Prostate cancer v breast cancer.

[chrisd]

I was diagnosed with low grade prostate cancer a few weeks ago. The initial test was a finger job which took seconds which followed a blood test and a rather high PSA reading. I then had a biopsy, which was a little uncomfortable but showed one cancer cell on one of 18 samples. The cancer is Gleeson 6 rated and only needs monitoring and the prognosis is that I have a 95% chance of never needing surgery on it but they constantly monitor it with blood tests, and so far, they have been brilliant at contact etc.

I had some bleeding recently in my urine and had to have a camera job today, it was uncomfortable but showed no problems and was all done within 2 weeks of speaking to my cancer nurse.

Im only writing this to back up Tashyboys post thst you MUST MUST MUST get checked out if ANY symptoms occur that could be prostate related.

 

[patricks148]

I was listening to a debate on this on JV on R2 at lunchtime. its all a bit depressing TBH, as as a guy over 50.

But on a lighter note a guy had emailed in complaining he was examined my a young female NHS Doctor who was helped by a young female student doctor.... TBH i only thought you got this kind of Treatment by going Private. I know who i'd prefer to examine me

 

[Khamelion]

Lucky you live in Scotland where they check from 50-74 years old.
My wife's Essex relative had his first check at 60 to discover sadly that he had advanced bowel cancer.

By the way the prostate test is nae bother.
Mind you I found it funny when the young male doctor told me he could not insert his finger without a chaperone. He leaves the room and comes back with an attractive young nurse.

What's worse though is when you go for an ultrasound on your testicles, you're lying there quite literally balls out for the world to see and the nurse covers you scrotum in gel and then in walks the Ultrasound Nurse who could be a supermodel and the only thing that goes through you mind is, "I wonder if they know the tiles on this ceiling have 967 individual spots on them"

 

[Rooter]

What's worse though is when you go for an ultrasound on your testicles, you're lying there quite literally balls out for the world to see and the nurse covers you scrotum in gel and then in walks the Ultrasound Nurse who could be a supermodel and the only thing that goes through you mind is, "I wonder if they know the tiles on this ceiling have 967 individual spots on them"

LOL or when the surgeon whom is about to perform a vasectomy asks you if are cold...

 

[Khamelion]

LOL or when the surgeon whom is about to perform a vasectomy asks you if are cold...

Or if you mind if the student nurses watch the procedure and then your other half asks if she can watch as well, barring the Dr there were 8 other people just watching taking notes when I had mine done, 9 in total.

 

[Golfmmad]

Prostate cancer has now got the unwanted tag of overtaking breast cancer as the third biggest cancer killer behind bowel and lung.
Over all there has been a % drop in both breast and Prostate deaths but there are now suggestions that as Prostate receives only half the funding of what Breast cancer receives, said funding for Prostate cancer should be increased. It is also said that prostate treatment is 10 years behind Breast treatment.
Now am not in any way shape or form suggesting that funding for other cancers should be diverted to the Prostate cause. But if funding was increased, it would have to come from somewhere, and knowing the current owners of the purse strings, something else would have to lose out.
It does also suggest in said report that men are still embarrassed about going to see there doctors, knowing full well they will have to lay on there side and have a finger up there Jacksy. If that is the case, wel let me say that a very good friend of mine who is also on a diet and has facial hair, has had it done and his prostate is fine
So, if you are embarrassed, get it checked out. The sooner the better.
All the best
Tash.



PS, thoughts go out to all who have suffered.

Good post Tashyboy :thup:

I am living proof that getting checked out early is the best way to go. But that wasn't the case to start with...............

My symptoms were, needing to go frequently, difficulty getting started and lack of flow when I did. Although needing to get up during the night was never a problem for me - strangely enough. Even now I rarely need to go during the night.

The moment for me was seeing an ad on TV for Flowmax relief tablets. So off I went to the local Chemist and asked for some and then was told I would have to have a consultation with the Pharmacist.
She gave me a form to fill in - 6 questions to answer to which she replied, "Yes, you qualify". Gave me a script for 2 weeks and said that I must make an appointment with my doctor if symptoms persist. Although tablets helped relieve symptoms they didn't go away.

Once I'd made the appointment with my Doctor, in a way I felt so relieved to know that something was being done. The rectal examination was pain free and have to say that the Biopsy was uncomfortable even with a local anesthetic but a necessary evil.

I was given choices of treatment - Bracatherapy, hormone treatment, radiotherapy or a Radical Prostatectomy. I went with my gut feeling - I wanted it out of my body - and chose RP surgery.
The Surgeon came to see me the day after surgery and said that I chose the right way as my Prostate was, as he put it, "Chokker Block with cancer". But it hadn't spread out from the Prostate!

So I consider myself very lucky, "I caught it in time".

Sorry for the long winded post, but the above is my message to anyone with any worries and just to add:

You owe it to yourself and your family to take that step and get checked!

PS if anyone has questions or needs info, please feel free to PM me, which will of course be in confidence.

 

[chrisd]

Good post Tashyboy :thup:

I am living proof that getting checked out early is the best way to go. But that wasn't the case to start with...............

My symptoms were, needing to go frequently, difficulty getting started and lack of flow when I did. Although needing to get up during the night was never a problem for me - strangely enough. Even now I rarely need to go during the night.

The moment for me was seeing an ad on TV for Flowmax relief tablets. So off I went to the local Chemist and asked for some and then was told I would have to have a consultation with the Pharmacist.
She gave me a form to fill in - 6 questions to answer to which she replied, "Yes, you qualify". Gave me a script for 2 weeks and said that I must make an appointment with my doctor if symptoms persist. Although tablets helped relieve symptoms they didn't go away.

Once I'd made the appointment with my Doctor, in a way I felt so relieved to know that something was being done. The rectal examination was pain free and have to say that the Biopsy was uncomfortable even with a local anesthetic but a necessary evil.

I was given choices of treatment - Bracatherapy, hormone treatment, radiotherapy or a Radical Prostatectomy. I went with my gut feeling - I wanted it out of my body - and chose RP surgery.
The Surgeon came to see me the day after surgery and said that I chose the right way as my Prostate was, as he put it, "Chokker Block with cancer". But it hadn't spread out from the Prostate!

So I consider myself very lucky, "I caught it in time".

Sorry for the long winded post, but the above is my message to anyone with any worries and just to add:

You owe it to yourself and your family to take that step and get checked!

PS if anyone has questions or needs info, please feel free to PM me, which will of course be in confidence.

I echo all of this.

 

[Golfmmad]

I was diagnosed with low grade prostate cancer a few weeks ago. The initial test was a finger job which took seconds which followed a blood test and a rather high PSA reading. I then had a biopsy, which was a little uncomfortable but showed one cancer cell on one of 18 samples. The cancer is Gleeson 6 rated and only needs monitoring and the prognosis is that I have a 95% chance of never needing surgery on it but they constantly monitor it with blood tests, and so far, they have been brilliant at contact etc.

I had some bleeding recently in my urine and had to have a camera job today, it was uncomfortable but showed no problems and was all done within 2 weeks of speaking to my cancer nurse.

Im only writing this to back up Tashyboys post thst you MUST MUST MUST get checked out if ANY symptoms occur that could be prostate related.

SO glad to read this Chris, Gleason 6 is indeed the better end of the scale.
Could the bleeding in the urine be a result of the Biopsy?

Anyway, as they say, "There's life in the ol' dog yet". oo:

 

[chrisd]

SO glad to read this Chris, Gleason 6 is indeed the better end of the scale.
Could the bleeding in the urine be a result of the Biopsy?

Anyway, as they say, "There's life in the ol' dog yet". oo:

It seems the bleeding is that the enlarged prostate brings blood vessels nearer the surface and they can then bleed. They wont presume that, so they test bladder, tubes and kidneys - rightly so of course !

 

[SocketRocket]

It's so complex but getting a regular check has to be the best way as we get older. A Man I know had a biopsy for prostrate cancer and now has spent two years fighting an infection he picked up in the Hospital.

 

[Tashyboy]

It's so complex but getting a regular check has to be the best way as we get older. A Man I know had a biopsy for prostrate cancer and now has spent two years fighting an infection he picked up in the Hospital.

Just mentioned this to Missis T and she said antibiotics are proactively given prior to the procedure to reduce of that happening. Not sure if it is a nationwide procedure thing.

 

[chrisd]

Just mentioned this to Missis T and she said antibiotics are proactively given prior to the procedure to reduce of that happening. Not sure if it is a nationwide procedure thing.

It happened the same down here in deepest Kent. I had 2 tablets to take before leaving for the hospital, an injection (if I remember correctly) at the time of the biopsy and after and then some more tablets to take at home. All this is quite understandable when you consider the proximity of where they are working to the probable source of infection.