Fear and Tears !

I know how you feel, my mind was working overtime during the 4 months it took my husband to get a diagnosis. It's extremely difficult to not catastrophize when you don't know what you are dealing with. Hopefully your partner won't have cancer, the consultant's aren't always right. I would think it depends where your hospital is as to what tests they do. My husband only got an mri first then a template biopsy after asking. Had he not he would have just probably had the transrectal biopsy which may or may not have picked up the cancer. To put your mind at rest could you not ask one of the specialist nurses at the hospital the reason for the bone scan? It may be just their protocol there.

Best wishes and good luck.

Hi,

I have just read your post. There might be more information by now. Lyn is probably right but that means they are checking everything so they can offer the best treatment. Don't focus too much on the PSA too much, it is an indicator, some men have high levels of PSA whilst others have low levels. Get in touch with the Prostate Cancer U Specialist Nurse today if you have not already done so and get the excellent literature, it was the best step I made, they got my head sorted in the first phone call. Don't be afraid to ask the Consultants and Doctors questions - remember the only dumb question is the one that's not asked. Make notes and if you don't understand what they are saying ask them to explain it again. It's not easy but try to focus on the positives, remember more men die with prostate cancer than die from it.

All my best wishes and please post any questions you may have. I only know my experiences - I am not an expert, trust the professionals but do ask questions.

NormanA

Slightly lower PSA than mine over ten years ago but same Gleason score. You should appreciate that your husband has a chronic incurable condition, as present medical knowledge suggests. You will probably find that zoladex if similar will be offered, possibly radiation therapy and hopefully chemotherapy too at an early date. You will need to prepare for the possible side effects of these treatments, which will have a marked effect on your relationship. I hope the bone scan is clear but with those numbers, it is likely that the PCa has escaped the prostate capsule. Spread to elsewhere in the body is possible at some future date, if it hasn't occurred already. Take assurance from the fact of my and others' survival with similar numbers, that your husband does not have a death sentence and will be able to live a long and fulfilling life despite the PCa.

Your questions should be designed to understand the treatment plan. I doubt if there will be options available, for example involving surgery, for this would probably be ineffective. Take notes, reflect on what you've been told and ask the oncologist or the oncology nurse anything you are unsure about before you leave the hospital. If you are still unsure, ask us on here. We've been down this road before! Lots of us can help with practical advice.

Good Luck

AC

Once again there was some upset in that our local hospital staff had mislead us with incorrect information that created unecessary worry. However, we don't have the energy to focus on that.

Plan of action is hormone treatment for now then brachytherapy and radiotherapy in March. We are calm, we slept, we feel full of hope, we have made some plans, life has regained a sense of normality. We aren't in denial ... we are in the NOW and that is ok until it isn't and I expect a lot of you know exactly how that feels !