That walnut sized organ: the Prostate

Calahonda52 · 19-06-2016 5:38pm

The young lad, my only offspring, presented me with a beautiful gift and a card today: Father's Day..........

Calahonda52 · 28-06-2016 8:45pm

Thought it might be encouraging for someone to know what is happening 5 weeks after surgery.

Pain: three pain items previously discussed still occurring so still on anti-inflammatories: morning, lunch, night.
None of it is at a mad level but still occurs.
The pelvic floor muscle pain is most pronounced if standing for several hours.

Daytime.
There is much improvement when getting up from sitting, I still need to leg it to the toilet but in most cases get there just in time. There is not much hardware to direct any flow with so I just use the jug: easier all round. The flow rate is not great, its better at night when the tank is fuller, but capacity is still c 300ml.

Uncontrollable peeing while walking still a problem.
However the walking has improved the control when sitting so ......

Night time.
Days are followed by the now normal night routine of up every four hours so happy nights!

Sneezing and coughing and lifting are still a problem.

Pints/Whiskey/Plumbing case study.

My best man / best friend came to see me from LA for 5 nights so we hit Galway for 3 nights.

Night one we had 2 pints of Guinness at dinner from 6pm to 8pm

We then had a walk around, with a few pit stops, and hit the pub again about 10pm, had two more pints and then retired at 11:30. I was dog tired after drive and no afternoon nap.

After 4 circuits of sleep/pain/pee, I decided to check the time: 1:30am, LOL:D

Next pain/pee circuit was at 5:30 so no complaints.

Next night did 4 pints craft cider over same time frame, pretty much same outcome.

Next night 4 more pints over same time frame, same outcome as first night.

As I said already, walking was a problem so I just put on the full adult nappies for those three days and it worked out fine.
Had a water proof seat cover in car and similar for hotel bed: however, no industrial accidents.

In addition, I had a bottle in the car for intermediate road-side pit stops as with the limited hardware, peeing through a windy gate is not a realist option and pulling off the road looking for some grotty toilet in a garage is just not feasible as once you get the need to go, it waits for neither man or beast!.

On his last night here, at home, we skulled an indeterminate amount of whiskey over about 6 hours. This has been a tradition when we meet pretty much every year since 1979 so nothing new there.

Not at all the same impact as the 2L of Guinness/cider, perhaps reduced liquid intake coupled with higher alcohol content led to some dehydration.

So to conclude, five weeks down range, progress is being made on containing the urinary incontinence.
Skulling pints and whiskey is back on the menu, as long as there is easy access to toilets, and it does not cause any issues at night: yes frequent sleep/pain/pee circuits but still doable as it is self inflicted.

PMBC · 29-06-2016 9:04am

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Thought it might be encouraging for someone to know what is happening 5 weeks after surgery.

Pain: three pain items previously discussed still occurring so still on anti-inflammatories: morning, lunch, night.
None of it is at a mad level but still occurs.
The pelvic floor muscle pain is most pronounced if standing for several hours.

Daytime.
There is much improvement when getting up from sitting, I still need to leg it to the toilet but in most cases get there just in time. There is not much hardware to direct any flow with so I just use the jug: easier all round. The flow rate is not great, its better at night when the tank is fuller, but capacity is still c 300ml.

Uncontrollable peeing while walking still a problem.
However the walking has improved the control when sitting so ......

Night time.
Days are followed by the now normal night routine of up every four hours so happy nights!

Sneezing and coughing and lifting are still a problem.

Pints/Whiskey/Plumbing case study.

My best man / best friend came to see me from LA for 5 nights so we hit Galway for 3 nights.

Night one we had 2 pints of Guinness at dinner from 6pm to 8pm

We then had a walk around, with a few pit stops, and hit the pub again about 10pm, had two more pints and then retired at 11:30. I was dog tired after drive and no afternoon nap.

After 4 circuits of sleep/pain/pee, I decided to check the time: 1:30am, LOL:D

Next pain/pee circuit was at 5:30 so no complaints.

Next night did 4 pints craft cider over same time frame, pretty much same outcome.

Next night 4 more pints over same time frame, same outcome as first night.

As I said already, walking was a problem so I just put on the full adult nappies for those three days and it worked out fine.
Had a water proof seat cover in car and similar for hotel bed: however, no industrial accidents.

In addition, I had a bottle in the car for intermediate road-side pit stops as with the limited hardware, peeing through a windy gate is not a realist option and pulling off the road looking for some grotty toilet in a garage is just not feasible as once you get the need to go, it waits for neither man or beast!.

On his last night here, at home, we skulled an indeterminate amount of whiskey over about 6 hours. This has been a tradition when we meet pretty much every year since 1979 so nothing new there.

Not at all the same impact as the 2L of Guinness/cider, perhaps reduced liquid intake coupled with higher alcohol content led to some dehydration.

So to conclude, five weeks down range, progress is being made on containing the urinary incontinence.
Skulling pints and whiskey is back on the menu, as long as there is easy access to toilets, and it does not cause any issues at night: yes frequent sleep/pain/pee circuits but still doable as it is self inflicted.

Great to hear your good progress. Keep strong.

Calahonda52 · 23-07-2016 12:35pm

1: thanks for all the kind words, I just dip in when updating.

So we had the post op medical review with the surgeon on Thursday.

before dealing with it, lets review the improvements since last post.

On the triple pain list:
pain while actuating peeing is gone 100% which means all well with stitching etc.
Night-time pain: still the same, up every 4 hours, with a bit more in the tank, maybe 400ml, this hot weather has made liquid intake a bit more.
Pelvic floor pain: only when I stand around for some hours, had a bbq/family party last week, had to take pain killers and sit down after two hours but not as bad as last time.
They were the first pain killers in two weeks.
Walking and leakage is becoming less of a problem.
So all in all, progress continues 2 months after surgery.

edit: however, why flow rate is 100%, the jug is still the receptacle of choice, I am a long way from the windy gate, if ever.

Medical Review.

Post Op review of surgery.
I had to bring a PSA test back with me and the result is the value is less than 0.1
This is regarded as being undetectable, there is a link below which explains all this.

He is happy with this and I am back in 4 months, it would normally be 6 months but he wants to work on the waterworks.

Re the waterworks, he is not happy that I am still on three pads a day, as well as the night time calls as I had no night time calls prior to surgery.
He thinks I am not doing enough of the pelvic floor exercises so I am back in 4 months for a review.
He also suggested I go see a physio for specific pelvic floor exercises that go beyond the simple "squeeze and breath" one.
[I have these exercise from before the op so I started them this morning, I had done none of them prior to this review]

I can resume the full range of exercise in the DCU gym but clearly not at the post op level: its whatever the body will take and not to overdo it.

He thinks there will be leakage in the gym for the next few weeks but again if I can deal with it then the exercise is okay, including cycling.

He also mentioned, again, the need to cut back on coffee, alcohol, fizzy drinks, but they are okay as long as the consequences are acceptable to me.
He added that a lot of all three would stop the bladder getting back to normal as quickly as it would without excessive tea,coffee, alcohol etc.

Also, interestingly, I asked about the reduced capacity post op: he said a lot of that can be psychological as when the pain comes you know that if you don't empty it will leak.
There is also an almost permanent sense of urgency to keep it empty.
He says this will improve if I gently push the pain barrier over time.

PSA levels post radical prostate surgery.
http://www.harvardprostateknowledge.org/how-to-handle-a-relapse-after-treatment-for-prostate-cancer

So whats with the Waiting for the hammer to fall.

This is off the web, from reputable sites but its, at this stage my own work.

Very simply, based on the post-op pathology results and the pre-op PSA levels, there are statistics out there for two things:

PROBABILITY OF REMAINING RECURRENCE-FREE AFTER SURGERY

XX-YEAR PROSTATE CANCER-SPECIFIC SURVIVAL AFTER SURGERY

I put them in capitals because they are different aspects of the problem.

Recurrence free means that, as of now, I have about a 42% chance of remaining recurrence free within 5 years: higher at 2 years, lower at 7 years and 10 years.

[ This is based on the pathology results and it being two months after surgery: if it were 12 months after surgery, it moves to 52% ]

So once it recurs, and you get post recurrence treatment, the second number click in

My 15 YEAR PROSTATE CANCER-SPECIFIC SURVIVAL % AFTER SURGERY is 92%

These numbers come from this link
https://www.mskcc.org/nomograms/prostate

I intend to go through this stuff with him in November, as well as why the PSA level was not actually zero.

I am happy with the 4 month review as it was my plan to check the PSA level every three months, as at these low levels there is not much wriggle room.

Finally re the sexual dysfunction side effect, which I don't get into here, I offer the following which is based on something I got from a colleague:

Prostate surgery

A man wakes up in the hospital after prostate surgery.
The doctor comes in and says, "Ah, I see you've regained consciousness. Now, you may remember that prior to the surgery I mentioned I might have to do some nerve paring which would have consequences for having, post op, a full and active sex life.
I had to do some serious nerve paring on both sides, the man groans, but the doctor goes on "however my staff tell me that your health insurance will allow you spend up to €9,000 on whatever you want to help you recover from the side effects of the surgery"

The man perks up, the doctor says, "You must decide how you want the money spent on getting you fully back in the saddle so to speak.

I understand that you have been married for over thirty years so this is something you should discuss with your wife as we don't want her to be disappointed so it's important that she plays a role in helping you make a decision."
The man agrees to talk it over with his wife.
The doctor comes back the next day, "So, have you spoken with your wife?"
"Yes I have," says the man.
"And has she helped you make a decision?"
"Yes" says the man.
"What is your decision?" asks the doctor.

"We're getting granite counter tops."

Keep well: back in November.

Metric Tensor · 23-07-2016 1:56pm

Great to hear the recovery continues well CH!

muffler · 23-07-2016 3:52pm

Yup, it's looking good so far. Well done C

bungaro79 · 23-07-2016 8:47pm

great news c52!

roshje · 23-07-2016 10:43pm

Keep the faith, all the best.

Calahonda52 · 01-08-2016 11:12am

Just to say I started the specific pelvic floor physio exercises the day after I met the consultant on 21st.

Went at them with a fair bit of intent, used youtube for some additional tips on techniques and variations.

Last two nights have got 6 hours to the first nocturnal pitstop and the output is 500ml, the C52 Olympic qualifying standard:D

pad usage down to one every 24 hours and not much leakage when walking.

However am not getting anywhere near 500 ml during the day, I suspect because the intestine is banging off the bladder and its also in my head as discussed earlier..

Not back in the gym yet as my contact is on holidays till tomorrow.

Am posting this update now just as encouragement for anyone reading this that is somewhere along the post op wet wet wet curve.

I did not want to start these exercises before I got sign-off from medico, maybe I could have started earlier but am happier not to have.

Metric Tensor · 01-08-2016 3:14pm

I'd say there's plenty of men who have gone through a lot less than you that don't make 6 hours CH!

Musketeer4 · 02-08-2016 9:14am

What sort of operation was is? Was the incision above your pubic bone or did they come at it from underneath?
Good progress, keep up the good work!

Calahonda52 · 06-08-2016 1:44pm

Musketeer4 wrote: »

What sort of operation was is? Was the incision above your pubic bone or did they come at it from underneath?
Good progress, keep up the good work!

Robotic assisted is just 5 or six little incisions, so not abdominal zipper surgery.

Calahonda52 · 24-08-2016 11:05am

Back in DCU bootcamp and the pre boot camp tests show that my fitness level dropped back post op but not as far back as what the fitness level was at the start of the pre-op bootcamp so happy days, except the new targets are now higher....:).

On the plumbing side: with careful liquid intake yesterday, I got 8 hours between pitstops last night, with a volume of about 550 ml so thats good.

Having said that I over cooked the pelvic floor exercises at start of last week and paid the price in a lot more day time leakage. Did'nt do them for a few days and we are back to current normal, which is on non gym days one pad every 24 hrs and somedays they are bone dry.

Musketeer4 · 24-08-2016 11:17am

That's great news. I'm sure there's much further improvement to come cos its still only been a few months and pipe work is still settling down.
Jaysus, 8 hours! I can hardly manage that and I'm only 30!

What sort of workouts do they do with you in DCU? Is it general circuit training or is it something specifically tailored to your issue?

Metric Tensor · 24-08-2016 1:29pm

You're flying CH. Well done!

Musketeer4 · 26-10-2016 4:21pm

How are things these days? Is the improvement still ongoing?

Heighway61 · 28-11-2016 8:54pm

Wishing you every success with your recovery, CH.... and everybody.

Had heavy blood in urine. Got PSA results today - 10.24. Seeing GP again on Wednesday for DRE. Sick with worry. I know it's human nature to fear the worst but I have symptoms that suggest it has possibly spread. And the fact that I have any symtoms at all from a disease that is symptom-free unless advanced just makes the worry all the worse.

Heighway61 · 30-11-2016 10:46pm

DRE suggested abnormalities. For Galway in two to three weeks for the biopsy. Head spinning tonight after the talk of percentages and stages.

Calahonda52 · 05-12-2016 8:33pm

Prequel:
I am not in anyway giving medical advice here, just some ideas.

Heighway61 wrote: »

Wishing you every success with your recovery, CH.... and everybody.

Had heavy blood in urine. Got PSA results today - 10.24. Seeing GP again on Wednesday for DRE. Sick with worry. I know it's human nature to fear the worst but I have symptoms that suggest it has possibly spread. And the fact that I have any symptoms at all from a disease that is symptom-free unless advanced just makes the worry all the worse.

If you are talking about prostate cancer, that is not correct. everyone and every cancer is different so don't get hung up on such stuff.

Heighway61 wrote: »

DRE suggested abnormalities. For Galway in two to three weeks for the biopsy. Head spinning tonight after the talk of percentages and stages.

Sorry to read this.
Yes it is a numbers game but can you get an MRI done first and maybe go directly to surgery, if deemed appropriate, as u will be another 6 weeks after the biopsy before they will do an MRI and then more delay.....before surgery.
Just an idea.

I am aware of my percentages and stages etc as well but I don't worry about them because:
there is sfa that worrying will do, in fact the opposite.
I am living life to the full in a way I neglected for years.

You are lucky that you are in the process so the sooner the surgery, or whatever treatment they suggest, the sooner you start to get better.

Calahonda52 · 05-12-2016 8:43pm

Just a quick update.
Thanks for all the good wishes.
PSA test result the same as last time, <0.1, after 6 months so that's good news.
However I would have been surprised if it had not been as with clear margins and no radiotherapy after surgery it should be pretty stable, at least early on.

Plumbing is all sorted on the physical level as long as I watch the fluid intake.
Still an issue at the psychological level so am wearing a very small pad, just in case.:)

ps
I think Byrne and Ward have done the nation a great disservice re Prostate Cancer with all the hu-hah recently about ignoring the symptoms.

In most cases, there are no symptoms, so to anyone reading their stuff: get the PSA test done if over 50.

Heighway61 · 06-12-2016 12:28am

I'll ask about an MRI, thanks, but don't have private health insurance so not sure if they would do it for me. Just on the symptoms, the quick bit of reading I did (can't bring myself to do much reading) matches me with listed symptoms of advanced cancer. Bone pain, passing blood, extreme tiredness, plus others.

Heighway61 · 08-12-2016 2:31am

Biopsy appointment is for January 2017. Disappointed in that. GP had said "about two weeks". Wasn't expecting six. Not very rapid for a Rapid Access Clinic.

Calahonda52 · 08-12-2016 7:20pm

Heighway61 wrote: »

I'll ask about an MRI, thanks, but don't have private health insurance so not sure if they would do it for me. Just on the symptoms, the quick bit of reading I did (can't bring myself to do much reading) matches me with listed symptoms of advanced cancer. Bone pain, passing blood, extreme tiredness, plus others.

Am sorry to read this, however I would not be despondent, at least until you get the results of the biopsy and a plan of action.

In addition you can pay for the different tests, not having insurance does not preclude you from access.
In addition, if you are paying tax, you can claim 20% back

In passing, for the benefit of others, if you can, will you share with us when you developed the symptoms.

Calahonda52 · 08-12-2016 7:33pm

Met the consultant today who is now putting me on annual review, with a PSA test in 6 months and I will just post in the result.

For my own piece of mind I will be getting it done every three months as the margin for error now is pretty thin.

He did suggest that I increase the daily fluid intake because if you run too dry and the pee gets concentrated, then there is a higher risk of infection.

Again thanks for reading all this:
my final comment, for now, is if anyone is facing prostate surgery and you want intel on the actual lead up to and post surgery sequencing, then send me a PM.

I am not giving advice, I will just tell you what practical issues I faced and how I dealt with them.

For example: choice of incontinence pads..:D

So, as they say, its a wrap!

Hope this thread has helped someone.
If you are of an age, tell the guy in the mirror to get the PSA test done, regardless. and report back.:D

westgolf · 08-12-2016 8:36pm

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Met the consultant today who is now putting me on annual review, with a PSA test in 6 months and I will just post in the result.

For my own piece of mind I will be getting it done every three months as the margin for error now is pretty thin.

He did suggest that I increase the daily fluid intake because if you run too dry and the pee gets concentrated, then there is a higher risk of infection.

Again thanks for reading all this:
my final comment, for now, is if anyone is facing prostate surgery and you want intel on the actual lead up to and post surgery sequencing, then send me a PM.

I am not giving advice, I will just tell you what practical issues I faced and how I dealt with them.

For example: choice of incontinence pads..:D

So, as they say, its a wrap!

Hope this thread has helped someone.
If you are of an age, tell the guy in the mirror to get the PSA test done, regardless. and report back.:D

Thank you for your excellent thread. Can I particularly commend your practical, down to earth approach. All the very best for the future.

Westgolf

Calahonda52 · 31-12-2016 3:35pm

especially in the health department.

As well as thanking you all for your nice comments, did I say, if you are of an age, get the PSA test done and don't take any crap from any GP's who don't agree with it as a starting point.

Yes, there are issues with the test but so there are with all medical tests.
And well as the PSA blood test, there is now the MRI and the biopsy, with local anaesthetic, as well as of course the wonderful DRE.

I know it's not that attractive idea for most men, but if it might save your life then get that digit in there.

Just to finish off, I had no symptoms and while I now have a statistical risk of re-occurance, I am in a better place than if it had gone undetected: as i wrote already, I would have been dead in 3 years from Dec 2014.

Over and out for 2016

Calahonda52 · 02-01-2017 9:06pm

Meant to add, for anyone like me post surgery, once you get to the stage for using smaller and smaller pads, perhaps even just for mental insurance, like I am at the moment, don't forget to look in the ladies section of the pharmacy. Their kit is so much neater, given if the related TV adverts are anything go by, the ladies like that dept to be bulge free whereas us cave men.....

I got some really slim unisex ones in the US which are wonderfully neat, with really good adhesive quality for sticking to the underwear. Some of the smaller male stuff sold here floats around like a balloon at times!

The other wrinkle today was the combination of the cold weather and some new body armour gym gear my son bought me for Xmas. The combination when out in the park meant I was damn glad to have the "mental insurance kit"

It never occurred to me that the tight fitting kit plus the cold would have that impact...

Keep well.

Irish Steve · 18-01-2017 3:10pm

Just found this thread, and I will add a few thoughts, which I hope will help other people here.

I am 15 years down the line from a radical prostatectomy that was carried out in Beaumont, so this was before the days of keyhole surgery or robotic assists

After a medical examination in Denver, (for private flying) picked up that my prostate was enlarged, I came home, and went through the loops and hoops of PSA (it was high) and related tests, biopsy and scans, as well as a lot of investigation and discussion about the right treatment.

I was just over 50 at the time, reasonably fit, and if I'd not had the medical, I would not have known there was a problem, as I had zero symptoms

The eventual decision was to remove it, the main decider being the very honest opinion of the radiology consultant at the Mater, who made it clear that if he did radiotherapy, there was no way that there would be a future surgical option due to scar tissue, but if I had surgery and there were then issues with a subsequent return of cancer, there was still then a radiotherapy option. He also suggested that as I was relatively young and reasonably fit, the recovery from surgery would be reasonably rapid, and unlikely to cause me too many problems, and in that respect, he was right.

Surgery happened in Mid December 2002, I was in the hospital for about 7 days, originally planned as 10, but by 7 days I was prowling the wards like a caged tiger, so there was no advantage staying there as long as I didn't do anything stupid. I came home catheterised, and that was a total pain both physically and emotionally, and the day of the removal was incredibly uncomfortable, the first pee after it was removed was total agony, but it was only the first.

The biopsy came back with clear margins, so my ongoing monitoring was pretty much as others have described, PSA checks on a regular basis, and I'm now down to having one check a year, and at this stage, they are still coming back undetectable, which is as good as it gets, especially after this length of time.

I was off work for 7 months, due to the very physical nature of the work I was doing (baggage handling), but in most other respects, there were no major hassles, if I'd been doing a less physical job I'd have been able to go back to work a lot sooner.

The surgeon managed to do a process called nerve sparing, which means that while erections are not as good as they were, they still happen. The absence of the prostate, and other things from around that area means however that while the erection is there, and things still work, it only fires blanks, but that didn't come as any surprise.

Incontinence, by the sound of it, I was lucky, in that from relatively soon after the catheter came out, I only use lightweight (ladies) pads during the day for insurance against stress incontinence, and I don't have any problems at night at all, and I don't have to be too careful about limiting fluid intake, I just have to make sure I don't do the trouser belt too tight, which is not unreasonable, and I can go for long periods both by day and night without problems, so long car journeys, or flights, are not an issue.

Psychologically, at the time, it was a roller coaster, with a whole gamut of good and bad emotions, but eventually, things settled down, and as time has gone on with no PSA issues to cause concerns, while I'm obviously aware of it every day, it's not a focus of thought or attention at this stage, it's now something that happened, and while I recognise that I was very lucky that it was caught early enough to have no longer term consequences, I'm also relieved that I didn't ignore the doctor in Denver.

I know how difficult prostate issues can be to talk about or face up to, so hopefully, my comments here will provide some encouragement to people who are facing the issues now, my surgery and treatment was a long time ago medically speaking, it seems that the procedures and techniques have improved significantly in the intervening time, which should help make the process easier to bear.

Hope that helps someone

Calahonda52 · 14-03-2017 10:54am

First up I want to commend IRISH STEVE for his well structured and well thought out post.:)

One line jumps out:

I was just over 50 at the time, reasonably fit, and if I'd not had the medical, I would not have known there was a problem, as I had zero symptoms.

So guys, get the testing done once you are of an age.
If your biological father had an issue with it, then you should start testing about age 45

Next up. Had a blood test done last week, c 3 months after the last.

Result is ZERO, [not less than 0.1 which was the last ones post surgery] .

Am in the gym at 06:30 Mon to Friday since 2nd Jan so that is good for the mind: am not killing myself there but anything is better than nothing.

My sleep pattern has settled into waking at 04:30 going to bed about 10.
Going to bed later does not help.

Re the incontinence, now don't wear any pads, even the ladies ones, unless the shape to my day means I would feel better with it in place.
I suspect the regular exercise has strengthened the pelvic floor muscles.

However if I skull lots of alcohol or coffee/tea I just need close access to the toilet.

Next test June

Calahonda52 · 14-04-2017 9:31am

This time last year I was just after the second bout of septicaemia and was a month from surgery so was in a different place.

I have a completely different perspective on life and living these days: I took events like this long weekend for granted before: no more... so HAPPY EASTER and eat plenty eggs.:D

As an aside:
Some of you may know that I shelled out on a new Nissan Leaf EV on March 1st last, am really happy with it.
My favourite feature is that I can send a message to the car from my phone at 05:45 so as its preheated to 22 C ( including steering wheel and seat) before I head out to gym in gym gear...
[This feature is automatic when plugged in for charging, the remote app works when its not charging... really cool.]

Calahonda52 · 20-05-2017 8:41am

Surgery was 18th May last year....
Back in full-time work, at 64, am on probation.....
Its pretty tiring but am still getting to gym three mornings a week, even if not doing much.
The tiredness is driving my first wake up to about 04:15, from what was 03:15, when going to bed about 22:00.

The best part of the job is that the commute is less than 15 minutes, thats each way, in case you were wondering.:D

Its a bellboy level job, only way is up, but I don't need the stress that comes with managing staff.

Am out on the road three or four days a week meeting clients which I just adore.

The is prima facia evidence that my line manager is a graduate of Ag school, with a major in mushroom growing... keep in dark and feed sh$t, but hey, am above ground....

Keep well.

Calahonda52 · 09-07-2017 4:38pm

I had a full set of blood tests done in June, on the advice of my consultant when I was in the hospital with the septicaemia in March 2016.
He said get them done 1 year after surgery, give the system time to clear out the crap.

Good to report that all aspects of the antifreeze are normal.
The suite of tests cost 261 euro, including the PSA but worth it.

Have moved to the 24hr gym in Airside as its closer and I can get there earlier so if any of you are up there at 05:30 say hello!:D

Work hours are long but can now work from home when not on site with clients so thats even better.

Learning lots so its good.

Keep well and keep spreading the word about the importance of getting the PSA test done, from 50 on.

Calahonda52 · 05-12-2017 10:26am

especially in the health department.
Just had the 6 monthly PSA test done: still less than 0.1 so thats good news.

Will repeat what I wrote last year.
"....if you are of an age, get the PSA test done and don't take any crap from any GP's who don't agree with it as a starting point.

Yes, there are issues with the test but so there are with all medical tests.
And well as the PSA blood test, there is now the MRI and the biopsy, with local anaesthetic, as well as of course the wonderful DRE.

I know it's not that attractive idea for most men, but if it might save your life then get that digit in there.

Just to finish off, I had no symptoms and while I now have a statistical risk of re-occurance, I am in a better place than if it had gone undetected: as i wrote already, I would have been dead in 3 years from Dec 2014."

Just to add a few lines.

I don't answer most of the PMs I get because its not the best way to deal with the issues: especially when I get lines that say: my symptoms etc are the same as yours and my doc tells me I am fcuked.
I have written pretty much all I can in this area:every cancer case is different, except when you are looking at large numbers for statistical patterns.

I will repeat my 6 commandments for dealing with this.

Eat well, i.e. healthily
Exercise well, i.e. frequently
Sleep well: unaided of course, helped by more of 2 if needed.
Eliminate stress
Only do things you like doings.
Only mix with folk who have a positive influence on you/your thought processes

I have also got PMs about what is the sex life like when fully decommissioned.

Again, I will not respond to those.

What I will say is that I would not stray into the further surgery/assistive drugs/ male mechanical aids.

With the right partner and complete openness and understanding comes ........

This understanding extends to ideas such as not viewing Roger (the) Rabbit as a substitute but as complementary for ......

Over and out for 2017

Calahonda52 · 07-03-2018 9:10am

Perhaps some of you might be browsing the articles here .

https://www.bbc.co.uk/search?q=Prostate

The PSA test gets some bad press in

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09tdyk1

Please note that this was a single screening programme.

As I have said before, getting tested early and frequently is the better use of the PSA test, as it is the number and the rate of change in the number between tests is the better use of the test.

Keep well.

gizmo555 · 07-03-2018 9:25am

Calahonda52 wrote: »

As I have said before, getting tested early and frequently is the better use of the PSA test, as it is the number and the rate of change in the number between tests is the better use of the test.

That's what led to the diagnosis of a relation of mine - the initial test was high, but not extraordinarily so. The key thing was the rapid rate it was rising at, shown in follow up tests.

Bob Harris · 07-03-2018 11:10am

gizmo555 wrote: »

That's what led to the diagnosis of a relation of mine - the initial test was high, but not extraordinarily so. The key thing was the rapid rate it was rising at, shown in follow up tests.

From the study:

"We found that offering a single PSA test to men with no symptoms of prostate cancer does not save lives after an average follow-up of 10 years"

Do I understand this correctly thinking that one test was done at say 45 years of age and the next at 55? An awful lot can happen in 10 years.

BrianD3 · 07-03-2018 5:13pm

I thought of this thread when I heard that Bill Turnbull (well known former BBC TV presenter) has prostate cancer with bone mets in the hip, legs, ribs

He said that he had had aches and pains for a while and had put them down to getting old. He's not even that old, early 60s and now his life expectancy is heavily reduced. However maybe he'll be like Francois Mitterand or Peter Cushing and live for many years with his incurable prostate cancer with reasonable quality of life.

It is an "exciting" time in prostate cancer - several new treatments, new ideas on how to treat and lots more research needed.

In the US, the reported mortality rate from prostate cancer has dropped dramatically since the early 1990s
https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/ld/prost.html

39.2 deaths per 100,000 males age adjusted in 1992
19.1 deaths per 100,000 males age adjusted in 2014

Unlike 5 year survival and some other cancer statistics those mortality figure won't really be affected by stage migration, over-diagnosis, lead time bias etc. Mortality figures could be affected by how deaths are recorded e.g. an elderly man with advanced prostate cancer who died from pneumonia in 2014 may have had their cause of death given as pneumonia while perhaps the same scenario in 1992 would have seen the cause of death given as (complications of) prostate cancer. I'm just speculating here though trying to understand the statistics.

Calahonda52 · 06-01-2019 2:08pm

1: Happy new year to all.
2: Meant to update this in November last: Nov test was zero as before.
3: don't be shy about getting the PSA test and the DRE if needed: could save you life

4: As before I don't follow this thread.

Calahonda52 · 03-07-2019 4:32pm

Just got the most recent PSA test results, still at zero/ undetectable, 3 years down range from surgery.

Don't be shy about getting the PSA test and the DRE if needed: it could save you life.
As before I don't follow this thread.

muffler · 03-07-2019 4:43pm

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Just got the most recent PSA test results, still at zero/ undetectable, 3 years down range from surgery.

Excellent news. Delighted for you

PMBC · 06-07-2019 7:33pm

Well done.
Whats the difference between the blood test and the physical exam - I usually have both done annually.

Water John · 06-07-2019 11:53pm

I thought the PSA (blood test) was not accurate and used to get a physical also, but my GP tells me I'm incorrect in that.
Maybe he doesn't like that aspect of his job.(joke ) Getting one or both done is no hardship for peace of mind. My BIL had no symptoms and was picked up on PSA test.

westgolf · 07-07-2019 1:16am

All the quiet followers and non contributing followers of this thread, ( and there are many, ) thank you for your honesty, clarity and determination.

All the same group wish you the best of health and the energy to live life to the max.

Well done sir and Best of luck.

SuperS54 · 05-12-2019 7:31am

For all of us approaching the age where prostate cancer is becoming a possibility, looks like there is a new treatment option showing very promising results in trials, hopefully it becomes a reality in the not too distant future. https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-technique-eliminates-clinically-significant-prostate-cancer-in-80-of-subjects?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=benshapiro

Slasher · 05-12-2019 12:11pm

SuperS54 wrote: »

For all of us approaching the age where prostate cancer is becoming a possibility, looks like there is a new treatment option showing very promising results in trials, hopefully it becomes a reality in the not too distant future.

That looks very promising. But, "transutheral" - hopefully under general anesthetic.

Heighway61 · 12-12-2019 1:43pm

Is it usual or possible for PSA to go down? Mine had been increasing slowly in two years since op but last reading down by .01.

notobtuse · 16-12-2019 7:26pm

Chose radioactive pellets placed into the prostrate rather than removal. Was guaranteed 10 years at the time with the treatment I chose. PSA has been kept to under 1. This is year 10. Going for my physical and PSA next month. Skipped last year... foolish I know, but can't change things now. Fingers crossed, but resolved to the fact things could take a turn for the worse.

Slasher · 17-12-2019 2:08pm

Heighway61 wrote: »

Is it usual or possible for PSA to go down? Mine had been increasing slowly in two years since op but last reading down by .01.

Well this is based only on my own experience, i am not an expert. The PSA can go up or down, but should stay within a fairly narrow range. A reduction by .01 would, in my experience, be considered negligible. However, suggest you discuss with your GP.

PMBC · 15-01-2020 7:18pm

Interesting article 12/1/20 Sunday Independent on prostate treatment now available in Mater Hospital - SpaceOAR technology.
Apologies that I dont know how to post a link. Hope it helps someone.

Heighway61 · 21-07-2020 2:04pm

Peed off with the RAPC appointment cancellations. All this year's cancelled, just had August put off to 2021, while my PSA continues upward. Just one 6-minute telephone consulation in March.

Ah well, suppose it will be OK.

That walnut sized organ: the Prostate

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