That walnut sized organ: the Prostate

I'm 47 this year. Psa came back in june of 4.7.

Had dre and was told it felt a little rough. Had MRI last Monday. Don't know what to think.....

Have read through this complete thread.

I've had a bit of a rough ride this year.

Mid Feb ended up in hospital with blue toe on my right foot, can't say I recommend it. Clots were blocking the capilaries in my toes, where were they coming from? 15 days of Iloprost and blood thinners helped ease the swelling and pain.

CT scan showed leisons on my pancreas and liver, first biopsy was inconclusive due to the tissue being crystalised. Finally got the second one done and after three weeks I was out, the clinic looking after my prostate said they'd take over once the results came back…….and it wasn't good, stage 4 pancreatic cancer, the dirty one you don't want, apparently it's not related to prostate cancer.

I wasn't expecting that!!!

Started chemo Good Friday, felt sh!t all weekend, temp of 102.4, back into hospital on Sunday with cellulitis in my left foot. I had allergic reactions to every antiobotic they gave me. Clot had shifted and was stuck behind my left knee, been on self administered blood thinner injections ever since, I'm now at very high risk of clots for the rest of my life because of the tumours.

Before I started treatment the consultant had mentioned genetic testing, as this was my second round of cancer. Phone call on a Friday in early April from Mater as they'd had a cancellation on Monday, needless to say I was there. 10% chance of finding something amiss but worth the shot. Reason they chose me? They thought I was too young to have had cancer twice, I was moved that they picked me. There is also a history of cancer in the family.

While I was in hospital after Easter the results came back….two links had been found. The BRCA2 being the main culpit, now the consultant had a target for the chemo so for my second treatment things ramped up a bit. I am now in every two weeks for 12 cycles, 5 hours each time and it isn't easy.

Had a scan after 5 cycles and the consultant is very pleased, tumours are shrinking. I've 6 cycles left to go now.

There is also a maintainence drug after the chemo that is only suitable for patients with the BRCA2 gene, so that's a relief as the alternative was regular scans and if it returned more chemo.

So my siblings and their offspring are hopefully going to get genetic tested nnow to see if they carry the bastard of a gene, better to be forewarned…

EDIT: I’ve done a bit of research since my diagnosis & discovered contracting PC is now possible for people in the 40’s . Btw I forgot to mention my age - I’m 69.

More EDIT: for those unsure, go to Your GP. One weekend I googled PC when my PSA was 32.5. Do NOT google it, as according to google I should be 6ft under.

Breaking news on Sky

https://news.sky.com/story/national-prostate-cancer-screening-not-recommended-on-nhs-13476471

thank goodness for the HSE

I was diagnosed at 68 and I’m the first that I know of in my Family with PC.

Sorry I’m only giving a follow up now. I’ve done 26 sessions of radiation & 13 more to go. I had my bloods tested on December 4th & my PSA was 0.21.
Today I had another blood test. They were very happy with the results & rang me this afternoon with my PSA results - 0.08. My blood tests are done in TUH & my radiation in SJH.
Once again, I cannot speak highly enough how I’ve been treated in both hospitals. The staff are superb.
Anyone reading this who doesn’t get their bloods treated, I encourage You DO. It’s taken me 18 months from visiting my GP when my PSA was 32.5 to today, & I’ve more treatment ahead.

To everyone May I take this opportunity to wish You all Seasons Greetings.

Fair play C. Keep well and I wish you and yours and everyone following this thread a peaceful and happy Xmas.

I had been peeing a lot lately and reading this thread pushed me to go to the doctor and to have bloods and PSA , all came back as normal, on the flip side..we discovered I have Phimosis and we will get this treated, so two great results that I wouldn’t have known about but for this thread

Merry Christmas everyone.

You asked me about possible effects ( which I missed until now & for which I apologise C ). Yes side effects have been mentioned to me

Fatigue

Pins & needles

Hot flushes

Nausea

I was nauseous only one night & I think that was my own fault

Hot flushes I did experience on the commencement of the radiation, but none recently

Pins & needles - infrequently and also only prevalent at the onset of the radiation

Fatigue is ongoing & I cannot describe it but it’s an ongoing issue

But for me the most infuriating aspect is the constant need to be near a toilet. I’m lucky the trains have toilets as has Heuston but getting a bus is out of the question.
I have a review every two weeks ( same time as my blood test ) and must compliment the staff as they always ask about the side effects. They seem happy with my response.

Again sorry for not giving You feedback before now - I completely missed Your question.

I have been on Tamnexyl XL 400microgram (Tamsulosin Hydrochloride) prolonged release tablets for over a year now and they have been hard tablets.
Got a new batch now from chemist and they have changed them to
Tamsu 400micrograms and it says hard modified -release capsules and now they are proper looking capsules now where the other ones (Tamnexyl XL) were hard capsules.

I wonder has others on here had their Tamnexyl XL changed to these new Tamsu 400ug capsules now and are they ok? / have you noticed any difference? / are they better or worse or about the same as the Tamnexyl XL?

I am not one mad keen on change especially as I have been getting on with Tamnexyl XL for over the the last year. i presume maybe the chemist have changed due to supply or cost or are these ones better at doing their job than the other ones?

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/5245/pil

Had another blood test on Monday last week - my PSA decreased to 0.05. Next blood test & review scheduled for February 3.

Also finished my 39 doses of radiation last Thursday. Only real side effect is the fatigue. They told me the radiation will still be active in my body for 3-4 weeks. I’ve also to go back to SJH on February 18 for a review.
I’d really like to praise the staff at both TUH & SJH - I’m not sure I’d have completed the radiation course without the help & comforting from the staff there.

Been reading this and decided to go for the VHI health check.

Details here: https://www1.vhi.ie/healthcare-services/health-check.html

I got the Health Check Executive. It is listed as €490, but as i am a member, i got it for about €200.

All good:

• PSA: 0.64 (upper limit <2.0)
• DRE: Your digital rectal examination of the prostate, revealed no obvious abnormalities.

Anyway, i am glad i did it. It took about 1 hour on a Saturday morning in Dublin. The DRE was fine. It lasted about 5-10 seconds and his gloved finger was well lubed. My GP had to check for haemorrhoids a few years ago and didn't use any lube, so it was definitely better than that!

I am just under 50 now, so i guess this gives me a baseline PSA.

I will probably get it done every 2-3 years and then i guess i will also notice not just the absolute PSA value, but if there was a trend of it going in the wrong direction.

Also worthwhile for other markers such as cholesterol etc.

did you have a DRE before PSA?