Prostate cancer

[Viper201]

mjb1 said:

Viper201 said:

6.6 is high for a 42 year old man. But, there are many reasons other than prostate cancer for the high reading. Riding a bike, exercising or having sex before the test will do this as will a urinary infection. An enlarged prostate could give your symptoms too. So don't always assume the worst.

The test is not 100% reliable by any means so a finger up the bum by the doctor to feel if the prostate is hard or irregular. If so then probably a scan followed by a biopsy if there are concerns.

Thanks. From what I've seen online I don't think exercise or sex would affect the result that strongly, and I didn't do either for at least 24hrs before bloods were taken. Not ridden a bike for a couple of weeks before. They didn't do a full blood count this time, or test for a UTI, but I didn't have any symptoms of one either, or prostatitis. Could BPH cause PSA levels to rise 6 fold in 2 years?

BPH does cause PSA to rise but as we are all different, its hard to say. Finger test and scan would be my next steps.

[westberks]

mjb1 said:

Viper201 said:

6.6 is high for a 42 year old man. But, there are many reasons other than prostate cancer for the high reading. Riding a bike, exercising or having sex before the test will do this as will a urinary infection. An enlarged prostate could give your symptoms too. So don't always assume the worst.

The test is not 100% reliable by any means so a finger up the bum by the doctor to feel if the prostate is hard or irregular. If so then probably a scan followed by a biopsy if there are concerns.

Thanks. From what I've seen online I don't think exercise or sex would affect the result that strongly, and I didn't do either for at least 24hrs before bloods were taken. Not ridden a bike for a couple of weeks before. They didn't do a full blood count this time, or test for a UTI, but I didn't have any symptoms of one either, or prostatitis. Could BPH cause PSA levels to rise 6 fold in 2 years?

don't get too worried about the C word at this stage. My psa has risen to nearly 20 and isn't cancerous, but I do have all of the other urinary symptoms. This started in my late 40's with a reading of 10; only now progressing towards a surgery decision in mid 50s as its become a bit of a PITA (pun very much intended)

[Armitage.Shanks]

I'll post this up again for anyone who is interested in having a private PSA test undertaken for circa £25. This is a charitable foundation that organises both public and private event PSA testing from an intravenous blood sample that is lab tested - not a quick fingerprick jobbie.

I went along last year to save me going to the GP to then have to make an appointment for a blood test. I was in and out in 10mins with results the next day and for the inconvenience of the NHS process it was worth the £25 to me. Plus I used it as a screening tool to decide whether I then needed to follow up with a GP visit.

Graham Fulford Charitable Trust (GFCT)

[The Gauge]

Armitage.Shanks said:

I'll post this up again for anyone who is interested in having a private PSA test undertaken for circa £25. This is a charitable foundation that organises both public and private event PSA testing from an intravenous blood sample that is lab tested - not a quick fingerprick jobbie.

I went along last year to save me going to the GP to then have to make an appointment for a blood test. I was in and out in 10mins with results the next day and for the inconvenience of the NHS process it was worth the £25 to me. Plus I used it as a screening tool to decide whether I then needed to follow up with a GP visit.

Graham Fulford Charitable Trust (GFCT)

Good post. My employers arranged for them to come to my work place last year and they did my PSA test.They identified my PSA as being a little high with advice to get a 2nd test at my GP's, which then lead to an MRI and biopsy, thankfully all negative but it was because of this charity that I was able to get checked out, and I'm very grateful to them.

Edited by The Gauge on Sunday 10th March 21:37

[Mr Pointy]

While reading through some websites I came across a potentially very significant, but not obvious, side effect of Tamsulosin called Floppy Iris Syndrome. If anyone is on Tamsulosin & is looking at getting cataract surgery it's critical that you tell your consultant as it can affect the operation.

Of course you should always provide a full list of medications you are taking before any procedure but it's not obvious that there could be a connection between your prostate & your eyes.

[MXRod]

I know I should rise above my need to have a male doctor to carry out .an internal examination , but at present I cant .
So this morning I had a full examination including an investigation of back pain to eliminate anything other than muscles or joints . to reiterate my father died of secondary cancer ,linked to prostate cancer .The ache is just the old bones getting stiff
The internal revealed an enlarged prostate , which may be age related . PSA test next week, but nevertheless due to family history a result of +6.6 will result in an immediate referral . 5s will require a follow up test and referral

[The Gauge]

MXRod said:

I know I should rise above my need to have a male doctor to carry out .an internal examination , but at present I cant .
So this morning I had a full examination including an investigation of back pain to eliminate anything other than muscles or joints . to reiterate my father died of secondary cancer ,linked to prostate cancer .The ache is just the old bones getting stiff
The internal revealed an enlarged prostate , which may be age related . PSA test next week, but nevertheless due to family history a result of +6.6 will result in an immediate referral . 5s will require a follow up test and referral

Good you got it done.

My PSA came back with a score of 3, which at age 51 they said was a little high. A second test at my GP's came back at 4, so she referred me to the Urology Dept.

Don't take this the wrong way, but you want your PSA to be higher than it should be as that will trigger getting an MRI, and it is the MRI that you want. You can get a false low PSA reading and still have prostate cancer, but you wont then get referred for an MRI so will never know. So you want a high PSA, then an MRI that turns out to be all clear. My MRI picked up on a legion on my prostate so I had to have a biopsy, but thankfully that was all clear.

Edited by The Gauge on Wednesday 13th March 17:26

[AstonZagato]

First radiotherapy session today of 20 (five per week).

Lots of cool kit.

• Quick ultrasound scan of my bladder to make sure it was full enough (it wasn't so I waited 15mins)
• Laid on a contraption that Auric Goldfinger could have designed. I was carefullfully positioned to be as close to where the palnning CT scan was mad and feet/knees/head are positioned into foam guides to keep me still.
• Mechanical arms were extended to give me a quick CT scan to orientate and target the machine versus the planning scan
• Machine rotates around my central axis
• Machine then shuffled me minutely into the perfect position
• Arms are retracted
• Machine then rotates, twice nuking the precise areas they want to target.

Time on machine: 15ish mins from start to finish. The Oppenheimer stuff was about 1 or 2 minutes of that.

Painless. Relatively quiet. Nothing is glowing in the dark (though my todger might now trouble a Geiger counter)

Apparently it will have a cumulative effect that becomes very tiring so I may give updates as I go.

[The Gauge]

AstonZagato said:

First radiotherapy session today of 20 (five per week).

Lots of cool kit.

• Quick ultrasound scan of my bladder to make sure it was full enough (it wasn't so I waited 15mins)
• Laid on a contraption that Auric Goldfinger could have designed. I was carefullfully positioned to be as close to where the palnning CT scan was mad and feet/knees/head are positioned into foam guides to keep me still.
• Mechanical arms were extended to give me a quick CT scan to orientate and target the machine versus the planning scan
• Machine rotates around my central axis
• Machine then shuffled me minutely into the perfect position
• Arms are retracted
• Machine then rotates, twice nuking the precise areas they want to target.

Time on machine: 15ish mins from start to finish. The Oppenheimer stuff was about 1 or 2 minutes of that.

Painless. Relatively quiet. Nothing is glowing in the dark (though my todger might now trouble a Geiger counter)

Apparently it will have a cumulative effect that becomes very tiring so I may give updates as I go.

Best of luck, and good of you to share the information. Non of us know when we might find ourselves in the same situation.

[Viper201]

The Gauge said:

AstonZagato said:

First radiotherapy session today of 20 (five per week).

Lots of cool kit.

• Quick ultrasound scan of my bladder to make sure it was full enough (it wasn't so I waited 15mins)
• Laid on a contraption that Auric Goldfinger could have designed. I was carefullfully positioned to be as close to where the palnning CT scan was mad and feet/knees/head are positioned into foam guides to keep me still.
• Mechanical arms were extended to give me a quick CT scan to orientate and target the machine versus the planning scan
• Machine rotates around my central axis
• Machine then shuffled me minutely into the perfect position
• Arms are retracted
• Machine then rotates, twice nuking the precise areas they want to target.

Time on machine: 15ish mins from start to finish. The Oppenheimer stuff was about 1 or 2 minutes of that.

Painless. Relatively quiet. Nothing is glowing in the dark (though my todger might now trouble a Geiger counter)

Apparently it will have a cumulative effect that becomes very tiring so I may give updates as I go.

Best of luck, and good of you to share the information. Non of us know when we might find ourselves in the same situation.

Radiation affects your blood cells and this will make you feel tired. Usually you fully recover within a month after treatment stops. I found trying to keep active and continuing to work helped. Taking extra B12 vitamins might help too.

[westberks]

AstonZagato said:

First radiotherapy session today of 20 (five per week).

Lots of cool kit.

• Quick ultrasound scan of my bladder to make sure it was full enough (it wasn't so I waited 15mins)
• Laid on a contraption that Auric Goldfinger could have designed. I was carefullfully positioned to be as close to where the palnning CT scan was mad and feet/knees/head are positioned into foam guides to keep me still.
• Mechanical arms were extended to give me a quick CT scan to orientate and target the machine versus the planning scan
• Machine rotates around my central axis
• Machine then shuffled me minutely into the perfect position
• Arms are retracted
• Machine then rotates, twice nuking the precise areas they want to target.

Time on machine: 15ish mins from start to finish. The Oppenheimer stuff was about 1 or 2 minutes of that.

Painless. Relatively quiet. Nothing is glowing in the dark (though my todger might now trouble a Geiger counter)

Apparently it will have a cumulative effect that becomes very tiring so I may give updates as I go.

good luck AZ, bizarrely fascinating to read about, in a slightly reassuring way. The tech sounds very impressive and hopefully so super accurate that everything is successful. Love the Goldfinger reference; obviously your audience on here will totally get that!

all the best for the forthcoming treatetn and hope you feel ok

[52classic]

Viper201 said:

The Gauge said:

AstonZagato said:

First radiotherapy session today of 20 (five per week).

Lots of cool kit.

• Quick ultrasound scan of my bladder to make sure it was full enough (it wasn't so I waited 15mins)
• Laid on a contraption that Auric Goldfinger could have designed. I was carefullfully positioned to be as close to where the palnning CT scan was mad and feet/knees/head are positioned into foam guides to keep me still.
• Mechanical arms were extended to give me a quick CT scan to orientate and target the machine versus the planning scan
• Machine rotates around my central axis
• Machine then shuffled me minutely into the perfect position
• Arms are retracted
• Machine then rotates, twice nuking the precise areas they want to target.

Time on machine: 15ish mins from start to finish. The Oppenheimer stuff was about 1 or 2 minutes of that.

Painless. Relatively quiet. Nothing is glowing in the dark (though my todger might now trouble a Geiger counter)

Apparently it will have a cumulative effect that becomes very tiring so I may give updates as I go.

Best of luck, and good of you to share the information. Non of us know when we might find ourselves in the same situation.

Radiation affects your blood cells and this will make you feel tired. Usually you fully recover within a month after treatment stops. I found trying to keep active and continuing to work helped. Taking extra B12 vitamins might help too.

Step back in time for me. This reflects my experience precisely. I'm pleased to see that the Goldfinger reference lives on. When I was alone in the room for the first time I couldn't resist saying 'Goldfinger - Do you expect me to talk?' Brought a titter over the intercom and lightened the mood somewhat.

Did you find it is difficult to keep track of time in there? My 'trick' was to learn the monologue 'Albert and the Lion' time to recite it was about the same duration as the treatment.

Yes, increasing fatigue levels are a fact of life. Bearable but I became inclined to give in to it and take all the rest I needed. I'd say a month is a bit optimistic for getting over it and by then you will have the effect of the long term drugs to deal with.

However - I'm still here and glad every day for that.

Best of luck with your treatment mate. We're thinking of you.

[Gas1883]

After over a month finally got result of biopsy ( requested as kidney team wernt convinced psa rising was caused by infections ) , still Gleason 6 with no change , continue with active surveillance.
MDT team who looked at biopsy have talked to kidney team & they will now proceed with kidney op .
Good news .

[AstonZagato]

Gas1883 said:

After over a month finally got result of biopsy ( requested as kidney team wernt convinced psa rising was caused by infections ) , still Gleason 6 with no change , continue with active surveillance.
MDT team who looked at biopsy have talked to kidney team & they will now proceed with kidney op .
Good news .

I hope it goes well for you.

[Gas1883]

AstonZagato said:

Gas1883 said:

After over a month finally got result of biopsy ( requested as kidney team wernt convinced psa rising was caused by infections ) , still Gleason 6 with no change , continue with active surveillance.
MDT team who looked at biopsy have talked to kidney team & they will now proceed with kidney op .
Good news .

I hope it goes well for you.

Thankyou , hope the same for you a/z

[Pat H]

AstonZagato said:

My biopsy was uncomfortable and undignified but not a horror show by any means. I'd equate it with a root canal at the dentists. When there was a bit that hurt more than the previous ones, I mentioned it to the doctor and he stuck a bit more local anaesthetic in that spot. Didn't have any long lasting effect - a bit of blood in my urine for a few days and some in my sperm (disconcerting to see). Certainly no pain afterwards. The only side effect I had was a hemorrhoid from when the doctor stuck the ultrasound up my Gary.

Just back from hospital following 17 core transperineal biopsy under local anaesthetic.

The anaesthetic jabs were a bit painful and the left side biopsies were proper stingers, but it was all done in about 20 minutes.

Having the ultrasound dildo inserted was disconcerting rather than painful. I was more concerned that I might soil the premises than the indignity of the experience.

Now just need some positive (or is that negative?) results.

[AstonZagato]

Fingers crossed

[omniflow]

Something that may be of interest to some on this thread (regarding the timing of taking Tamsulosin)....

I had a summary call with my Urology Consultant on Wednesday - only it wasn't with him, it was with one of the Doctors - which I suppose is a good thing as my problems weren't considered serious enough to be bothering the management layer. I'm all good - got a follow-up appointment in 1 year and in the meantime carry on with the Tamsulosin. It turns out that you can take this at any point during the day - it doesn't need to be in the morning and it doesn't need to be after food. This means I can go back to my previous diet / eating regime - which has pleased me no end.

As for the procedures that I underwent, they were all handled brilliantly by the people involved. I followed any instructions, but there was never any case of me being left sat waiting and busting for a pee - which was a big concern of mine. For the flow test, the Nurse (I assume) came and spoke to me in reception, told me to keep drinking and then when I felt I needed to go, go and see her in the room down the corridor and we'd do the test. Really well handled.

CT Scan with contrast agent was somewhat weird - and you really do need to drink loads of water over the next 48 hours whilst your body breaks it down. I woke up about 1am feeling like I'd been out drinking for about 3 days solid. I was SO thirsty.

The flexible cystoscopy, whilst not exactly pleasant, was really nothing to worry about. Slightly uncomfortable is about as bad as it gets. The Doctor doing mine was female, as were the two nurses in the room. But again the whole thing was really well handled and I didn't feel the slightest bit embarrassed.

All in all I am extremely happy with the treatment I received from the NHS - I can't really imagine how they could realistically improve it.

Good luck to those of you that have more serious issues, and for anyone starting out on this journey, don't panic, don't spend 6 weeks planning your funeral in your head, go through the tests and see what the outcome is. It might very well turn out just fine.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Ref the time of day for taking Tamsulosin, both my GP and the Urologist were insistent that it should be taken at night. Not sure why though.

[rovermorris999]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Ref the time of day for taking Tamsulosin, both my GP and the Urologist were insistent that it should be taken at night. Not sure why though.

I was told at breakfast time.