Wating on biopsy results

User

Posted 03 Feb 2016 at 20:17

Hi, new to the group but I don't know yet if I have prostate cancer til the 16th but it's quite likely. All started just before xmas went to the doctors with slight lower abdominal pain and large amounts of rectal bleeding. Got referred to specialist who did finger exam and found I had a nodule on left side of prostate gland. They did a colonoscopy with biopsies and this came back clear but was referred to urologist. Saw him on the 20/01/16 and he confirmed abnormality on left side of prostate gland with finger exam. Had MRI 26/01/16 and transrectal biopsy on 01/02/16. The doctor performing the biopsy said the MRI showed abnormalitys on both sides and 12 samples were taken altogther from both sides and this is were I'm upto at the moment. My PSA is low at 1.1 but they are not sure if this is a reliable indication in my case as I have more or less no glandular function in my body as my pitutary gland was removed over 20years ago due to tumours so it's an added complication. My gland function is synthesised with various meds including hydrocortisone, thyroxine, desmopressin & testosterone injections which maybe the root cause of it all? So if it is PC then I won't need blocker meds as don't produce testosterone anyways. Trouble is I've been without the testosterone before and it makes you feel like crap, so tired & sore all the time. Do you get this with the blocker meds? So question is is anyone else on here who's had pitituatry surgery with prostate cancer? Would like to hear from them to see what happened to them too. Just have to wait till the 16th now. have to say though quite impressed with NHS on this one as everthing is happening very quickly. I'm in Clacton, Essex, UK and Hospital has been Colchester General.

User

Posted 04 Feb 2016 at 05:27

hi andyp
hello from me, cant answer any of your questions as a lot of the above I have not read about on this site, but as per normal someone will no doubt pop along with advice

regards
nidge

run long and prosper

'pooh how do you spell love'

'piglet you dont spell love -you just feel it'

User

Posted 04 Feb 2016 at 08:03

Hello Andy
After a long period of gradual health decline I was diagnosed with pituitary malfunction. I had a very small nodule on it but they decided it wasn't a tumour. I required testosterone replacement therapy as no LH or FSH being produced , and thyroid replacement therapy as no TSH being produced. Cortisol was ok and nearly had growth hormone stress test but decided to be too dangerous. Unfortunately at the same time I was having an extremely depressive bipolar event , had had a vasectomy etc , so my body was terrible all told.
After nearly 2 yrs on testosterone therapy the prostate cancer was diagnosed. In my opinion I was neglected. No DRE at start of treatment and I've since found my PSA was 4 then 6 then 4 during treatment , but they ignored this. When they did find my cancer it was a tiger with PSA at 15 and rapidly climbing to 43. They couldn't really find it with 3 scans and 3 biopsies but when operated I was already Gleason 9 T4 with 5 lymph involvements and bladder involvement.
People like Lyn and Mo and Man With are far more knowledgeable than me but there is presently a lot of debate trying to square up to the theories of testosterone helping PCa and its effect on PCA. In fact even though my PSA was rising I was not taken off replacement therapy immediately.
Apparently TRT won't cause cancer but can exacerbate and accelerate an unidentified prostate cancer. Prostate cancer patients have therapy ( I'm on it ) to totally reduce T levels. I like you said my pituitary wasn't working but they bunged me on HT anyway to be sure. HT is mainly reserved for patients whose cancer has left the capsule and worse. The new thinking is that T helps protect the prostate with an internal cancer ( don't quote me ). Also cancer eventually grows and moves on and becomes terminal whether you are on hormones to reduce T levels or not , so the effect of T on cancer cells is still not 100% certain. I'm sure someone else may help.
Interestingly during all my scans they found 2 growths on one of my adrenal glands so that is now under investigation also. Yes I'd just started feeling much much better on TRT but with hormones to reduce T the feelings are very much similar some hormone therapies being worse than others.
Very best wishes on your results 16th and please stay in touch. I know this has turned into a waffle but I hope it has been of some help
Chris

User

Posted 04 Feb 2016 at 09:28

Welcome to the site andyp and good luck with your results

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

User

Posted 04 Feb 2016 at 16:50

A pituatry condition certainly complicates things as far as tests are concerned. I'm not too nervous about the results but the Mrs is worried. Will have to take each piece of news at it comes.

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