Prostate cancer

Author
Discussion

JagBox

187 posts

161 months

Monday 18th November 2019
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Thought I would give my recent experience. Not cancer, but might be of interest to others in a similar position.

Started peeing more than normal and always feeling like I needed to go. Thought I might have a UTI, but no pain when peeing. Went to the doctors and have a urine test, negative. Then a blood test and a PSA test, both negative. Then had the finger up bum, which it totally painless and nothing to worry about. The doctor described my prostate as the size of a ripe plum!!! Should be the size of a walnut, luckily he could tell the surface was smooth and with the PSA results ruled out cancer. Just an enlarged prostate with age (62).

He has put me on tamsulosin to relax the prostrate, seems to work the symptoms have gone, but not happy I'll have to take for the rest of my life. Don't take any other drugs, so might stop after a while and see if the symptoms reoccur.

Transmitter Man

4,253 posts

232 months

Thursday 26th December 2019
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For anyone looking at non-invasive scans you can read up on a 'Color Doppler' ultrasound. Not all Ultrasounds are the same! It will show the vascular side of things which is what you want to see if in a cancer situation, which I am going to assume you are wanting to track, you can see if a cancer area is dead or alive. The color doppler shows blood supply going in and out of the tumor or cancer area, it will show up as red and blue - then you will know that the cancer is still getting blood supply. If you see the doppler showing red and blue around an area, but into it then you can assume the cancer is dead and what you are looking at is the immune system around it. A consultant can also tell if there is infection.


don'tbesilly

14,172 posts

171 months

Monday 20th January 2020
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Looking for some advice/guidance if at all possible as sadly the treatment (hormone therapy/radiotherapy) I received back in 2012 has failed & the cancer is back with traces in both my prostate & seminal vesicle (one).

I've had a bone scan/MRI & PET scan and luckily there is no sign that the cancer has spread outside of the prostate.

The Urologist has now booked me in for a template biopsy which will ascertain the grade of cancer which will lead to a treatment plan, however, he has stated that a radical prostatectomy is the best way forward regardless of the results from the biopsy.

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has had any of the above treatments, especially anyone who has had a prostatectomy following previous treatment (radiotherapy) that failed.
The Urologist has suggested that the implications/consequences following the OP for a patient are potentially worse than those who had the OP without having had radiotherapy.

I have yet to see an Oncologist (unfortunately) and I'm hoping a different view/opinion will be forthcoming from that received from the Urologist

Thanks in advance

DAVIDOXE

494 posts

122 months

Monday 27th January 2020
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Not being negative guys but as a warning do not rely on the psa test alone.
A very good friend of mine has had urinary issues for a couple of years and had regular normal psa results.

He has just been diagnosed with inoperable prostate cancer which has spread to his hip and collar bone. \He has been told he has 3 - 5 years.
It would seem the particular type of cancer was supressing the psa result.

If you are having symptoms please insist on scans as well. I know i did.

bexVN

14,682 posts

219 months

Monday 27th January 2020
quotequote all
DAVIDOXE said:
Not being negative guys but as a warning do not rely on the psa test alone.
A very good friend of mine has had urinary issues for a couple of years and had regular normal psa results.

He has just been diagnosed with inoperable prostate cancer which has spread to his hip and collar bone. \He has been told he has 3 - 5 years.
It would seem the particular type of cancer was supressing the psa result.

If you are having symptoms please insist on scans as well. I know i did.
This is what I am so grateful that my Husbands doctors and referal doctors did all the tests. His PSA was slighlty elevated but not hugely, however given his young age and the issues he had been having they decided not to rely on PSA alone. It wasn't all plain sailing re tests etc but let's just say if he had not had those checks done when he did another year or two his cancer would not have been curative with surgery (and that was only with millimetres to spare)

I am sorry for your friends diagnosis.

bexVN

14,682 posts

219 months

Monday 27th January 2020
quotequote all
don'tbesilly said:
Looking for some advice/guidance if at all possible as sadly the treatment (hormone therapy/radiotherapy) I received back in 2012 has failed & the cancer is back with traces in both my prostate & seminal vesicle (one).

I've had a bone scan/MRI & PET scan and luckily there is no sign that the cancer has spread outside of the prostate.

The Urologist has now booked me in for a template biopsy which will ascertain the grade of cancer which will lead to a treatment plan, however, he has stated that a radical prostatectomy is the best way forward regardless of the results from the biopsy.

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has had any of the above treatments, especially anyone who has had a prostatectomy following previous treatment (radiotherapy) that failed.
The Urologist has suggested that the implications/consequences following the OP for a patient are potentially worse than those who had the OP without having had radiotherapy.

I have yet to see an Oncologist (unfortunately) and I'm hoping a different view/opinion will be forthcoming from that received from the Urologist

Thanks in advance
I can only offer what I learned from my Husbands treatment but the consensus was if he had chosen ultrasound treatment etc and it hadn't worked that it would make surgery much trickier due to how ultrasound (and radiotherapy) affects the tissues in the area, ie hardens it and causes scarring. This made sense to me,

I do wonder if robotic technique surgery would be the surgery choice over the human hand, would be worth asking. I hope someone who has had surgery post therapy can offer another more positive perspective for you.

I would say whatever happens do make sure you get follow up support especially from the specialist nurses, there is a lot of things available to help with the recovery especially re: impotence that is inevitable post surgery.

I hope you get all the info you need to help you feel more confident about surgery.

YankeePorker

4,797 posts

249 months

Tuesday 28th January 2020
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Had a scare related to hydrocele (fluid build up in a nut) and weird testosterone level, but thankfully my prostate is still in good shape.

Gents, I remember reading many years ago that the best protection against prostate issues is regular drainage. Always seemed logical to me that you don’t want semen ageing in the tank, so a daily orgasm whether it be a wk in the shower or a shared pleasure with a partner, I consider that health management!

rowley birkin

500 posts

108 months

Tuesday 28th January 2020
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YankeePorker said:
Had a scare related to hydrocele (fluid build up in a nut) and weird testosterone level, but thankfully my prostate is still in good shape.

Gents, I remember reading many years ago that the best protection against prostate issues is regular drainage. Always seemed logical to me that you don’t want semen ageing in the tank, so a daily orgasm whether it be a wk in the shower or a shared pleasure with a partner, I consider that health management!
Appropriate name you have there...

rolex

Original Poster:

3,116 posts

266 months

Monday 3rd February 2020
quotequote all
don'tbesilly said:
Looking for some advice/guidance if at all possible as sadly the treatment (hormone therapy/radiotherapy) I received back in 2012 has failed & the cancer is back with traces in both my prostate & seminal vesicle (one).

I've had a bone scan/MRI & PET scan and luckily there is no sign that the cancer has spread outside of the prostate.

The Urologist has now booked me in for a template biopsy which will ascertain the grade of cancer which will lead to a treatment plan, however, he has stated that a radical prostatectomy is the best way forward regardless of the results from the biopsy.

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has had any of the above treatments, especially anyone who has had a prostatectomy following previous treatment (radiotherapy) that failed.
The Urologist has suggested that the implications/consequences following the OP for a patient are potentially worse than those who had the OP without having had radiotherapy.

I have yet to see an Oncologist (unfortunately) and I'm hoping a different view/opinion will be forthcoming from that received from the Urologist

Thanks in advance
I'm surprised you were offered a prostatectomy after hormone and radiotherapy. It was made clear to me by my local NHS trust that after radiotherapy a prostatectomy was not possible. No prob having a prostatectomy in and out in 3 days. Felt a bit uncomfortable for 2 weeks afterwards walking around with a pee bag strapped to my calf though smile


Edited by rolex on Monday 3rd February 02:21

bexVN

14,682 posts

219 months

Monday 3rd February 2020
quotequote all
rolex said:
don'tbesilly said:
Looking for some advice/guidance if at all possible as sadly the treatment (hormone therapy/radiotherapy) I received back in 2012 has failed & the cancer is back with traces in both my prostate & seminal vesicle (one).

I've had a bone scan/MRI & PET scan and luckily there is no sign that the cancer has spread outside of the prostate.

The Urologist has now booked me in for a template biopsy which will ascertain the grade of cancer which will lead to a treatment plan, however, he has stated that a radical prostatectomy is the best way forward regardless of the results from the biopsy.

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has had any of the above treatments, especially anyone who has had a prostatectomy following previous treatment (radiotherapy) that failed.
The Urologist has suggested that the implications/consequences following the OP for a patient are potentially worse than those who had the OP without having had radiotherapy.

I have yet to see an Oncologist (unfortunately) and I'm hoping a different view/opinion will be forthcoming from that received from the Urologist

Thanks in advance
I'm surprised you were offered a prostatectomy after hormone and radiotherapy. It was made clear to me by my local NHS trust that after radiotherapy a prostatectomy was not possible. No prob having a prostatectomy in and out in 3 days. Felt a bit uncomfortable for 2 weeks afterwards walking around with a pee bag strapped to my calf though smile


Edited by rolex on Monday 3rd February 02:21
That's not what my husband was told. He was told it was possible but much trickier procedure so more risk of longer lasting nerve damage etc. It was still given as an option but with an advisory esp given hiis young age.

Nrwilly

2 posts

65 months

Monday 17th February 2020
quotequote all
Hiya.
As you can see from page 1 I had a robotic radical prostatectomy back in October 2018.
But no previous treatment. All I can say is that I'm going well just using a shield with minimal leakage and I'm still here to watch my 7 grandchildren grow up. Yes there are drawbacks but playing golf walking 18 holes weekly which not bad for age of 72
All the best whatever you choose.
Nrwilly

don'tbesilly said:
Looking for some advice/guidance if at all possible as sadly the treatment (hormone therapy/radiotherapy) I received back in 2012 has failed & the cancer is back with traces in both my prostate & seminal vesicle (one).

I've had a bone scan/MRI & PET scan and luckily there is no sign that the cancer has spread outside of the prostate.

The Urologist has now booked me in for a template biopsy which will ascertain the grade of cancer which will lead to a treatment plan, however, he has stated that a radical prostatectomy is the best way forward regardless of the results from the biopsy.

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has had any of the above treatments, especially anyone who has had a prostatectomy following previous treatment (radiotherapy) that failed.
The Urologist has suggested that the implications/consequences following the OP for a patient are potentially worse than those who had the OP without having had radiotherapy.

I have yet to see an Oncologist (unfortunately) and I'm hoping a different view/opinion will be forthcoming from that received from the Urologist

Thanks in advance

N7GTX

8,064 posts

151 months

Tuesday 18th February 2020
quotequote all
rolex said:
don'tbesilly said:
Looking for some advice/guidance if at all possible as sadly the treatment (hormone therapy/radiotherapy) I received back in 2012 has failed & the cancer is back with traces in both my prostate & seminal vesicle (one).

I've had a bone scan/MRI & PET scan and luckily there is no sign that the cancer has spread outside of the prostate.

The Urologist has now booked me in for a template biopsy which will ascertain the grade of cancer which will lead to a treatment plan, however, he has stated that a radical prostatectomy is the best way forward regardless of the results from the biopsy.

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has had any of the above treatments, especially anyone who has had a prostatectomy following previous treatment (radiotherapy) that failed.
The Urologist has suggested that the implications/consequences following the OP for a patient are potentially worse than those who had the OP without having had radiotherapy.

I have yet to see an Oncologist (unfortunately) and I'm hoping a different view/opinion will be forthcoming from that received from the Urologist

Thanks in advance
I'm surprised you were offered a prostatectomy after hormone and radiotherapy. It was made clear to me by my local NHS trust that after radiotherapy a prostatectomy was not possible. No prob having a prostatectomy in and out in 3 days. Felt a bit uncomfortable for 2 weeks afterwards walking around with a pee bag strapped to my calf though smile


Edited by rolex on Monday 3rd February 02:21
This was always the opinion on Prostate Cancer UK's forum too. The 'expert' on there suggested the prostate turned to, in her words, 'mush' and was much harder to operate on. The treatment plan was chemo in this scenario with some good results.
It may be with the advances in robotic surgery that the op is not so difficult now. Hopefully so.


GT3Manthey

4,738 posts

57 months

Wednesday 26th August 2020
quotequote all
52, am now getting up at least twice during the night for a wee and have only just started to notice sometimes i feel like i need a wee but cant go.

Obvs have done the usual Google searches but nothing like first hand experiences

First stage is seeing the doc although thats far from straight forward these days

Any advice would be helpful and maybe reassuring

rovermorris999

5,264 posts

197 months

Wednesday 26th August 2020
quotequote all
GT3Manthey said:
52, am now getting up at least twice during the night for a wee and have only just started to notice sometimes i feel like i need a wee but cant go.

Obvs have done the usual Google searches but nothing like first hand experiences

First stage is seeing the doc although thats far from straight forward these days

Any advice would be helpful and maybe reassuring
I've been through this recently. First thing will be a PSA test and a DRE by your doctor. Note the PSA test isn't perfect and you must follow the guidelines before having it: no vigorous exercise, no ejaculation and no bike riding for at least three days beforehand otherwise you can get a false high reading. They should also test your urine for a UTI as this can give a false reading too. My PSA was a bit high and the prostate felt bigger than normal but smooth. Smooth is good.
Statistically it's highly probable your prostate is benignly enlarged and Tamsulosin will fix the urinary symptoms, which is what happened in my case. However, around 7% of men with a normal PSA reading and a enlarged prostate have cancer so I had an MRI privately just to set my mind at rest, thankfully it was clear as far as they can tell. It's unlikely the NHS will give you an MRI if you have only mild symptoms and a reasonable PSA reading but they may if you say it's really worrying you.

It's worth getting your urinary symptoms fixed as a reduced flow and not emptying the bladder completely can make UTIs more likely which is what happened to me and made me present to the quack. I'd been like you for some time and was doing the usual man thing of getting by and trying to ignore it.

Best of luck to you but do go to your doctor sooner rather than later, if only to put your mind at rest.

GT3Manthey

4,738 posts

57 months

Wednesday 26th August 2020
quotequote all
rovermorris999 said:
I've been through this recently. First thing will be a PSA test and a DRE by your doctor. Note the PSA test isn't perfect and you must follow the guidelines before having it: no vigorous exercise, no ejaculation and no bike riding for at least three days beforehand otherwise you can get a false high reading. They should also test your urine for a UTI as this can give a false reading too. My PSA was a bit high and the prostate felt bigger than normal but smooth. Smooth is good.
Statistically it's highly probable your prostate is benignly enlarged and Tamsulosin will fix the urinary symptoms, which is what happened in my case. However, around 7% of men with a normal PSA reading and a enlarged prostate have cancer so I had an MRI privately just to set my mind at rest, thankfully it was clear as far as they can tell. It's unlikely the NHS will give you an MRI if you have only mild symptoms and a reasonable PSA reading but they may if you say it's really worrying you.

It's worth getting your urinary symptoms fixed as a reduced flow and not emptying the bladder completely can make UTIs more likely which is what happened to me and made me present to the quack. I'd been like you for some time and was doing the usual man thing of getting by and trying to ignore it.

Best of luck to you but do go to your doctor sooner rather than later, if only to put your mind at rest.
Thats a great round up of advice many tks.

Can i ask how old you are to have had these tests?

i'll get the wife to book me in tks

rovermorris999

5,264 posts

197 months

Wednesday 26th August 2020
quotequote all
I'm 63 but age is irrelevant if you have the symptoms, you'll get the test. It's very, very common in men over 50 and more common the older you get. It's very likely nothing be too concerned about but if you're like me, it'll worry you until you know for sure. Ring the quack and get booked in.

RC1807

12,997 posts

176 months

Thursday 10th September 2020
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My brother (56) recently had a biopsy which returned a positive result. His prostate isn't enlarged, and he's had a bone scan which showed nothing has spread.
He lives in the mid-west U.S. and is fortunate that there's a very good cancer treatment centre about 20 minutes drive from home.

The oncologist is waiting for the insurance company approval for proton treatment, apparently long bursts of protons delivered over 7 or 8 sessions in a 2 1/2 week period.

His prognosis is good having caught it early, but I have to say his GP was bloody useless, and it was only because my brother kept pushing to test the reason behind a symptom that he found out, or else the Dr would have given him a scrip for meds to treat the symptom, not the cause.
It all started when my brother had some memory problems, and he thought it might be dementia. It turned out to be a low level of testosterone, and the Dr only wanted to treat that. She's now misdiagnosed him 3 times in 12 months for different, serious things!

(This is my brother's 4th cancer, the others being skin related. He told me it doesn't get any easier hearing it from the Dr again. frown )

JagBox

187 posts

161 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2020
quotequote all
rovermorris999 said:
GT3Manthey said:
52, am now getting up at least twice during the night for a wee and have only just started to notice sometimes i feel like i need a wee but cant go.

Obvs have done the usual Google searches but nothing like first hand experiences

First stage is seeing the doc although thats far from straight forward these days

Any advice would be helpful and maybe reassuring
I've been through this recently. First thing will be a PSA test and a DRE by your doctor. Note the PSA test isn't perfect and you must follow the guidelines before having it: no vigorous exercise, no ejaculation and no bike riding for at least three days beforehand otherwise you can get a false high reading. They should also test your urine for a UTI as this can give a false reading too. My PSA was a bit high and the prostate felt bigger than normal but smooth. Smooth is good.
Statistically it's highly probable your prostate is benignly enlarged and Tamsulosin will fix the urinary symptoms, which is what happened in my case. However, around 7% of men with a normal PSA reading and a enlarged prostate have cancer so I had an MRI privately just to set my mind at rest, thankfully it was clear as far as they can tell. It's unlikely the NHS will give you an MRI if you have only mild symptoms and a reasonable PSA reading but they may if you say it's really worrying you.

It's worth getting your urinary symptoms fixed as a reduced flow and not emptying the bladder completely can make UTIs more likely which is what happened to me and made me present to the quack. I'd been like you for some time and was doing the usual man thing of getting by and trying to ignore it.

Best of luck to you but do go to your doctor sooner rather than later, if only to put your mind at rest.
The above pretty much mirrors my situation, 63 as well. I was on Tamsulsin for around 6 months and worked really well, back to normal. Then 2 months ago systems returned. Another PSA test, still normal, so I was moved onto Finasteride, a stronger med which also shrinks the prostrate, but does reduce testosterone production. Initially it worked well and back to normal, but the last couple of weeks a bit hit and miss with the odd bad day.

rovermorris999

5,264 posts

197 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2020
quotequote all
JagBox said:
The above pretty much mirrors my situation, 63 as well. I was on Tamsulsin for around 6 months and worked really well, back to normal. Then 2 months ago systems returned. Another PSA test, still normal, so I was moved onto Finasteride, a stronger med which also shrinks the prostrate, but does reduce testosterone production. Initially it worked well and back to normal, but the last couple of weeks a bit hit and miss with the odd bad day.
A rather personal question so please ignore it if you prefer: did you have any side effects from the Finasteride?

ArtyP

29 posts

102 months

Friday 6th November 2020
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Hi, my experiences...

Aged 53, I'd been having water works troubles, usually when going from a hot to a cold environment, or visa versa, finally went to the Docs, the appointment lasted barely 5 mins before I was dispatched for a blood test that PM, the result, elevated PSA, so a rapid series of hospital appointments, CT / MRI (Bone scan I think) a Biopsy (delightful !!!!) I scored 8/10 on the Gleeson and Prostate cancer was confirmed, choices, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery, with a recommendation of surgery, I took the latter, robotic prostate removal......

The recovery hasn't been easy, lots of frustrations, but I'm still here, I got to walk my daughter down the aisle this summer

Amusing bit, got medication for the erectile disfunction, worked great, took as recommended for a first time, but after 8 hours it was a beyond a joke, LOL, now reduced the level to 25% of the starting dose

Now over 2 years on, 6 monthly blood tests, moving to 12 monthly, life is good, a bit different but definatly good