Treatment decided

Good luck for the 8th Walter. Hope all goes well for you.

My niece has had two lots of skin cancer dealt with. My husband has had (so far this year) his chest and his face seen to and goes next week for a skin cancer to be cut out of his arm. He hasn't had any trouble so far, although his face did look grim while he was being treated but apart from being slightly pinker in places you'd never know.

I've got a dermatology appointment next week because according to my GP there is a possibility that there is skin cancer under my toenail on my big toe ! Never knew that was possible.

It's the word "cancer" isn't it, especially when it is in a young person. Fingers crossed for your daughter that it is just a precaution and nothing needs doing.

******

You may not feel like it, however very fortunate re. The Lions... early discovery gives you excellent long term success. Incidentally my gut feel when you first posted I wasnt expecting a pca dx at all. All the very best to you and your daughter. Gordon

Walter, I was 46 when I had surgery. For me, I was zero PSA afterwards for 18months. Unfortunately, some rogue cells slipped the net and it crept up and up. I'm still here six years later. However, I truly believe that you are doing the best for yourself and one thing I will say is forget Google. This disease is so random and individual. No two men are ever the same even with the same ages and stats. All outcomes will differ.

So sorry to hear about your daughter. Please focus on her. It will help you blot out your own concerns about yourself and of course allow you more time to be more supportive to her. Hopefully, everything will be benign.

Wishing you and your family well brother.

See you on the other side of the surgeon's table with plenty of advice.

Bazza
(Barry)

This all started with a random blood test at the Lions Club. I still have no symptoms, so goodness knows how long it would have taken to discover the cancer and by then it may well have been too late.

I'll keep you all posted on my progress and that of my daughter.

Walter

Hi Walter

You thank the Lions and I'm thanking a tooth abscess. I finally had the tooth extracted today - ouch. Fortunately the abscess made me feel so unwell that I had a full blood test (they didn't know about the abscess at the time) and it returned with a PSA of 72 and that fast-tracked me resulting in the PCa diagnosis. However I tested again last week and my PSA is now 3.4, which returns as normal. So even though I have regular PSA tests, the cancer could have developed more aggressively between tests, undetected unless the infection spiked the PSA. Moral of that story is you just can't tell - no symptoms doesn't mean no cancer.

I have also met the surgeon and urologist over the last week and yesterday I attended an afternoon session at the hospital with other men booked for and considering the RALP. I have decided on the operation but I'm delaying until after a holiday in February. Good luck on the 9th.

Sorry about your daughter but it's good that they have picked it up early at the surgery - from my experience surgeries are not very good at identifying and referring potential skin cancers. I have had to lie to get a referral - top tip is to say that it bleeds and crusts. I have had over 30 years of "removals" - basal & squamous cell carcinomas, fortunately no melanoma  - and of course treatment for actinic keratosis. Once you have been through it, you pay more attention to sun block, and early identification of other potential problem areas. I'm sure it looks quite positive for your daughter with her age - so don't fret too much.Best wishes

Chris

Hi Walter,

I hope you got on ok today.

Take care

Mark