Prostate Cancer

[Martian]

Great you have a positive approach John and I sincerely hope your treatment goes well . Good luck mate

[fly-navy]

Cheers Martian, appreciated.Went for a meal together earlier and she has perked up a bit now.

John

[SR 71]

A good positive attitude John

Wishing you all the best

[buster prop]

I went for my annual ‘MOT’ blood tests recently and luckily the results are all marked Satisfactory. My PSA is 2.5 which is ok as I am 72. It has crept up slowly, 15 years ago when I had the first test it was 0.8. If it suddenly shoots up then I’m sure the Doc will have a closer look at me. We had a new GP a couple of years ago and she pulled me in for the DRE in view of my age (then 69). Was ok but recommended that I have an annual test. I’d tell anyone to get checked and know what your baseline PSA is.

[Andy J]

Got my results today, not good, so now need a full body bone scan to see if it has spread.

Still looking on the bright side of life, it gives me more time off work next month recovering from surgery to work on the rigging of my Flair Tiger Moth which I started some 3 years ago.

[fly-navy]

Had my hormone injection today and good talk to specialist nurse, SWMBO feeling lot more comfortable about it now as she heard original diagnosis wrong and thought I had very aggressive reading.

Off to Wales for two weeks Sat so expect letter when we get back with appointment for bone scan, which hopefully shows good results for me to have the radiotherapy treatment.

Good luck and try to be positive Andy.

I feel great, really, no different now to before I was diagnosed. I honestly never thought I would have this reaction to my diagnosis, although in fairness had a rough patch Sat, they were on about pelvic floor exercises on tv which is supposed to help, another program showed a son visiting his skeleton of a father in hospital with the big and to top it all two letters came with appointments ,one for "Surviving with cancer" talk and prostrate cancer and you, for some reason got to me and had a weep.

John

[Martian]

It can be difficult sometimes John it,s normal to be like that and strangely enough our brains seem to latch on to cancer information stories I know I think are they doing this on purpose to spook me and having an underlying feeling of anger after all even if it's not aggressive you know it's there and it doesn't belong , it's a journey with a potentially positive outcome. Take care John

[Andy J]

First bit of good news today. My bone scan results came back clear, so now need to make a decision on what treatment path to proceed on.

Interestingly one of the options is to have robotic surgery to remove the prostrate. Bit of RC could be the way to go, that's if the surgeon has an B certificate

[Eagle 899]

Met an old ex RN friend recently who I hadn't seen for several years. Turns out he took that option three years ago.

He has check ups annually and the downside is that he can no longer rise to the occasion, but as he's eighty, he isn't too concerned about that, still enjoys a tot and feels fine.

[Malcolm Fisher]

I am in the same camp as Eagle's friend - same age and same problem. This can, and in my case is, fairly easily overcome. A pill superior to Viagra - Cialis was prescribed as well as an injection of another drug directly into the reluctant member.

Both work very well and help to keep my spouse happy.

Malcolm

[Brian Dickinson 3]

I have come to this thread a little late as I have only just become a member.

I was diagnosed at 52. 9 years ago. It was a no brainier for me as an engineer. If it's broke take it out. I had a radical prostectamy by the Davinci method at the LGI and superb after care ever since.

I am fit and well and do not miss the troublesome beggar and I am very grateful to my GP for being so alert.

I have three sons and they have to go for check ups and PSI tests from the age of 40, as it is in my family, my father passed at 81 with it after it gave him bone cancer. I miss him lots

So all you proud young men with a stiff upper lip. Go get tested it can be beaten.

I have not read all the thread as it upsets me too much and the thought that my lads could get it.

regards

Brian

[Mike Etheridge 1]

As I mentioned earlier, even though my PSA reading was fine for my age I had a slightly raised blood / sugar level and my GP recommended I attend a pre-diabetic course which commenced last week.Initially I was interviewed by a young GP and she measured my height and weight and around my tummy. Oh dear, these measurements and the calculated BMI index confirmed I am overweight at 11 stone 7 pounds and pre-diabetic, but the biggest shock was that I have lost about 1.5 inches in height.

The recommendations were that I should walk at least for half an hour for four days a week. My diet was not seen as bad, but I / we should eat less large potatoes which contain a lot of starch which can convert to sugars, and instead eat more new potatoes and sweet potatoes which contain less starch. Also avoid or eat less cakes, sauces, sweets and chocolate, and drink 1.5 litres of water per day. White bread and pasta were also not recommended. Not much mention was made of fish and meat, but white meat such as chicken was preferable. We should also eat two fruit items and three vegetable items each day.

It's been pouring with rain here so I am heading off to my garage to do a minor repair on my old Junior 60

Edited By Mike Etheridge 1 on 30/07/2019 13:28:23

[Glenn Philbrick]

I have followed this thread for some time and took the advise to get checked out as I was having trouble peeing( very low flow). It turned our that my prostate was slightly enlarged but I also had a 2mm bladder stone that was the cause of the discomfort. I have just had the stone removed and the TURP operation to clear any interference from the prostate. Unfortunately I have now been fitted with a catheter although hope it will be temporary but if not it might be a permanent feature and I would have to learn to self catheterize to drain the bladder a couple of times a day. Has anybody any experience of this. I have not fount much on the internet so far. I have tried to look for a mens health forum but have not found one that covers this issue.

Thanks

[Martian]

Sorry to hear that Glenn ,try checking the forum on http://Prostatecanceruk.org

Edited By Martian on 03/08/2019 11:34:39

[Andy J]

Has anybody had the robot assisted radical prostatectomy?

[Martian]

Hi Andy try the link above for info there are 16 articles to check out

[Andy J]

Thanks Martian, quickly read through the articles on that site but will find out more when I see the surgeon latter this week.

[Andy J]

Apparently robotic assistance is not a new concept as met a girl at work today who said her grandfather had the same method of operation 5 years ago in Cambridge.. with only some minor complications! None specific on what these were though.

[Martian]

It's right to find everything you can ask questions like what benefit does that method offer over others

[BackinBlack]

Posted by Andy Joyce on 05/08/2019 18:10:09:

Has anybody had the robot assisted radical prostatectomy?

Hi Andy, Yes, I had a radical prostatectomy almost 15 months ago at the Churchill, Oxford at 69 years old. It took just under 8 weeks from initial referral to my operation. I had an MRI scan, semi robotic biopsies (14!) which showed the cancer was contained within the Prostate but was advanced.

I was offered the choice of Surgery or Radiation therapy. I had decided from the outset that Surgery would be my preferred option. The prospect of 6 months or so of hormone treatment, 4 weeks of radiation, the up to 9 months or more of hormone treatment did not enthral me.

The operation was very straightforward, admitted late on Saturday morning, straight to Theatre, about 5 hours later woke up in recovery ward, even had a meal later in the evening. Left Hospital after Lunch on Sunday.

Catheter removed after 10 days, pee under control a few days after that. Also had 28 days of self injected Heparin, used to help prevent blood clots.

Erectile functions now need a little help, a small price to pay.

PSA levels now down to 0.01, so all is well.

Good Luck

Ian

Edited By BackinBlack on 06/08/2019 20:18:08

[Andy J]

Thanks for the info Ian. My Gleason score is 7 with a PSA of 16, so still unclear what route I should go down for treatment.

Certainly pee control is an issue for me as had an issue of leaking fluids following the biopsy. Assuming the same would occur following removal of the prostrate.

[Engine Doctor]

Posted by Andy Joyce on 05/08/2019 18:10:09:

Has anybody had the robot assisted radical prostatectomy?

Yes a friend at our club had it about 10 or 11 months ago . He is doing very well and was back at our indoor meetings within three weeks of having the procedure. He now has pee under control but did say he leaked a bit for a few months . He , as s most agree that loss of erectile function is a small price to pay .

Good luck and hope all goes well.

[Andy J]

Well got a totally different consultation style today from the oncologist who was very good in explaining her treatment methods. Only 2 of the 18 samples taken showed signs of cancer with a score of 7, so not all doom and gloom as first presented. Was told I have no need to rush which path of treatment I need to take. Going to see the surgeon tomorrow so will see what he has to say before taking a decision.

[Martian]

That's brilliant Andy I hope it continues so

[Brian Dickinson 3]

Hello Andy,

I was diagnosed at 52 with a score of 7. This was after a second opinion on the test results - biopsy.

I had mine removed by Davinci robot at LGI.

I was back at work at 6 weeks, a bit early but i work for myself.

At the 6 week post op meeting i was told that it was close to the margins of my bladder and as such had 6 weeks of Radio therapy, which i had hoped to miss.

This was all in 2012 and i am fit and well now - just walked three miles this evening enjoying looking at the sea.

I hope all works out for you.

Regards

Brian