The Part of Prostate Cancer Recovery No One Warned Me About By Lui “Left Hook” Pisano

After prostate cancer surgery, I expected recovery to be difficult. What I didn’t expect was how much something as simple as underwear would affect how I felt in my body.

The morning after my prostatectomy, I was standing in a hospital gown waiting to be discharged when something occurred to me:

For the next two weeks, I’d be attached to a catheter.

And suddenly, my regular underwear wasn’t going to work.

When you’re preparing for a procedure like this, you think about the big things. Surgery. Recovery timelines. Doctor’s appointments. You don’t necessarily think about the small, everyday friction of moving through your own home — or getting dressed.

But I learned pretty quickly that those little things can take up a lot of space.

The Things You Don’t Think About Before Surgery

At first, I wore baggy boxers so the catheter tubing wouldn’t catch.

That solved one problem and created another. Everything moved around too much, and walking was uncomfortable.

So I switched back to tighter briefs, hoping they’d keep everything more secure. Instead, the thicker fabric trapped heat and left me feeling constantly hot and sweaty.

It became a frustrating cycle.

I wanted to walk. I wanted to start rebuilding my strength. I wanted to feel like I was moving forward.

But even my underwear felt like an obstacle.

That was when I started realizing that if I was going to recover comfortably, the layer closest to my body mattered more than I had ever thought about before.

Then Came the Leakage

Two weeks after surgery, the catheter finally came out.

I thought the worst of the clothing struggles were behind me.

I was wrong.

For the first couple of days, the leakage was heavy, and men’s pull-ups became part of my life.

At 51, that was difficult for me to process.

There was shame attached to it. I wanted to feel like myself, so I started layering my regular boxer briefs over the pull-ups.

In the middle of summer.

You can probably imagine how that went.

The double layer felt bulky and heavy. Heat got trapped. The fabric stuck to my skin, and I was dealing with chafing and irritation on top of everything else.

Even the waistbands of my old underwear became a problem, rubbing against healing surgical scars when I walked.

And walking was exactly what I wanted to be doing.

After being cooped up inside, I was desperate to get outside, move through my neighbourhood, rebuild my strength, and start feeling more like myself again.

Instead, every step seemed to remind me of the leakage, the heat, the discomfort, and just how self-conscious I felt in my own body.

I Started Looking at Everything Differently

Being diagnosed with prostate cancer made me reevaluate a lot.

One day, sitting at the island in my kitchen and thinking about life after surgery, I made a decision: I wanted to be more intentional about how I took care of myself.

That started with food. I paid closer attention to what I was eating and the ingredients I was putting into my body.

But during that hot, uncomfortable summer of recovery, I realized I was thinking differently about what I put on my body, too.

Most people probably don’t think of underwear as a form of self-care.

I definitely didn’t.

But when you’re managing leakage, irritated skin, tender surgical scars, and the mental weight of recovery all at once, the fabric touching your body suddenly matters a lot.

I knew my old underwear wasn’t working for me anymore.

So I started looking for another option.

Finding a Better First Layer

I began researching men’s incontinence underwear because I wanted something that offered protection without making me feel like I was wearing a pull-up.

That’s when I came across MNTD.

A few things caught my attention right away: it was a Canadian brand, the underwear was made with organic cotton, and there was built-in moisture protection.

At that point, I was willing to try anything that might give me a break from the discomfort.

When the package arrived, the difference was noticeable as soon as I put them on.

After weeks of bulky layers and fabric sticking to my skin, the briefs felt soft, light, and breathable.

The waistband was supportive without feeling stiff against my surgical scars. And instead of constantly thinking about leakage, sweat, and friction, I finally felt like I could just move.

For the first time since surgery, I felt more confident leaving the house.

I could go on my daily walks and focus on rebuilding my strength instead of being distracted by what I was wearing underneath my clothes.

That may sound like a small thing.

During recovery, it didn’t feel small at all.

Comfort Became Part of Recovery

Prostate cancer changes the way you think about your body.

It certainly changed the way I thought about mine.

I started taking the everyday choices I made more seriously — including choices I had barely considered before surgery.

And one of the biggest lessons I took from recovery was that comfort isn’t frivolous.

When I was uncomfortable, irritated, and constantly thinking about what was happening underneath my clothes, it was harder to focus on anything else.

When I finally felt supported and comfortable, I had more confidence to move, get outside, and focus my energy on recovery.

Resetting my underwear drawer didn’t cure anything.

But it did remove one daily source of frustration at a time when I already had enough to deal with.

And that mattered.

The Conversation I Want More Men to Have

As we recognize Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, there’s something I want other men — especially those of us over 40 — to hear.

Pay attention to your health.

Ask questions. Know your numbers. Have the conversations that are easy to put off.

And if you find yourself navigating recovery, don’t underestimate the little things that can make your day feel easier.

Taking care of yourself doesn’t only happen at the gym or in the kitchen.

Sometimes, it starts with the first thing you put on in the morning.

You’ve only got one body.

Treat it accordingly.

Editor’s note: This story was written by MNTD contributor Lui “Left Hook” Pisano and reflects his personal experience with prostate cancer and recovery.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Recovery after prostate surgery is different for everyone. Speak with your healthcare provider about any questions or concerns related to your recovery, incontinence, or post-operative care.