Hi George,
I found I started to cry when I was reading your post, its like you were reading my mind...every question and fear you wrote is exactly what's going through my (and my familys) head at the moment! My dad is 55 years old (a very young 55) and as you know from my previous post he has just started 3 months of chemo, after this he will have to have an RC and decide what diversion he wants...as you are probably feeling, I know all he wants is to keep his bladder and I think if it wasn't for all of us, his family and friends he might think that was an option
But he has now faced the reality that the bladder will have to come out...suppose that's the first step, and you seem to be at that stage too! Like you, my dad has a motorcycle he loves to ride, plays golf every week, is very social (loves a few pints of beer - like all us Irish
) etc etc...so we/he have all the same concerns that you have! Unfortunately I don't have any of the answers but I just want to let you know that we are going through the same and know how you are feeling!
Just to let you know, at the moment I think my dad is leaning towards the neobladder, the main reason is that the doc was very positive about the outcome and we have spoken and heard from (alot on this site!) people who have the neobladder and it seems to works well (after a training period!)...
WHEN my dad beats this disease, he'd like to be back to "normal" as much as possible!
I'm sure you will recieve great responses (alot better than mine anyway
) from many who have had to make the same decision as you and it seems which ever diversion someone chooses they adapt to it because they are ALIVE.
I'll be thinking of you and anxious to hear what you decide and how you are getting on!
Take care.