to ensure that the series of tubes in my neck were correctly positioned.) The Nurses were constantly seeking feedback from me about pain, discomfort, etc. I was in pretty good shape I thought because I didn’t feel much!!


The Nurses assigned to High Dependency Unit when I was there are of the highest calibre and skills. I cannot express how highly I regard their care and attention.

I was in High Dependency Unit until late in the afternoon of Thursday 23 April 2009 where they decided that I was recuperating enough to be transferred to Mitcham Ward.

Mitcham Ward

I was again getting wonderful attention and care from the Nurses on Mitcham Ward. On Friday 24 April 2009, I was able to have a shower in my en-suite. I was able to sit down on a suitable chair and just run warm water over all of the body. It was just so refreshing! (I still had my Catheter and the other tubes attached to me and this took a little time to get used to as I shuffled from the bed to the en-suite.)

Late on that Friday I was ‘requested’ by the Hospital’s Physiotherapist to try to do some walking about the Room/Ward. I wasn’t doing that I can tell you!!

I was slowly showing interest in small quantities of food – namely small serves of steamed vegetables as a follow up to initial ice-cream and yoghurt!!

In the 4 day period (Tuesday 22nd – Friday 25th) after I awoke from the operation, Dr Miller and the Hospital took great care and interest in ensuring the Bowels were beginning to work again. I was given a proprietary laxative and stool softener to ensure that there would be NIL constipation after the Bowel ‘woke up”. The need for this is to ensure that any bowel movement does not create any unnecessary strain on the abdomen.

As the days proceeded in Mitcham Ward, many of the systems put in place during and a result of the surgery (tubes, medicines, etc) were being withdrawn.

Dr Miller called every day that I was in Hospital to check my progress and well being. On the morning of Sunday 26 April 2009, he said to me that the operation was successful. He also told me that he had to expand the area of the operation because he found that the Cancer was more aggressive than expected and he spent additional time ensuring that he has removed it all from all surrounding tissue. Dr Miller was very, very, very confident that I was “Prostate Cancer free.” Oh what a relief!!

After he had spoken to me, he said I could go home!! I still had the Catheter in place.

Hospital in the Home (HITH)

For the period 27 April 2009 to 3 May 2009, I was visited daily by the Nurses assigned to Ashford Hospital’s “Hospital in the Home” System.

These Nurses are the “on road” part of Mitcham Ward. Their role included ensuring that I was able to manage my Catheter, my medicines were being correctly applied and that I was coping and recuperating in a proper and safe manner.

In hindsight, their most wonderful and endearing asset as Nurses was their capacity to steer a person (me) who has just had major surgery with significant outcomes through a roller-coaster series of emotions!!!

We men are aware of women experiencing post-natal “blues” – rest assured it happens to men too as we try to grapple with our own differing emotions!!! I have no hesitation in saying, “Thank you Nurses.”