Prostate cancer

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Discussion

L1OFF

3,421 posts

264 months

Saturday 9th November
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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

334 posts

288 months

Thursday 14th November
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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 !

Penrhyn

729 posts

106 months

Friday 15th November
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Blackscoby

That result is fantastic smile

westberks

1,100 posts

143 months

Friday 15th November
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blackscooby said:
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 !
well done with that, must be a huge relief

westberks

1,100 posts

143 months

Friday 15th November
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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.

Edited by westberks on Tuesday 19th November 13:24

L1OFF

3,421 posts

264 months

Sunday 17th November
quotequote all
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.

danb79

9,885 posts

80 months

Sunday 17th November
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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

westberks

1,100 posts

143 months

Tuesday 19th November
quotequote all
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.
excellent news

Sheepshanks

35,149 posts

127 months

Tuesday 19th November
quotequote all
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?

Mine is increasing in size and its presence is constantly on my mind!


westberks

1,100 posts

143 months

Wednesday 20th November
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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?

Mine is increasing in size and its presence is constantly on my mind!
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!

westberks

1,100 posts

143 months

Wednesday 20th November
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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.

Penrhyn

729 posts

106 months

Wednesday 20th November
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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.

Riley Blue

21,703 posts

234 months

Wednesday 20th November
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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.

woohoo

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!


Viper201

8,083 posts

151 months

Wednesday 20th November
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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?

Sheepshanks

35,149 posts

127 months

Wednesday 20th November
quotequote all
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.

Waitforme

1,259 posts

172 months

Thursday 21st November
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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 ?

Viper201

8,083 posts

151 months

Thursday 21st November
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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.

don'tbesilly

14,183 posts

171 months

Friday 22nd November
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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.
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.



Viper201

8,083 posts

151 months

Friday 22nd November
quotequote all
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.

Waitforme

1,259 posts

172 months

Friday 22nd November
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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.