Over 55 ? Prostate Cancer

Bleak Ridge is a family-run business, selling country clothing and workwear
I was diagnosed with Prostate cancer about a year ago following a PSA test and have been having hormone treatment since then. As others who have had this form of treatment will no doubt know, it can be "interesting". Mind you, the hot flushes could be a godsend since the removal of the winter fuel allowance.

For me the biggest hurdle was going in for the initial test, once that's out of the way, you just get on with it.

Get tested chaps, it is a no-brainer.
 
50 past me sometime back, and as with many on here you start to feel your age, although I'm still going. I recently had the full MOT done, as I had some concerns. Full blood test, to check everything, including prostate. Nothing found. I was then asked if I would like an Ultra sound on the stomach and lower areas to double check.

Hanging around for an hour with a full bladder, is always good for a laugh!

Anyway after the full check and emptying my bladder (not all over the Ultra Sound operator, I might add) there was nothing sinister found. That being the word used by the doctor.
None of this type of stuff is pleasant, but I can only reiterate what others have said. If you suspect anything, or have Prostate cancer in your family history, get it checked out.
 
Ive had a bloods taken this week so just awaiting the results, I thought life began at 50, I felt great and probably the fittest I was in a long time but come 55 it went seriously downhill :) anyway onwards and upwards and lets hope my PSA comes back good
 
55 seems to be the magic number right enough. A life of keeping pretty bloody fit but by 55 it feels like a daily battle
 
old keeper said:
I was diagnosed with Prostate cancer about a year ago following a PSA test and have been having hormone treatment since then. As others who have had this form of treatment will no doubt know, it can be "interesting". Mind you, the hot flushes could be a godsend since the removal of the winter fuel allowance.

For me the biggest hurdle was going in for the initial test, once that's out of the way, you just get on with it.

Get tested chaps, it is a no-brainer.
Click to expand...

No doubt you also have developed an urge to buy scatter cushions, constantly re-decorate and completely lost the ability to read a map ! I know the symptoms well 😉😂.
 
NullMac said:
blood test is simple but unfortunately interpreting the results doesn't seem to be
Click to expand...

Yes. A non-zero PSA level does not mean cancer [my Dr advised].

In my case [wrong side of 60] I have to take a piddle perhaps half the number of times the village clock chimes the hours through the night hours. Digital exam confirms enlarged prostate but nothing amiss [no roughness]. Thus my non-zero [but low] PSA level was seen as normal...in my case.

I have an annual PSA test to make sure that number does not change markedly. That seems to be the value of the PSA test: if there is a year-on-year increase it may portend more.

Side-bar note on frequent peeing: two dietary supplements have made a huge difference for me. Whereas the pharma option is to prescribe a muscle-relaxant [Tamsulosin] , I found that augmenting my zinc and lycopene intake has achieved adequate respite. This is not medical advice. Do whatever your doc says. But...for me...10mg zinc tablet with breakfast and 8 vine tomatos before every lunch has made going and stopping both easier and less frequent. [If you are happy eating pumpkin seeds, apparently a handful delivers a healthy dose of zinc]
 
Easiest is just start with getting your PSA numbers run as with all of this stuff early heads up makes a massive difference to outcomes, like plugging a laptop in to your truck looking for issues rather than waiting for warning lights to come on the dash or hear a knocking noise
 
zambezi said:
Yes. A non-zero PSA level does not mean cancer [my Dr advised].

In my case [wrong side of 60] I have to take a piddle perhaps half the number of times the village clock chimes the hours through the night hours. Digital exam confirms enlarged prostate but nothing amiss [no roughness]. Thus my non-zero [but low] PSA level was seen as normal...in my case.

I have an annual PSA test to make sure that number does not change markedly. That seems to be the value of the PSA test: if there is a year-on-year increase it may portend more.
Click to expand...
Just to reiterate the point @zambezi makes above, a non-zero PSA is not necessarily a sign of a problem.

My case was very similar - elevated PSA scores resulted in a transperineal ultrasound biopsy. The results of the biopsy came back clear, and the diagnosis was that my PSA scores were high because I had an enlarged prostate.

The prostate is typically about the size of a walnut, but as we age the prostate can enlarge, and in some cases can grow to about the size of a lemon (though I wouldn't want a slice of it with my gin!). By the age of 60, half of all men will have an enlarged prostate, and by the age of 85 that proportion will have risen to around 95%. This is normal, so don't fear it.

Also having an enlarged prostate doesn't mean you will get prostate cancer, so if you are finding it difficult to pee, or that you are having to get up in the night to pee, don't automatically fear the worst. It may well be nothing worse than you now have a lemon pressing on your bladder rather than a walnut!

I have now had a couple of follow-up meetings with the consultant, who is happy with the progress, and I also have regular tests to monitor my PSA. It is typical that PSA scores go up, and go down, and what is being looked for is a persistent trend where the score is elevated or non-elevated.

Also be aware that certain activities can affect your PSA score, including vigorous exercise (particularly cycling) and ejaculation - and no, that doesn't only apply if you do both at the same time :doh:. The recommendation is that you avoid these activities for at least two days prior to your PSA test (I should be so lucky.....).

Men are particularly poor at discussing their health, particularly when it concerns things "down there". However having a regular PSA test is probably one of the most single most important things any man can do in terms of protecting their long-term health, and it is encouraging to see it being so openly talked about here. Whatever you do, don't be afraid to discuss it - getting that PSA test can literally be a life-saver.
 
I was diagnosed with Pca ten years ago, and was given three choices.

Do nothing
Radiotherapy
Prostatectomy

Do nothing had an outlook of 18 months to two years, so that was off the list.

I decided on the operation, because there was also the option of RT at a later date if needed.

The Surgeon removed a couple of other bits whilst she was in there, and it was a good job that she did. Tests showed that the cancer had escaped the prostate. Had that been known beforehand, the operation would not have been an option.
I then had RT treatment, and a two year course of hormone treatment. Neither were pleasant, but far better than the alternative.

My Consultant said that, after treatment, I had two to five years. Ten years on, and I'm still alive and kicking. I have a PSA test every three months.

The side effect of all of the treatments were not good, but early on in my journey, I was given sound information

1) No one gets out of life alive.
2) There are no hard-ons in a coffin.

Get tested boys. It can save your life.



Steve.
 
Nimrod1960 said:
No doubt you also have developed an urge to buy scatter cushions, constantly re-decorate and completely lost the ability to read a map ! I know the symptoms well 😉😂.
Click to expand...
I cope well with the symptoms you describe, the more disturbing one is the way I gravitate to the ladies' underwear section of M&S. Mind you, that's a problem I've had for many years before my prostate problem arrived.:rofl:
 
An uncle of mine in his 60s caught it early, got through it.

My other uncle, 59, has just been diagnosed, but I think he may have left it too long to get checked out as he has had his tests back today and found out that he has bone and prostate cancer.

I dont know if it's a common spread, but that is two people I know of where it has seemed to have spread from prostate first, then to bones.

He has a 15yo son that hasn't had an easy start in life is devastated.
 
NOTSHARP said:
I was diagnosed with Pca ten years ago, and was given three choices.

Do nothing
Radiotherapy
Prostatectomy

Do nothing had an outlook of 18 months to two years, so that was off the list.

I decided on the operation, because there was also the option of RT at a later date if needed.

The Surgeon removed a couple of other bits whilst she was in there, and it was a good job that she did. Tests showed that the cancer had escaped the prostate. Had that been known beforehand, the operation would not have been an option.
I then had RT treatment, and a two year course of hormone treatment. Neither were pleasant, but far better than the alternative.

My Consultant said that, after treatment, I had two to five years. Ten years on, and I'm still alive and kicking. I have a PSA test every three months.

The side effect of all of the treatments were not good, but early on in my journey, I was given sound information

1) No one gets out of life alive.
2) There are no hard-ons in a coffin.

Get tested boys. It can save your life.



Steve.
Click to expand...
What’s the side effects of the treatments ?
 
There is much debate amongst doctors regarding the pros and cons of screening for prostate cancer using PSA as a screening tool.
The test is not a panacea- and we must accept that a raised PSA result can lead to invasive tests, a cancer diagnosis and procedures that may harm patients and not increase the length of life.
I’m not an expert on this but I think broadly the figures show that for every 5 lives saved in males in the screening cohort age (55-69) 100 patients would suffer significant side effects of treatment that does not alter their life expectancy, including impotence or incontinence. This is because not all prostate cancers behave in the same way - some are very aggressive but others relatively indolent and undiagnosed patients happily live with them for many years and dying of something else. I’m not advocating not getting checked but there is a debate to be had.
 
Very (very) good mate of mine has just been told he has it. He’s pretty sure it’s been caught just about in time (pending one last test result).

My message is therefore a simple one: just do it!!!

The PSA test that is….
 
hw101 said:
There is much debate amongst doctors regarding the pros and cons of screening for prostate cancer using PSA as a screening tool.
The test is not a panacea- and we must accept that a raised PSA result can lead to invasive tests, a cancer diagnosis and procedures that may harm patients and not increase the length of life.
I’m not an expert on this but I think broadly the figures show that for every 5 lives saved in males in the screening cohort age (55-69) 100 patients would suffer significant side effects of treatment that does not alter their life expectancy, including impotence or incontinence. This is because not all prostate cancers behave in the same way - some are very aggressive but others relatively indolent and undiagnosed patients happily live with them for many years and dying of something else. I’m not advocating not getting checked but there is a debate to be had.
Click to expand...
Debate around?
 
Trickyd66 said:
As soon as I turned 50 , SHMBO was badgering me to have a PSA test. Not sure if I could have got one through the GP as no symptoms, but found a charity carrying out tests (free but donation to cover costs welcomed, and made) thankfully low / negative readings, but will do every few years to keep an eye on things.
Click to expand...
You are totally entitled to push for an NHS PSA test, if your GP refuses then ask for a second opinion. Women get mammograms, smears, etc and just as many men suffer and die from prostate cancer. If you have it in a male relative then you have a 50% increased likelihood of having it yourself. Caught early it’s an easy fix, caught late it’s horrible (RIP Ray, still miss you mate!)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Game Larder - Your reliable choice for Game Larder solutions - www.gamelarder.com
Back
Top