All the best to you mate, I can appreciate how worried you are. Medical science is mind blowing these days and the success of procedures for things such as prostate cancer are really positive
All the best with the treatment to come Derek. It's a long road ahead but as others have said treatment and management of this type of cancer is coming on in leaps and bounds.
It's never easy when a diagnosis is first given - there is so much information to absorb.
Coming to terms with it may be a gradual process or may just happen overnight....much depends on your attitude and the trust you put in your Consultant.
When Mr F was diagnosed, he accepted the fact and seemed to make up his mind that he'd deal with it, as he had with his melanoma over 20 years previously.
There were options for his treatment & I remember discussing them with the Consultant and asking which HE would take in the same circumstances. He didn't hesitate in opting for a prostatectomy as the cancer was diagnosed early and was contained , so this was the chosen method.
Of course, everyone is different but I'm certain that your main man, or woman, will ensure that you are fully aware of what choices you have. I'd advise going away from the appointment, read all the literature you're given and note down all the questions that come to mind in readiness for your follow up.
And I'm guessing you'll be allocated a Mcmillan nurse at the hospital who will see you to help with any problems or concerns you may have during the whole process and who will be at the end of the phone if need be. We found this to be a huge support between main appointments.
PLEASE let us know how how you get on and be assured, there are plenty of fellow Lifers available on here who have had their own experience of this issue & who will give you their support and, if needed, their advice.
Back from Hospital,not good Doctor thinks it is prostate cancer and probably spread to the bones. I have a month of taken hormone tablets to try to arrest the spread.P.S.A is 1200 NOT GOOD. The
highest is about 25,000.
Keeping strong and positive is absolutely crucial if you want to keep this pestilent disease under any sort of control. You've got it, get used to it, don't let the cancer rule your life. Worrying and fretting will do you and your family no good whatsoever. I speak as a cancer 'survivor' with an ongoing cancer 'issue' The very best of luck and as has been said above, keep us informed. You KNOW that everyone on this site is on your side
You are all so kind with your good wishes,thank you. Living on my own makes things worse one tends to let the imagination run riot. I do not know how the Doctor came to the conclusion,
if it was the P.S.A being so high 112, or if he could feel a growth on the prostate.
You are all so kind with your good wishes,thank you. Living on my own makes things worse one tends to let the imagination run riot. I do not know how the Doctor came to the conclusion,
if it was the P.S.A being so high 112, or if he could feel a growth on the prostate.
ask for a letter of explanation .. the NHS is a superb service, BUT remember they work for you .. you write 'the doctor thinks it's probably cancer' .. you need to know how and why he came to his conclusions. Take the medication scrupulously and as Fanny says, get in touch with MacMillan, you live alone and need a friendly professional 'friend' .. The Mac support service number is 0808 808 00 00 .. the call is free .. MacMillan is a superb organisation
Back from Hospital,not good Doctor thinks it is prostate cancer and probably spread to the bones. I have a month of taken hormone tablets to try to arrest the spread.P.S.A is 1200 NOT GOOD. The
highest is about 25,000.
Sorry to hear that Derek (only just read that),stay strong mate and keep in touch with this thread/CL....some really good advice and support from fellow Lifers.
Thanks Hastingssaddick. It was last Friday whhen I heard the new something I never expected. I am now wainting for appointment date to have bone scan to see if it has spread. Should be
sometime next week. I have now taken a week of Hormone tablets, so hopefully they have started to slow any cancer down. Very worrying time. Thanks to every one for you moral support.
Thanks Hastingssaddick. It was last Friday whhen I heard the new something I never expected. I am now wainting for appointment date to have bone scan to see if it has spread. Should be
sometime next week. I have now taken a week of Hormone tablets, so hopefully they have started to slow any cancer down. Very worrying time. Thanks to every one for you moral support.
I know you said you live alone but i hope you have got friends nearby to chat it through with. Only another week to wait and then you can see whats what and get on with what is needed to be done. Best of luck.
I have very good friends a man who I have know since 1959 and his wife since the early seventies. They have been very good in transporting me to the Hospital. I do drive but they have been
kind enough to take me. I also have a cousin who has had prostate problems but they were not cancerous.
Hello Derek, sorry to hear about the news you had. It is the worse time and you will feel more able to come to terms with whatever the actual position is when there is a clear diagnosis and a treatment plan in place for you.
The website Prostrate Cancer UK was an invaluable source of information for me and I would highly recommend downloading their Toolkit which describes things in simple and easy to understand ways. There is also a Members blog where you will find support from others who have been on your journey. This and the Macmillan nurse means you need not go through this alone. My best wishes and do let us all know how you get on. Steve
Hi Derek, my psa was 35 (very high) over a year ago, but radiotheraphy and hormones have cured it completely , so good luck , its not that bad mate chin up
clivey_hero. Thank You for your good luck. How did the Radiotheraphy affect you, I know it can upset some people. I am on Hormone tablets so hopfully thats a start to recovery.
To update you kind people who have been so supportive. Back fro Hospital after Bone Scan did not take as long as I thought it would. They said I will get the results 7-10 days so fingers crossed.
Thank you all once again for you concern. I had a phone call from the Hospital(Medyay) to ask if I could go this morning for another scan. I have been and back now. They done a more
concentrated scan on chest aera also a C.T scan. So a seven to ten day wait. I did ask the scaning nurses but they never reveal anything.
Comments
please do keep us informed, the more men talk about issues like this the more likely they are to pick up any issues they may have.
As above,medicine is fantastic these days
Keep us as informed as you feel comfortable with.
It's never easy when a diagnosis is first given - there is so much information to absorb.
Coming to terms with it may be a gradual process or may just happen overnight....much depends on your attitude and the trust you put in your Consultant.
When Mr F was diagnosed, he accepted the fact and seemed to make up his mind that he'd deal with it, as he had with his melanoma over 20 years previously.
There were options for his treatment & I remember discussing them with the Consultant and asking which HE would take in the same circumstances. He didn't hesitate in opting for a prostatectomy as the cancer was diagnosed early and was contained , so this was the chosen method.
Of course, everyone is different but I'm certain that your main man, or woman, will ensure that you are fully aware of what choices you have. I'd advise going away from the appointment, read all the literature you're given and note down all the questions that come to mind in readiness for your follow up.
And I'm guessing you'll be allocated a Mcmillan nurse at the hospital who will see you to help with any problems or concerns you may have during the whole process and who will be at the end of the phone if need be. We found this to be a huge support between main appointments.
PLEASE let us know how how you get on and be assured, there are plenty of fellow Lifers available on here who have had their own experience of this issue & who will give you their support and, if needed, their advice.
Take care & stay strong.
The very best of luck and as has been said above, keep us informed. You KNOW that everyone on this site is on your side
Take the medication scrupulously and as Fanny says, get in touch with MacMillan, you live alone and need a friendly professional 'friend' .. The Mac support service number is 0808 808 00 00 .. the call is free .. MacMillan is a superb organisation
The website Prostrate Cancer UK was an invaluable source of information for me and I would highly recommend downloading their Toolkit which describes things in simple and easy to understand ways. There is also a Members blog where you will find support from others who have been on your journey. This and the Macmillan nurse means you need not go through this alone. My best wishes and do let us all know how you get on. Steve
Hi Derek, my psa was 35 (very high) over a year ago, but radiotheraphy and hormones have cured it completely , so good luck , its not that bad mate chin up