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User
Posted 10 Mar 2016 at 22:50

My name is John. I am 67 years old and I was diagnosed with prostrate cancer on 15th Feb 2016. My PSA is 6.4, I have a Gleason score of 7 and my cancer is at stage T2. I've been told from the 12 samples taken, some of them are aggressive so I can't just wait and watch. my options are surgery (prostatectomy) external beam radio radiotherapy and brachytherapy. After doing all the research and discussing it with the surgeon, who advised surgery was the better option for me, I decided to go for surgery. I have been advised the wait will be 4-5 weeks.

If anyone is interested here is my story. About three and a half years ago I had a severe water infection. It took two courses of antibiotics to shift it. my doctor was concerned and got the practice nurse to do an ultra sound on my bladder and kidneys. she also did a PSA test. The Ultra sound showed an abnormality near my left kidney. I also had a PSA of 9.6. I was referred to a Urologist. Over the next couple of years I had another ultrasound, a CAT scan an internal examination of my bladder. I also had regular PSA tests, which were fluctuating up and down averaging about 6. What they found was a cyst in the tube from my kidney, which they thought was a growth, but during the internal bladder examination they found my prostrate was firm. About 9 months ago I was asked if I wanted a biopsy, no advice from the doctor just a choice. I chose to wait, In hindsight a bad choice. 6 months ago my PSA was up again to 6.4. the specialist nurse I saw was really helpful and I went for a biopsy and MRI. Had I not had a water infection, which I found out later was e-coli, I would not have had a PSA and been diagnosed with cancer. The e-coli was probably from handling fresh manure on my allotment ! Got my appointment for surgery this week, it's 30th March 0nly 3 weeks away.

John - I have a strategy, Cancer you are not in it
User
Posted 11 Mar 2016 at 13:40
JGS

Like alot of us on here I went to my doctor with a symptom that was nothing to do with prostate problems and finished up with a cancer diagnosis. I went with a pain in the shoulder which then led to DX of PCa.

I had a delay of three years from a raised PSA level to my op,my stats are similar to yours just a few years your junior. Two months post op life was almost back to normal.

Thanks Chris

User
Posted 11 Mar 2016 at 16:38
Hi John,

Sorry your joining in here. Although I am a little younger than you I had similar clinical results. The interesting thing is that the day of your surgery marks the first anniversary of my op. Please check out my progress on my profile. Hope all goes as smoothly for you as it did for me.

Paul

THE CHILD HAS GROWN, THE DREAM HAS GONE
User
Posted 11 Mar 2016 at 20:09

Hi John, welcome to the site that no one wants to be on but out of necessity it is the best place to be to get answers.

Like you I am 67 this year and was diagnosed Feb last year with PSA 63, Gleason 7 and T2 staging and aggressive cancer confined to the prostate but unfortunately was not offered a prostatectomy as my prostate is too,close to my rectum wall.

My treatment has been Hormone therapy (HT) followed by Radio therapy(RT) and feel happy with the way things have gone and presently my PSA is down to 0.01 and officially undetectable. I say this to you as to me I feel that if I had been offered a RP I would probably have still gone down my treatment route as I am confident that the side effects from a RP are something that I would not have tolerated.

There are many on here that have had the RP and are happy with their decision and equally there are those that wish they had not had one. Basically what I am saying is that the decision is yours and yours alone to be weighed up after reviewing all the facts.

I hope the op goes well for you on the 30th and wish you well.

Regards Chris/Woody

Life seems different upside down, take another viewpoint

 
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