Prostate cancer
Discussion
Just following up on my earlier posts, second blood test PSA was slightly down (6.33 from 6.65 @18 months ago). Had "12 lead" ECG (no issues) and have a 2 week emergency appointment for an MRI, which is due tomorrow). I have to say its good to talk with others who have been or are going through similar, so thank you.
blackscooby said:
Got my PSA blood test booked for next week. Haven't been worried about this for a long time, now I've actually booked it I'm bricking it.
Results are in...0.22 ug/L
So the other half and MIL can stop nagging me.
"Normal", it's about the only bloody thing I'm normal in !
had my post PAE op chat with consultant this week. 5 months on and symptoms have improved considerably along with PSA drop from 20 to 7.
he estimates that prostate has reduced from 240cc to about 120cc which explains the improvement in symptoms, but 120cc is still 3 times norm, so i'm back to urology for review and probably laser treatment.
defo glass half full at this stage; no cancer and lowest PSA since my first was 12 at the age of 47.
he estimates that prostate has reduced from 240cc to about 120cc which explains the improvement in symptoms, but 120cc is still 3 times norm, so i'm back to urology for review and probably laser treatment.
defo glass half full at this stage; no cancer and lowest PSA since my first was 12 at the age of 47.
Edited by westberks on Tuesday 19th November 13:24
L1OFF said:
Just following up on my earlier posts, second blood test PSA was slightly down (6.33 from 6.65 @18 months ago). Had "12 lead" ECG (no issues) and have a 2 week emergency appointment for an MRI, which is due tomorrow). I have to say its good to talk with others who have been or are going through similar, so thank you.
MRI test results negative, no trace of cancer. Blood test in 12 months to check PSA. Had my PSA done a week back along with other bloods; PSA was normal thankfully (I'm 46) as was my brothers (he's 52)...
Our Dad's still battling with his rising, gone from zero (after his prostate was removed in 2019) to 1.8 a year or so later; radiotherapy got that back down and now it's around 5 unfortunately. The steroids and hormone treatment he's having seems to be waning, his body is developing a resistance to the drugs
His next bloods are in a few weeks, will see where it goes from there
Our Dad's still battling with his rising, gone from zero (after his prostate was removed in 2019) to 1.8 a year or so later; radiotherapy got that back down and now it's around 5 unfortunately. The steroids and hormone treatment he's having seems to be waning, his body is developing a resistance to the drugs
His next bloods are in a few weeks, will see where it goes from there
L1OFF said:
L1OFF said:
Just following up on my earlier posts, second blood test PSA was slightly down (6.33 from 6.65 @18 months ago). Had "12 lead" ECG (no issues) and have a 2 week emergency appointment for an MRI, which is due tomorrow). I have to say its good to talk with others who have been or are going through similar, so thank you.
MRI test results negative, no trace of cancer. Blood test in 12 months to check PSA. westberks said:
had my post PAE op chat with consultant this week. 5 months on and symptoms have improved considerably along with PSA drop from 20 to 7.
he estimates that prostate has reduced from 240cc to about 120cc which explains the improvement in symptoms, but 120cc is still 3 times norm, so i'm back to urology for review and probably laser treatment.
defo glass half full at this stage; no cancer and lowest PSA since my first was 12 at the age of 47.
You don't have to answer this, obviously, but can I ask - are you "aware" of the physical presence of your prostate?he estimates that prostate has reduced from 240cc to about 120cc which explains the improvement in symptoms, but 120cc is still 3 times norm, so i'm back to urology for review and probably laser treatment.
defo glass half full at this stage; no cancer and lowest PSA since my first was 12 at the age of 47.
Mine is increasing in size and its presence is constantly on my mind!
Sheepshanks said:
westberks said:
had my post PAE op chat with consultant this week. 5 months on and symptoms have improved considerably along with PSA drop from 20 to 7.
he estimates that prostate has reduced from 240cc to about 120cc which explains the improvement in symptoms, but 120cc is still 3 times norm, so i'm back to urology for review and probably laser treatment.
defo glass half full at this stage; no cancer and lowest PSA since my first was 12 at the age of 47.
You don't have to answer this, obviously, but can I ask - are you "aware" of the physical presence of your prostate?he estimates that prostate has reduced from 240cc to about 120cc which explains the improvement in symptoms, but 120cc is still 3 times norm, so i'm back to urology for review and probably laser treatment.
defo glass half full at this stage; no cancer and lowest PSA since my first was 12 at the age of 47.
Mine is increasing in size and its presence is constantly on my mind!
prior to the op my condition was really affecting my mental health as the bladder issues were encroaching on day to day stuff at that point; not being able to complete a 50 minute dog walk without having to stop for a pee was a depressing fact of life; thankfully i live in the countryside where discreet bushes are plentiful!
westberks said:
having had the chat with consultant referring me back to urology i was expecting a bit of a wait..... 3 days later got the letter confirming an appointment next Friday with consultant. NHS continues to impress me with this treatment and the timelines involved.
I'm pleased to hear that your local NHS are looking after you properly. Long may it continue.It was 10 years ago almost to the day that I finished radiotherapy. On Monday I had my annual review with bloods taken including PSA. Yesterday morning the results were on line; PSA is 0.11.
I still remember the day I was diagnosed though, it came as a total shock with floods of tears from my O/H as her mother had died when in her 50s from breast cancer.
My best wishes to all going through tests and treatment, it CAN be beaten!
I still remember the day I was diagnosed though, it came as a total shock with floods of tears from my O/H as her mother had died when in her 50s from breast cancer.
My best wishes to all going through tests and treatment, it CAN be beaten!
Here in the Mid Yorkshire Hospital Trust they have introduced cost saving measures. For the last 8 years the urology nurse has held a telephone appointment which was every 3 months for the first 2 years then every 6 months since. She asked about any concerns or medical issues and told me the result of the PSA test. Thankfully the results have been between 0.5 and 0.8 so no dramas. She would then send out the form for the next test.
On the last call she said they were moving away from the telephone appointments so in future I would get a reminder of the blood test and the result would be posted online at Patients Know Best (Nottingham Hospitals Trust). If the result is a concern then I am to contact them or my GP. Having tried many times before to contact the hospital urology nurse and never getting through that left the GP. Getting through here is also near impossible and last time the GP knew nothing about the test and referred me back to the hospital.
Fortunately I know when the PSA test result would be concerning but I'm not sure many others do. I had the radiotherapy option so at what PSA reading should I be concerned? Anyone? And for those who had a prostatectomy, what is their concerning PSA level?
On the last call she said they were moving away from the telephone appointments so in future I would get a reminder of the blood test and the result would be posted online at Patients Know Best (Nottingham Hospitals Trust). If the result is a concern then I am to contact them or my GP. Having tried many times before to contact the hospital urology nurse and never getting through that left the GP. Getting through here is also near impossible and last time the GP knew nothing about the test and referred me back to the hospital.
Fortunately I know when the PSA test result would be concerning but I'm not sure many others do. I had the radiotherapy option so at what PSA reading should I be concerned? Anyone? And for those who had a prostatectomy, what is their concerning PSA level?
westberks said:
other than the related symptoms getting worse I couldn't 'feel' it. at 240cc it was approx 6 times regular; but didn't give me any discomfort physically that I was aware of.
prior to the op my condition was really affecting my mental health as the bladder issues were encroaching on day to day stuff at that point; not being able to complete a 50 minute dog walk without having to stop for a pee was a depressing fact of life; thankfully i live in the countryside where discreet bushes are plentiful!
Thanks, appreciate you answering.prior to the op my condition was really affecting my mental health as the bladder issues were encroaching on day to day stuff at that point; not being able to complete a 50 minute dog walk without having to stop for a pee was a depressing fact of life; thankfully i live in the countryside where discreet bushes are plentiful!
Hello all , and to those going through any kind of treatment I wish you all the best.
My father died of metastatic prostate cancer at age 73. My brother who is 66 has just been diagnosed with prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 6 ( which I understand to be very early stage ) , he has a follow up call with consultant next week re treatment options.
I’m 65 and have an annual PSA test , last one was September with a reading of 1.3. I’m wondering if I should just continue with the annual check or is there something else I should do ?
My father died of metastatic prostate cancer at age 73. My brother who is 66 has just been diagnosed with prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 6 ( which I understand to be very early stage ) , he has a follow up call with consultant next week re treatment options.
I’m 65 and have an annual PSA test , last one was September with a reading of 1.3. I’m wondering if I should just continue with the annual check or is there something else I should do ?
Viper201 said:
Here in the Mid Yorkshire Hospital Trust they have introduced cost saving measures. For the last 8 years the urology nurse has held a telephone appointment which was every 3 months for the first 2 years then every 6 months since. She asked about any concerns or medical issues and told me the result of the PSA test. Thankfully the results have been between 0.5 and 0.8 so no dramas. She would then send out the form for the next test.
On the last call she said they were moving away from the telephone appointments so in future I would get a reminder of the blood test and the result would be posted online at Patients Know Best (Nottingham Hospitals Trust). If the result is a concern then I am to contact them or my GP. Having tried many times before to contact the hospital urology nurse and never getting through that left the GP. Getting through here is also near impossible and last time the GP knew nothing about the test and referred me back to the hospital.
Fortunately I know when the PSA test result would be concerning but I'm not sure many others do. I had the radiotherapy option so at what PSA reading should I be concerned? Anyone? And for those who had a prostatectomy, what is their concerning PSA level?
I was diagnosed in Dec 2010, PSA @ 27.9 & Gleason @ 4+4.On the last call she said they were moving away from the telephone appointments so in future I would get a reminder of the blood test and the result would be posted online at Patients Know Best (Nottingham Hospitals Trust). If the result is a concern then I am to contact them or my GP. Having tried many times before to contact the hospital urology nurse and never getting through that left the GP. Getting through here is also near impossible and last time the GP knew nothing about the test and referred me back to the hospital.
Fortunately I know when the PSA test result would be concerning but I'm not sure many others do. I had the radiotherapy option so at what PSA reading should I be concerned? Anyone? And for those who had a prostatectomy, what is their concerning PSA level?
I had 37 sessions of RT which came to an end in Nov 2011.
On discharge from the Royal Marsden in 2012 my consultant advised (when I asked about a possible reoccurrence) that they wouldn’t be overly concerned until my PSA reached 5.0 ng/ml.
I’m sure other consultants would think & probably advise differently.
Unfortunately I did have a reoccurrence in Oct 2019 (I’ve never owned a crystal ball!) when my PSA hit 12.8.
Biopsy of my prostate proved negative with the reoccurrence being present in both seminal vesicles, and both were removed in Dec 2021.
Thankfully there were no indications/signs of invasive cancer elsewhere.
My last ‘MOT’ in Oct showed a PSA of 0.385 ng/mL, which I was very pleased with.
Thanks for that. I'm very similar to you in most respects except it was already in the seminal vesicles, but 5 years after you, so its interesting that your consultant will wait until it gets to 5. The consensus on Prostate Cancer UK used to be that once it got to 2 it was time for investigations. Something for me to look into further I think.
Viper201 said:
In view of your close family history I would be asking for 6 monthly PSA tests to ensure that if you do get cancer then you have the best chance to catch it early although your last test was very low.
Thanks, I think I’ll have a talk with the doc and take it from there. I’m thinking a year is too long between tests.Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff