WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart spoke with WWE.com about recently undergoing surgery to remove his prostate cancer. Here are the highlights.
First and foremost, how are you feeling right now?
I’m actually feeling pretty good. I’m still a little sore in the abdominal area where I have five puncture holes about the size of a pencil in my stomach that make it hard to sit up. The incision they made was pretty small, only an inch-and-a-half to two inches long. For the most part, as compared to other surgeries, you can get back on your feet pretty quick. I got the thumbs–up from my doctor that I should have a smooth and steady recovery for the next few months. I won’t be running any mountains, and I can’t lift anything over 10 pounds. All I can do is sit around. Thank God for WWE Network. I’ve been watching a lot of it.
When were you diagnosed with prostate cancer, and how soon after did you have surgery?
Over the years, I’ve always had regular physicals and exams. At my age, you should be getting checked regularly, and I made a point of doing it. In 2013, I had elevated PSA levels and I had to do a biopsy, and they found cancer in my prostate. They told me then that it was considered a slow growing cancer and they placed me on what they call “active surveillance” and I repeated the PSA test, which is just blood work, and then got another biopsy a bit later on.
In June of 2015, my PSA level had doubled and another biopsy found that the cancer was indeed growing. After a consultation with my doctor, the decision was made to go in for a robotic prostectomy. We set the date for Feb, 10; it wasn’t a rush.
Did you have any major concerns?
There can be a lot of complications, but I put all my faith in my doctors. They are getting better and better at this surgery all the time, and I chose the robotic surgery where the surgeon works through a computer and very carefully removes your prostate while sparing as many nerves as possible. Once they remove the prostate, which for most men is the size of a ping pong ball, they have to sew everything together.
