Enlarged prostate, over 80
Discussion
It seems that Dad has an enlarged prostrate, discovered by the incontinence nurse
He was 80 in December, and has Alzheimer's, has had since 2010.
He had a major heart attack & several small before it at 72-75 & has a pacemaker now
Needs to go for tests, but we've been warned that they won't do anything invasive due to his medical history
Anyone know anything please?
Help me please PH, you have such a wealth of knowledge
Thank you
ETA - PC killed his Dad 40 years ago
He was 80 in December, and has Alzheimer's, has had since 2010.
He had a major heart attack & several small before it at 72-75 & has a pacemaker now
Needs to go for tests, but we've been warned that they won't do anything invasive due to his medical history
Anyone know anything please?
Help me please PH, you have such a wealth of knowledge
Thank you
ETA - PC killed his Dad 40 years ago
Edited by ali_kat on Thursday 14th May 22:09
Hi,
Not 100% sure of exact statistic but near enough - something like 4 in 5 men have an enlarged prostate by the time they reach late middle age. The majority will die of something else and the only effects they'll suffer from the enlarged prostate will be needing to pee a bit more often, especially at night, which we all generally put down to 'old age' and make jokes about. It would be VERY unlikely that, even a 'healthy' 80 year old would be operated on for this condition as it wouldn't be worth subjection them to the potential risks/side effects.
HOWEVER, it is absolute & utter nonsense to say that this disease does not kill. It does, to the tune of 1000s every year. If you're a younger guy and experience any symptoms you simpler MUST GO AND GET CHECKED OUT. Very easy to sort if caught early but a killer if left. If you get symptoms earlier the odds are also high that it will be one of the more aggressive forms of cancer.
As posted under another thread ('fecking cancer' or whatever it's full title is!), I left mine too late and it has now spread outside the prostate and into my spine. Now it can only be slowed/managed. Once you let it spread it cannot be cured.
All the best to the OP and their Dad.
Not 100% sure of exact statistic but near enough - something like 4 in 5 men have an enlarged prostate by the time they reach late middle age. The majority will die of something else and the only effects they'll suffer from the enlarged prostate will be needing to pee a bit more often, especially at night, which we all generally put down to 'old age' and make jokes about. It would be VERY unlikely that, even a 'healthy' 80 year old would be operated on for this condition as it wouldn't be worth subjection them to the potential risks/side effects.
HOWEVER, it is absolute & utter nonsense to say that this disease does not kill. It does, to the tune of 1000s every year. If you're a younger guy and experience any symptoms you simpler MUST GO AND GET CHECKED OUT. Very easy to sort if caught early but a killer if left. If you get symptoms earlier the odds are also high that it will be one of the more aggressive forms of cancer.
As posted under another thread ('fecking cancer' or whatever it's full title is!), I left mine too late and it has now spread outside the prostate and into my spine. Now it can only be slowed/managed. Once you let it spread it cannot be cured.
All the best to the OP and their Dad.
I think what would help here is some clarification. There are 2 potential issues: 1.Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)& 2.prostate cancer
Almost all men will develop BPH, it is frankly universal. It causes problems such as needing to pee frequently, poor urine stream, having to pee at night, and may result in acute urinary retention necessitating a catheter. It can be treated symptomatically with medications or operative intervention. Your father will have some degree of BPH. BPH causes an enlarged prostate.
Whether he has prostate cancer in addition is difficult to know without performing additional blood tests and a biopsy or imaging. Prostate cancer is also common and often produces minimal symptoms cf BPH as it doesn't enlarge all the prostate. It can be treated with hormonal therapies and often has a long course.
Quite why the incontinence nurse is concerned about an enlarged prostate in an 80 year old needs to be clarified.
Almost all men will develop BPH, it is frankly universal. It causes problems such as needing to pee frequently, poor urine stream, having to pee at night, and may result in acute urinary retention necessitating a catheter. It can be treated symptomatically with medications or operative intervention. Your father will have some degree of BPH. BPH causes an enlarged prostate.
Whether he has prostate cancer in addition is difficult to know without performing additional blood tests and a biopsy or imaging. Prostate cancer is also common and often produces minimal symptoms cf BPH as it doesn't enlarge all the prostate. It can be treated with hormonal therapies and often has a long course.
Quite why the incontinence nurse is concerned about an enlarged prostate in an 80 year old needs to be clarified.
Edited by gasman712 on Friday 15th May 10:16
I am 54 and have a slightly enlarged prostrate. As has been mentioned I was told it is almost universal when over 50. I had the tests and they came back fine and I don't need them for a while. It's only a little blood test.
So many guys have an issue with having it checked. One of my chums seems to think having someone stick a finger up his bum is beyond what a chap could stand. I took the view that however bad it was, my Doctor was having a worse day than me as it's his finger!
Any concerns fellow men of PH...... be a man and go get checked.
So many guys have an issue with having it checked. One of my chums seems to think having someone stick a finger up his bum is beyond what a chap could stand. I took the view that however bad it was, my Doctor was having a worse day than me as it's his finger!
Any concerns fellow men of PH...... be a man and go get checked.
My Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He was also told that it was slow growing and would be controlled with drugs etc. I feel that this may give people a false sense of security, and a reluctance to speak up about any symptoms to their GP/Consultant. Aches and pains that he put down to old age were, looking back, changes to the cancer which eventually killed him.
As been said above already,prostate problems are not always caused by cancer.I`m 68,following a urine infection and wee wee trouble a simple blood test identified that I had a high PSA level,alarm bells started.I was very quickly referred to my local prostate dept` for a transrectal ultrasound and biopsy.Not a nice procedure,it did not hurt,and was all over in 30 mins.Felt like crap for a few days,probably due to worry more than anything?.Then back for the results..........It is NOT cancer she said,slightly enlarged prostate,my life style?,the urine infection,apparently all this can cause a high PSA level.That was six months ago and I will have another PSA check next week.So it looks as if I will have to live with a normal old man`s prostate problem?
Bottom (sorry!) line, as I and others have already said is GET ANY SYMPTOM CHECKED OUT. I had plenty of warnings and instead of going to the Docs early I did the 'bloke thing' and left it. Don't end up in my situation. Don't just accept more frequent peeing at night/other symptoms as just a normal part of middle age. The non cancer problems - which is what it is most likely to be - are easily treated/managed. If it's cancer then prostate cancer is pretty much the 'best' cancer to have in terms of getting rid of it successfully. IF CAUGHT EARLY.
I'll get off my soap box now!
All the best to the OP here and anyone else suffering or concerned.
I'll get off my soap box now!
All the best to the OP here and anyone else suffering or concerned.
Thanks everyone, in the cold light of day things seem different to how I felt last night!
However. Gasman hits the nail on the head here
However. Gasman hits the nail on the head here
gasman712 said:
Quite why the incontinence nurse is concerned about an enlarged prostate in an 80 year old needs to be clarified.
She's used to seeing this, to raise it as a concern, to me, is in itself a worrysilverthorn2151 said:
I am 54 and have a slightly enlarged prostrate. As has been mentioned I was told it is almost universal when over 50. I had the tests and they came back fine and I don't need them for a while. It's only a little blood test.
So many guys have an issue with having it checked. One of my chums seems to think having someone stick a finger up his bum is beyond what a chap could stand. I took the view that however bad it was, my Doctor was having a worse day than me as it's his finger!
Any concerns fellow men of PH...... be a man and go get checked.
Mine is enlarged (discovered last year at 51) but PSA test all OK. My dad's had an enlarged prostate since a similar age and he's now 80 and fine.So many guys have an issue with having it checked. One of my chums seems to think having someone stick a finger up his bum is beyond what a chap could stand. I took the view that however bad it was, my Doctor was having a worse day than me as it's his finger!
Any concerns fellow men of PH...... be a man and go get checked.
Hope your dad is OK Ali!
t news! 
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