Prostate warning , for those I have not reached yet.

[lanemaux]

For those of you who have read my warnings before , sorry , but I think it important enough to bear repeating.
Very near Halloween of 2012 I got the news that I was stage 4 with metastasis (my cancer was opening branch offices). What brought me to the hospital was complete urinary shutdown and pronounced bodily swelling. There had been, far earlier , other symptoms , but those were dismissed as I guess I'm just getting old or That is to be expected at my age . My pride and fear combined to keep me from getting 2 simple tests done . Tests that I should have had , symptoms or not. DO NOT MAKE MY MISTAKE! When you get to that certain age , let's say late forties early fifties , swallow your pride ,face your fears and get the tests. Treatment in the early stages is far more likely to be effective .
I have been very fortunate in my treatment (I'm still here and fighting) others I've known have been less so. Even so , there have been consequences. Where I was once considered very strong , now my wind and strength are very much compromised. My bones have become very weak and brittle ( according to a bone scan I very recently broke my back lifting a T-shirt press ,fortunately not seriously). Partly these were due to medication side affect , the rest attributed to the cancers spread. So let's all try to avoid my stupidity shall we , it is after all just 2 simple tests. One blood draw and one brief bend over the table. It could save your life after all.

 

[Rorschach]

I am very glad that you did catch it in time. Can I ask what those early warning symptoms were?

 

[finneyb]

Symptoms http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-c ... r/symptoms

Brian

 

[lanemaux]

In my case Rorschach , Difficulty urinating , frequent need to urinate and persistent weight loss and general weakness. It wasn't 'til I swelled like a party balloon that I got to checking my health issues. That led to my getting fitted with a catheter and a baggie to which I remained attached for over 6 months, not recommended, trust me.

 

[gwaithcoed]

I agree all men should get tested when the early prostate signs appear. I left mine a little late and the cancer had spread from my prostate to the surrounding tissue but fortunately not into my bones.
This resulted that I had to have 37 sessions of radio therapy, and in my case our hospital was 60 miles away.
I am pleased to say that now my PSA is down from 26 to 0.1. I have to have injections every 3 months and have not got to see the specialist for 12 months.
SO GET TESTED.

Alan.

 

[graduate_owner]

I have had the digital anal examination which didn't give any indication of nasty issues. However I find when urinating that, while I get a decent flow, the flow stops after a while then I have to 'push' to completely empty my bladder. I have to push out the last amount perhaps 4 or 5 squirts. I can't remember what things were like when younger, but I think this has been the state of affairs for perhaps 7-8 years.
Is this a familiar issue to members in their 60's?


K

 

[sunnybob]

yup.

 

[sawdust1]

Just had my blood test back and all clear, had cholesterol and liver done at same time all clear.
Never had an internal but now at 58 i do have a blood test every other year.
For graduate owner what you describe is the same for me so i hope its normal.
Second day on Beta blockers for a heart condition, they said they would make me tired and lacking
energy, at the moment its the opposite as i'm buzzing so hoping it won't change as time goes on.

 

[Selwyn]

Good point. I've just turned 40 but I've had an issue with urination that has been creeping up on me gradually. No power in it when I pee, a feeling of being quite full down there all the time and needing to go more frequently. Also very compacted bowels which could be something different anyway. Hopefully its just an inflammation as there are erectile or blood issues but this has spurred me on to getting it checked asap.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

When I had the second leg off they came around afterwards to review my prescription drugs. When they got to Tamsulosin I asked what it for, it was new. Oh, says the doc, it's for your enlarged prostate. I must have shot her a glare and she said oh .....sorry ...........no one told you? Nnnooo ....... :? I was told it's par for the course for my age - 63 - and not to worry about it. I don't know what they found out, but there's been no follow up by my GP or consultant so I presume they're happy with it. At least I'm only on seventeen pills a day now - down from forty three at max.

 

[bugbear]

. I have to push out the last amount perhaps 4 or 5 squirts. I can't remember what things were like when younger, but I think this has been the state of affairs for perhaps 7-8 years.
Is this a familiar issue to members in their 60's?

K

(Our American visitors should look away now )
If you have any genuine concern at all, don't ask on a forum; Go to your GP and ask him/her. It's free!

BugBear

 

[graduate_owner]

You are quite right Bugbear, and indeed I have had a finger test ( twice) with no concerns raised. I was wondering though just how common this urination thingy is ( sorry for the technical language).
My brother had an issue with urinating a few years ago. He would need to go very soon after drinking, but never seemed to do much, and of course, wouldn't go to the doctor. Eventually he sought medical advice because he was in pain. Lucky he did because apart from an enlarged prostate he also had bladder cancer. Seems to have been 'sorted' now, 6 monthly check ups. Fortunately my 'symptoms' are nothing like his were.

K

 

[finneyb]

. I have to push out the last amount perhaps 4 or 5 squirts. I can't remember what things were like when younger, but I think this has been the state of affairs for perhaps 7-8 years.
Is this a familiar issue to members in their 60's?

K

(Our American visitors should look away now )
If you have any genuine concern at all, don't ask on a forum; Go to your GP and ask him/her. It's free!

BugBear

Like hell its free - £ 2,000 pa per person if you divide the budget by the population .
But I wouldn't have it any other way - free (well largely) at the point of need.

Brian

 

[Peter Sefton]

Thanks for sharing your experience and giving us the heads up, we all need to be vigilant.

Cheers Peter

 

[Weaversdad]

I went to my GP after I'd been ignoring the fact I was having to get out of bed to pee 3 or 4 times a night and during working hrs every 20 - 30 mins. Got referred to the urology department who started all sorts of tests and put me on the Tamulosin / Combidart therapy. I've had more invasive tests than I care to remember and had some very nasty side effects.
I had TURP surgery earlier this year and now I'm fully recovered......I'm only 46.

Go get yourself tested if your having any trouble no matter what your age is !!!

Pete

 

[Farmer Giles]

I pee like the co-op horse at the moment, different reason though. Since having my pituitary tumour removed 12 weeks ago, some of the functions I took for granted are impaired. Most functions have come back but one that is intermittent is the chemical signal from the pituitary to the kidneys to modulate urine production. When the signal does stop then the kidneys go into overdrive and I end up peeing constantly while drinking like Oliver Reed. I then take a quick snort of a drug that is a synthetic analogue of the natural one and it sorts itself out.

My pa had an enlarged prostate and wouldn't have surgery, it caused him much grief but he didn't like hospitals and we couldn't convince him.

On one occasion he was dying to pee but couldn't so headed off for the bus into town that passes the A&E. He was in agony but he was 10 minutes too early to use his free bus pass. The bus driver was too miserable to let him on without paying and my dad too stubborn to pay so he waited half an hour for the next bus in absolute agony. There were loads of similar stories, if it happens to me I will defo have the op.

 

[Harbo]

Don’t forget to see your GP if you see blood in your stools and take part in the stool smear test if sent the package. Bowel Cancer can be spotted this way.

Rod

 

[graduate_owner]

Slightly off topic, but are people aware of the abdominal aorta aneurysm test? I was invited to go for this test as I'm over 60. It is totally painless, a sort of scan like they give to pregnant women. The thing is, if you have an enlarged abdominal aorta then it could burst, and apparently the chances of survival even if you get to hospital immediately are slim.
It's a one off test, no need for regular re-testing.

K

 

[finneyb]

Slightly off topic, but are people aware of the abdominal aorta aneurysm test? I was invited to go for this test as I'm over 60. It is totally painless, a sort of scan like they give to pregnant women. The thing is, if you have an enlarged abdominal aorta then it could burst, and apparently the chances of survival even if you get to hospital immediately are slim.
It's a one off test, no need for regular re-testing.

K

The only screening I have had - not a fan of screening it's not black & white or as accurate as one is lead to believe.
If you do go for AAA don't eat before hand - my invite didn't say don't eat. When screened I was told can't see anything due to bowel gas - have you eaten? At 2.30pm surprisingly I had . And they want more money when they can't get the basics right?

Had to waste my time going again.

Brian

 

[Flynnwood]

This video popped up on my BBC newsfeed today. 2 mins 52 secs:

Mechanic who helped 48 men get diagnosed with prostate cancer- BBC Stories

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD3ds5nqWOc