PROSTATE CANCER - ANYONE BEEN THERE & DONE THAT?

Hi, I have just been told by my Consultant that I have Prostate Cancer.

I am aged 58 years old and married and live a relatively fit & healthy lifestyle and have been healthy for all of my life (except having my appendix removed years ago!) so it has come as a bit of a shock to the system.

I had 3 x sets of biopsies and cancer was found in the 3rd set with a Gleason Score of 4:4, a total of 8, which is quite high.

I have just has an MRI & Bone Scan and am awaiting the results before going back to see my Consultant where we will discuss the severity of the cancer, whether it has spread outside my Prostate, my overall prognosis and the way ahead with whatever treatment(s) may be suitable.

I am staying upbeat and optimistic and I really just want to know what it is that I have and how I can try to make it better.

There is a LOT of stuff out there to read on Prostate Cancer and some of it is very scarey indeed and I appreciate that I need to know the full picture before I start to worry about "what and if", so I don't worry - yet!

I wondered if there are any gents out there who have already been through a similar experience and if so, if you have any advice or pearls of wisdom to pass onto me?

Many thanks.

  • I have just realised that I asked any "gents" affected by Prostate Cancer for their thoughts.

    I didn't intend to be sexist or exclude ladies from having their say too, as I realise that the journey into the unknown that I am about to take will also affect my wife as well as family members - male & female alike.

    I suppose I just feel the need to ask if anyone who has been involved in this type of cancer has any supportive comments to inform or inspire me?

    Cheers.

  • Hi,

    I am a 70 year old who 5 years ago was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Like you it was a bolt out of the blue and I had none of the usual symptoms. My psa was 70 and the gleason of 3+3= 6. Luckily the cancer was still contained within the prostate. I was put on hormone therapy (zoladex) and when I started my 37 radiotherapy treatments it had come down to 3.18. After the r/t had finished a few weeks after my psa dropped  even lower to 0.01, the lowest they can measure. Which was a tremendous result. I still have a few side effects as a main result of the hormone treatment but these are a small price to pay for something that has almost definitely saved my life.

    I received great service from start to finish and cant fault the N.H.S. If there are any questions you have, I will try me best to answer them.

    Take care, Brian.

  • Hi Brian,

    Thanks for taking the trouble to comment and let me know your personal experiences.

    Was surgery to remove the prostate not an option for you (maybe for health reasons?), or did you decide against surgery yourself?

    Wal

  • Hi,

    As my psa was so high, I was told surgery was not an option, but it all turned out very well.

    Take care, Brian.

  • Hi again Brian,

    I see that you chatted to GingerS earlier this year on this website and she and her husband were trying to decide which option to take for his Prostate Cancer.

    Did you ever hear what happened?

    Wal

  • Hi,

    No I never heard anymore as far as I can recall.

    Regards, Brian

  • Hi prostate@58, welcome to the forum, I joined when we discovered my father in law had aggressive prostate cancer, unfortunately for him it had spread to the bone & lymph nodes.  He has been recieving hormone therapy since April'14 his PSA was always low hence this is that why the GP never referred him for a biospy, it was 8, then when the hormone injections started it fell to 5.5 but rise again 6 weeks ago to 7.9. Thankfully having got his PSA results yesterday they'd came down to 3.75.  The worrying never ends, this site is a great comfort to us as we can come on and hear other people experiences.  We wish you well and stay in touch.

    Lisa

  • Hi Lisa,

    Thanks for your story and for your words of comfort.

    I am pleased to hear that your father-in-law's PSA level has dropped down and I hope it remains so - forever.

    I have just heard that the medical team are meeting at 4 pm next Monday, 1st Sep 14, to discuss all of my results including my PSA level of 7.4, my Gleason result of 4:4 (total of 8) the MRI & Bone Scan and they can then formulate a plan for the way ahead and they will then arrange a meeting with me to discuss things further.

    The medical team consists of the Radiologist, the Clinical Oncologist and the Surgeon, so that will presumably cover all options that will be available - dependant on how the nasty little critter turns out to be.

    So I am off for a long weekend in the caravan to try and relax and clear my mind and I will then come back with a new sense of purpose and go to speak to the medical team and get the next stage of the process started.

    I will post updates on here as and when I know more.

    Wal

  • Hi Wal .I had prostate cancer 7 years ago after two opeations and the emunotherapy twice what had started as a group of tumours on the wall of the bladder they took me back into theatre

    for a third time and removed the protate and all that was with it including the bladder .That was in wythenshawe the team that look after me are the best, fantastic  I go for a wash out on Monday next week  as a day job but it is about 2 hours

    on a bed while the nurse works on me .I have a pouch and get on with it my Dog takes me for good walks I eat well  ,just had my 81st birthday .

    regards george .[[ ]]

  • Hi

    Where do you start???

    I am 59, diagnosed at 57.   One of the biggest puzzles I faced was the signifiance of  Gleason versus PSA In my case I had PSA of 35 (less than yours) and Gleason of 9 ( higher than yours).  The question I asked was "which is worse?"  It all seems a msytery and I can really only suggest that you talk honestly to your Oncologist about this, and keep talking to him/her and the support team.  It seems to be such an individual matter and please do not just "rely" upon figures and scores.  There are so many variables, and the danger is that you spend too much time reading the info and not enough time speaking with the lovely people who are there to support you.

    Whatever, though, PLEASE PLEASE do not lose your upbeat and positive attitude.  This will help SO much in the time to come.  Whatever the treatment regime, whether it be hormone, radiothereapy, Chemo or whatever, just keep smiling.  I am on chemo and my view is that all the various side effects mean that it is working, so keep positive.

    I wish you every best wish and luck for the future

    Overwhelmed (John)