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diagnosed today plus other conditions

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User

Posted 07 Jul 2016 at 20:38

Hi to all

Diagnosed today with cancer-- still feel pretty numb

I already live with type 1 diabetes for the last 43 years and a recent diagnosis of hypothyroid and grade C oesophagitis ( 20 months ago )

i am pretty much feeling like my body has given up the ghost with this latest setback

(normally i am pretty upbeat )

trying to focus on the positive but finding it hard.

hmmmnnn -- just been told my subject is not unique or different enough to be recognised as a topic

is this a real support forum ??????????

User

Posted 07 Jul 2016 at 21:15

Hi himtoo, yes it is a real forum but whatever title you first chose for your thread had probably been used before, that's all.

Sorry that you have been diagnosed with cancer on top of your other medical conditions. If you can give us some more information about the diagnosis and what treatment options you might have been offered, that will help us to help you. Helpful information includes:
- your PSA
- your Gleason (this is only given if you have had a biopsy - it is a number made up of two other numbers and indicates how distorted your cells are. Gleason is anything from 6 to 10 and is usually given as G6 (3+3) or G8 (5+3) or similar
- your staging (you might not have this yet, depending on whether you have had scans as well as biopsy - written as a T number ... T1, T2, T3 or T4 and sometimes a letter such as T2a or T2c)

Also, you might find it really helpful to order the toolkit - call the number at the top of the page

My husband is just a little bit younger than you - he was diagnosed 7 years ago and was pretty p****d off with his body too!

Edited by member 07 Jul 2016 at 21:17 | Reason: Not specified

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 08 Jul 2016 at 07:57

hi from me too
we are real folk who will do our best to help and support, we are not trying to be nosey re your diagnosis but it helps us understand as their will prob be someone with the same diagnosis on here, but I doubt they will be coping with your other issues

this site has helped me and lots of others so please stick with us

regards
nidge

run long and prosper
'pooh how do you spell love'
'piglet you dont spell love -you just feel it'

User

Posted 08 Jul 2016 at 09:14

Hi and thanks for both your replies.

I was only told yesterday -- and to be honest i was so stunned i couldn't think of anything to ask ( my wife did all the talking )

the consultant said it was tiny and confined to the left side. he said it was a pussycat not a tiger.

I did not get told a gleason score, but my wife phoned the hospital when we got home and we are awaiting a call back - hopefully today.

I was told I will get an appt to have an MRI scan in the next 2-3 weeks and will then have a follow up with consultant a week after that

to discuss options.

he outlined , that in his opinion , it would most likely be a plate biopsy next depending on the results of the MRI scan , but until we see the results he could not comment further or be more specific.

User

Posted 08 Jul 2016 at 09:16

sorry --- PSA was 3.9 and had a first biopsy on the 8th of june

Edited by member 08 Jul 2016 at 09:17 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 09 Jul 2016 at 15:46

Hi All

I now have some further numbers after the nurse rang me back today.

PSA 3.9

Gleason score 3+3 = 6

number of core samples taken 10 5 each side

number of biopsy samples affected- less than 2% of aggregated volume and less than 1% of length

( I could have that length and volume percentages back to front )

User

Posted 09 Jul 2016 at 23:49

perhaps a bit more about myself

type 1 diabetic for 43 years , grade C oesophagitis , hiatus hernia and am hypothyroid ,have frozen shoulder,

and have had 5 operations on fingers for duypetrans contracture.

married , no kids , lovely wife -- i am fortunate to be retired since i was 56 ( 58 now )

I am used to bad news if that makes sense -- so the first day was a total shock but I have now been able to process all the info and the c has joined my other conditions as something to be managed ( and not manage me)

i would be happy to help by posting to other people if it is wanted.

( and i can figure out how )

all the best -- himtooWC

Edited by member 09 Jul 2016 at 23:52 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 10 Jul 2016 at 06:11

Hi Himtoo,

Welcome from me to this site. I am a similar age to you and also retired early.
I'm now just over 2 years from diagnosis having had RT and am still ongoing 36 months of HT. In fact I requested a follow up Psa test in 2014 when I saw my GP about duypetrans contracture too. Not a nice condition to suffer from! I was referred to a specialist for my hands ,being offered operations on both hands with the dates set up, when the diagnosis of PCa was confirmed. I decided to concentrate on the cancer issue as a priority and will continue with the hands issue at a later date. I had steroid injections as an interim measure.

I hope that your PCa travels go well for you but you know that we are here to help you at any stage.

Regards ,

John

User

Posted 10 Jul 2016 at 09:10

Belated welcome from me too himtoo!
Been on holiday so just catching up with posts

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails

User

Posted 28 Jul 2016 at 21:27

hi all

had my results of my MRI today

consultant says it is appears contained and tiny.

he now wants to do a template biopsy which he says will give a 100% result as to size , type , and spread.

he says if this result follows the previous he will recommend an "active watch and wait".

I will of course be able to choose surgery should I wish..

that is where i am up to as of today.

thanks for reading.

User

Posted 29 Jul 2016 at 01:19

Hello himtooWC,

you have had a journey - from "numb" to "watch and wait"

I am sure the forum appreciates the updates to date, and will appreciate those in the future. Hopefully the support you had was helpful.

Pierre

User

Posted 29 Jul 2016 at 08:25

Glad you had positive news at last.

Watch and wait I think is slightly different from Active Surveillance and would seem to be the safest option for you given your other problems.

Thank you for keeping in touch and letting us know.

All the best

Sandra

********

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails

User

Posted 29 Jul 2016 at 08:49

yep good news for you, the consultant seems to be giving good advice, but it is still your decision on what to do

regards
nidge

run long and prosper
'pooh how do you spell love'
'piglet you dont spell love -you just feel it'

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