Prostate cancer

Author
Discussion

crankedup5

10,709 posts

41 months

Tuesday 13th August
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gareth h said:
crankedup5 said:
Gas1883 said:
Best of luck to everyone who’s going through treatment , but I can honestly say as someone who is active surveillance ( watch & wait ) I’m having nightmares reading some of the treatments , I didn’t cope at all with the 1 st biopsy while awake , told anymore from you & we will take you down the theatre & put you asleep !!( my wife works at hospital & had pre- warned them I’d be a nightmare ) .
Credit to you all , I know you have to have the treatment but your hell of a lot braver that me , all the best .
TBH always I have found the wait to be the hardest part of treatments. As soon as you are being examined or treatment application the medical team always ensure any pain is dealt with by sedatives etc. Good luck with. journey and keep posted if you wish.
Yep, reality was much easier than the anticipation, even having the catheter removed, although the nurse did threaten not to deflate the balloon as I’d been taking the piss about the pain of childbirth!
laugh

unclemark123

879 posts

214 months

Saturday 17th August
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I lost my Dad to prostate cancer last year. He also lost his Dad to it. I'm 52 with mild symptoms of an enlarged prostate. As soon as I realised I was at high risk I booked myself in with a consultant privately. The consultant at the hospital where my Dad was seen advised not to rely on the NHS and I fully agree - they are way overstretched. They only MRI'd him 4 weeks before he died.

I have to see my consultant every 6 months from now on. I have a PSA test every 6 months, and examination, and I will need MRI's periodically soon.

The most important message he gave me, was that with regular screening, even if I got prostate cancer, it would be treatable and I would not die of it.

Get yourselves tested guys.

Mr.Chips

1,031 posts

220 months

Saturday 17th August
quotequote all
NHS are great, but massively overstretched. I had an issue 18 months ago and got in for tests and scan followed by specialist appointment within 4 weeks. Upshot was I have BPH and need PSA tests every six months. Should have seen the specialist again 12 months ago, finally getting to see him on Monday! Fortunately, not a great deal seems to have changed and PSA scores are OK.

JeremyH5

1,668 posts

141 months

Thursday 22nd August
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I had my six week post robot assisted radical prostatectomy with nerve sparing consultation yesterday evening. The prostate cells confirmed the biopsy diagnosis of Gleason 3+4 and last weeks PSA test result was negligible as hoped.
The consultant is happy with this and my recovery progress and wants to see me again in 3-4 months and see another PSA test. I’ll be having PSA tests for the rest of my life.
I’m getting on top of the incontinence, a lot of pelvic floor exercises have had effect and I’m having very little pas through now. Still a way to go but on track apparently.
My wife and I are very relieved that all the diagnoses and treatments have done as expected.

BoomerPride

4,007 posts

263 months

Thursday 22nd August
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I went for my post-radiotherapy consultancy this morning. My PSA is now under 0.03 or "undetectable". It was 7 previously. So the bad cells have been destroyed or are considerably subdued. I need to continue with hormone injections for another two years in case micro cancer cells broke out at some point. PSA tests will be done every six months and they will let me know of the result over the phone each time.

A flood of relief came over me when I heard that figure 😀

JeremyH5

1,668 posts

141 months

Thursday 22nd August
quotequote all
BoomerPride said:
I went for my post-radiotherapy consultancy this morning. My PSA is now under 0.03 or "undetectable". It was 7 previously. So the bad cells have been destroyed or are considerably subdued. I need to continue with hormone injections for another two years in case micro cancer cells broke out at some point. PSA tests will be done every six months and they will let me know of the result over the phone each time.

A flood of relief came over me when I heard that figure ??
Excellent news, two of us on the right side of cancer today cool

52classic

2,629 posts

216 months

Thursday 22nd August
quotequote all
Good news lads! A great feeling, isn't it?

I have just had (last week) the results of my first quarterly screening since I ceased the 'jabs and tabs' regime. PSA undetectable and I am feeling generally much better since the drugs are clearing out of my system.

Only slight issue is that, probably as a result of compromised immunity, I have picked up a disorder called H pylori. Described as an irritation of the stomach lining, it manifests as an excess of mucus which convinces my brain the stomach is full and doesn't want food. Occasionally there's a resultant 'gag reaction' more or less spontaneously. That means restaurant eating is out of the question for now.

For someone who lives to eat, this is a bu66er! I'm trying Omeprazole and Guaifenesin with limited success. Just gotta get the better of this in time for my Christmas dinner! Has anyone else experienced similar or has anything to add to the subject?

westberks

1,068 posts

141 months

Thursday 22nd August
quotequote all
congrats to the 2 newbies on the right their side of their treatment...

hopefully the stomach issue subsides in time for turkey day! But good news of the latest test results and recovery.

BoomerPride

4,007 posts

263 months

Thursday 22nd August
quotequote all
Thank you! smile

Zapping the13mm kidney stone procedure is next.

Penrhyn

717 posts

104 months

Friday 23rd August
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52classic.

H Pylori is the prelude to a Stomach Ulcer if left untreated.

I had H pylori and was given two different antibiotics which of course meant you feel crap for the duration but that dose worked a treat.

What you are taking will not touch it l'm afraid.

Viper201

8,013 posts

149 months

Friday 23rd August
quotequote all
52classic said:
Good news lads! A great feeling, isn't it?

I have just had (last week) the results of my first quarterly screening since I ceased the 'jabs and tabs' regime. PSA undetectable and I am feeling generally much better since the drugs are clearing out of my system.

Only slight issue is that, probably as a result of compromised immunity, I have picked up a disorder called H pylori. Described as an irritation of the stomach lining, it manifests as an excess of mucus which convinces my brain the stomach is full and doesn't want food. Occasionally there's a resultant 'gag reaction' more or less spontaneously. That means restaurant eating is out of the question for now.

For someone who lives to eat, this is a bu66er! I'm trying Omeprazole and Guaifenesin with limited success. Just gotta get the better of this in time for my Christmas dinner! Has anyone else experienced similar or has anything to add to the subject?
Good stuff classic. I've had digestive issues following radiotherapy as it damages the system. I'm on a fairly restricted bland diet in an effort to minimise the vindaloo effects. So no lasagne, moussaka, mince etc and potatoes are very limited. Red tomato sauce is a definite no-no.

I found by pure chance that eating flat pancakes helped to stop the pebble dash toilet. smile

52classic

2,629 posts

216 months

Friday 23rd August
quotequote all
Thanks very much, one and all. I knew I'd get a good range of helpful views. Quite disheartened by Viper's dietary restrictions and I think crankedup is in much the same boat. I haven't suffered any of it 'til now. Vindaloo, Lasagne...... my staples!!

Went to my GP today. I asked about anti-biotics but "The computer says no" apparently. I need to be off the Lansaprazole etc for at least 3 weeks before I can have the test to verify H pylori conclusively. Since it seems the problem is getting better, albeit too slowly for my liking, he recommends continuing as we are for another 2-3weeks. Well, OK. Makes sense I suppose but I'll be gagging for a G&T by then.

Anyway, on a lighter note the GP, new to me, said his brother is a professional car restorer and he showed me 2 fabricated repairs which I correctly identified as a V12 E-Type bonnet and the B post of a 911. Now that's what I call a consultation.

Thanks again lads. It is good to know we're not alone.

MXRod

2,788 posts

153 months

Saturday 24th August
quotequote all
MXRod said:
Finally got to the bottom of difficulty passing water , firstly an ultrasound scan showed I am not fully emptying my bladder also with a slooow flow ,caused by the prostate being enlarged and pressing on the urethra, even though I have been prescribed Tamsulosin which was to reduce its size this has not happened , and was finally confirmed by a cystoscopy , where the prostate could clearly been seen to press on the urethra .The consultant is calling me in a couple of weeks to discuss my options , one being surgery , at my age (78) I have some deep thinking about this.
24 hrs on still stinging a bit when taking a leak , but each time stinging a bit less
Things have now moved on a bit ,had call from Consultant ,and went through options , firstly is a course of Finasteride ,a drug designed to reduce the size of the prostate ,it does have some unpleasant side effects which I am not looking forward to ,the effects of the drug can take up to 6 months , after which a 're assessment to check prostate size .and if required some form of surgery .What I failed to mention earlier was up to now ,I had been referred for NHS treatment at a private hospital , .The problem being ,the private hospital will not be able to carry out surgery due my cardiac problems the main one being me having a pacemaker and requiring a cardiologist on standby . So it will be back to waiting lists


Edited by MXRod on Saturday 24th August 13:53

Gas1883

530 posts

54 months

Tuesday 27th August
quotequote all
I’ve had no real problems with peeing since my urology nurse said to just drink water , she said it will be hard but you will adjust , I’m not perfect , have the odd beer / tea but just drinking water has got me back to going from panicking if I’d be able to get home from work ( 50 mins ) without a need for a pee , to be able to drive home , have my tea , do a few jobs , then decide I’ll have a pee though not desperate .

omniflow

2,788 posts

157 months

Wednesday 28th August
quotequote all
Gas1883 said:
I’ve had no real problems with peeing since my urology nurse said to just drink water , she said it will be hard but you will adjust , I’m not perfect , have the odd beer / tea but just drinking water has got me back to going from panicking if I’d be able to get home from work ( 50 mins ) without a need for a pee , to be able to drive home , have my tea , do a few jobs , then decide I’ll have a pee though not desperate .
What did you previously drink whilst at work? Was it just tea / coffee?

kdri155

644 posts

157 months

Thursday 29th August
quotequote all
It's been a while since i last posted on this topic, pleased to see so many of you have been successful in your treatment though.

As for myself its a different story, quick reminder I was diagnosed in June 2022, had the usual tests and Robotic Prostatectomy in December 2022, initially all seemed well both treatment and recovery but along the way I've had a few issues, recurrent bladder cancer, 3 times now, gall bladder cancer so gall bladder removed, partial Nuphrectomy (kidney) removal, cancer has also spread to my left thigh, pelvis and lower back.

I've had a couple of sessions radiotherapy, chemo and hormone treatment and now on a management plan to help slow things down before the inevitable, but life goes on until it doesn't.

Please dont read this wrong as its not a sympathy seeking post, I've become a bit of a bore telling everyone i met whilst working to get themselves checked.....we men just need to talk to each other please pass on how important it is.

Anyway good luck to each and everyone of you in the future,.

Viper201

8,013 posts

149 months

Thursday 29th August
quotequote all
^^^^ A salutary post to remind us of this dreadful disease. It is amazing you are so upbeat given the circumstances and of course you are right to bang on about getting men to talk about it openly and to get checked early. Absolutely do not apologise for your post for sympathy.
I do hope you enjoy life to the fullest possible with your family and friends.

As another thread says: Effing cancer is an effing effer, frankly.

westberks

1,068 posts

141 months

Friday 30th August
quotequote all
kdri155 said:
It's been a while since i last posted on this topic, .
that's a tough read and my thoughts go out to you and your family.

as you say, we all need to get checked over. It's lovely to hear the positive stories, but lets not forget that isn't the only outcome.

my very best wishes to you and thank you for posting

Gas1883

530 posts

54 months

Friday 30th August
quotequote all
omniflow said:
What did you previously drink whilst at work? Was it just tea / coffee?
Yes mainly tea / coffees / lattes, now as I say mainly water .

Gas1883

530 posts

54 months

Friday 30th August
quotequote all
kdri155 said:
It's been a while since i last posted on this topic, pleased to see so many of you have been successful in your treatment though.

As for myself its a different story, quick reminder I was diagnosed in June 2022, had the usual tests and Robotic Prostatectomy in December 2022, initially all seemed well both treatment and recovery but along the way I've had a few issues, recurrent bladder cancer, 3 times now, gall bladder cancer so gall bladder removed, partial Nuphrectomy (kidney) removal, cancer has also spread to my left thigh, pelvis and lower back.

I've had a couple of sessions radiotherapy, chemo and hormone treatment and now on a management plan to help slow things down before the inevitable, but life goes on until it doesn't.

Please dont read this wrong as its not a sympathy seeking post, I've become a bit of a bore telling everyone i met whilst working to get themselves checked.....we men just need to talk to each other please pass on how important it is.

Anyway good luck to each and everyone of you in the future,.
Thoughts are with you kdri155 .