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Abnormal DRE - 2WW Appt

User
Posted 13 Aug 2018 at 20:32

Hi All - I am a new member and would not normally do things like this - but I need to talk. 

My story is at very early stages and that in itself is part of the problem, looking through this community, reading stories from those much further down the road than me makes me feel like a fraud - believing people think "What is all the fuss about?" but I am really struggling with my situation and think I just need a bit of a "slap round the face" to stop myself worrying unnecessarily!

About 6 weeks ago I found blood in my semen - that in itself was a huge shock. The panic set in - obviously thinking the worst and immediately fast forwarding to cancer. My wife, also being shocked but staying calm insisted I attend the doctors. Being very naïve of the detail of Prostate Cancer, and being easily satisfied, the doctor insisted it was nothing to worry about and we would complete a precautionary blood test to rule out cancer. I went along, not asking any questions - not even knowing it was a PSA test I was having. Anyway the test came back normal - again due to my ignorance and trusting nature when confirmed as normal I did not ask the exact score so unfortunately I do not have that detail. And I did not ask anymore - believing I had nothing to worry about. I have since learnt about the fact PSA tests can be dubious and possibly misleading.

The blood remained. So I revisited the GP and as I believe is the same for most of us, I saw a completely different doctor. Thankfully he listened to my concerns and asked me several other questions - taking much more time that the previous GP. He established other concerning symptoms which I had not considered - peeing during the night, previously not needed. Hesitancy whilst peeing, lower back pain which has increased over the last 6 months and increased tiredness and need for sleeping. He then suggested a DRE. I agreed.

Again with my very trusting nature and naivety I have very little detail, however after the examination he told me my prostate size was abnormal with one side being a particular concern. I did not think to ask "Was it hard?" "Was it Knobbly?" He just told me he was concerned and that he wanted to refer me to a specialist to rule out cancer. He said there was nothing else for me to do and I would receive a letter in the post. 2 days later I receive confirmation of an appointment for an Ultrasound followed by an appointment with the Urgent Urology Clinic! I will be attending this appointment on Friday 17/08/18. 

I am now stressing about all possible outcomes - finding I am unable to sleep or concentrate - I keep telling myself it is unlikely to be cancer - that I should not be wishing myself ill - that I should consider myself lucky when reading other peoples stories. But I can not help but worry - my human nature of worst case scenario has kicked in. Any advice?

User
Posted 13 Aug 2018 at 22:29

Hello thequietone and welcome to the site.
Firstly, there is no need for feeling apologetic because some men on here appear to be worse off than you. Some of us are at different stages. What we all have in common in Prostate cancer, and I speak as a wife not a sufferer.

Whatever your problem is, whether it's PC or "just" an enlarged prostate or even an infection, the only way to tell is to be checked and you've started that ball rolling.

No point in telling you not you worry, because you will anyway won't you.

What you can say to yourself is "Thank God I went to the GP when I did because I might have got a shock a few years down the line"

If the tests show you have PC then a treatment plan will be put in place and things start to settle down and you will probably become more relaxed. At the moment it's all "What ifs" isn't it.

You can ring you GP surgery and ask for the PSA result but really that isn't conclusive of anything, it just indicates that something needs investigating and that is now being done.

It's good that you don't have to wait too long for your appointment, and don't get hung up on the fact that it's an urgent one. You've just been lucky they have a quick slot for you!!

Come back when you have more information or want more from us. They'll always be somebody to listen and give you a "slap round the face" to wake you up :)

Try not to worry until you know you have something to worry about. We are here for you and Mrs thequietone too

Best Wishes

Sandra

Edited by member 13 Aug 2018 at 22:30  | Reason: Not specified

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails
User
Posted 13 Aug 2018 at 22:32

Okay so the fact that one side of your prostate feels abnormal means you should prepare for the possibility that you have cancer as there are very few other explanations for an abnormal DRE. It isn't silly to worry about it but worrying and imagining the possible outcomes is a waste of energy so try to resist.

Order or download the toolkit and try to stay away from the horror stories on Google. There are more men being diagnosed in their 40s and we have had a couple of members diagnosed in their 30s but as a general rule, the earlier a man is diagnosed the better the outcome.

 

You could also give the GP a call to ask him what seemed abnormal about the DRE 

Edited by member 13 Aug 2018 at 22:33  | Reason: Not specified

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

User
Posted 13 Aug 2018 at 23:36

Hi,  I had a similar experience where I was told to have a diabetes blood test but actually he'd added a psa test and I wasn't told the dre had found anything.  Although I was told my psa was high and sent for a biopsy.  I notice that you said you're going for an ultrasound and you didn't use the word biopsy.  I'm wondering if you are just having an ultrasound.  They normally use ultrasound as part of the biopsy and normally tell you it's a biopsy.  The ultrasound could be to check if it's something else as a biopsy will give you blood in your semen.

I was also told not to think every pain is related to cancer.  That turned out to be true,  during diagnosis I injured both my hip and my back and at the time I was very worried it was a very advanced case. Especially reading some articles I found in the Daily Mail.  Keep off that search.

As Lyn says you could ring your GP to clarify and ask your psa level, the dre and if it's a biopsy.  It could be that on Friday they'll tell you what they see but if it's a biopsy it might take over a week.

Also when I was most concerned about my hip pain I rang the Prostate Cancer UK nurse and was told not to get ahead of myself.

Good luck  Peter

 

Edited by member 14 Aug 2018 at 22:07  | Reason: Not specified

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User
Posted 13 Aug 2018 at 22:29

Hello thequietone and welcome to the site.
Firstly, there is no need for feeling apologetic because some men on here appear to be worse off than you. Some of us are at different stages. What we all have in common in Prostate cancer, and I speak as a wife not a sufferer.

Whatever your problem is, whether it's PC or "just" an enlarged prostate or even an infection, the only way to tell is to be checked and you've started that ball rolling.

No point in telling you not you worry, because you will anyway won't you.

What you can say to yourself is "Thank God I went to the GP when I did because I might have got a shock a few years down the line"

If the tests show you have PC then a treatment plan will be put in place and things start to settle down and you will probably become more relaxed. At the moment it's all "What ifs" isn't it.

You can ring you GP surgery and ask for the PSA result but really that isn't conclusive of anything, it just indicates that something needs investigating and that is now being done.

It's good that you don't have to wait too long for your appointment, and don't get hung up on the fact that it's an urgent one. You've just been lucky they have a quick slot for you!!

Come back when you have more information or want more from us. They'll always be somebody to listen and give you a "slap round the face" to wake you up :)

Try not to worry until you know you have something to worry about. We are here for you and Mrs thequietone too

Best Wishes

Sandra

Edited by member 13 Aug 2018 at 22:30  | Reason: Not specified

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails
User
Posted 13 Aug 2018 at 22:32

Okay so the fact that one side of your prostate feels abnormal means you should prepare for the possibility that you have cancer as there are very few other explanations for an abnormal DRE. It isn't silly to worry about it but worrying and imagining the possible outcomes is a waste of energy so try to resist.

Order or download the toolkit and try to stay away from the horror stories on Google. There are more men being diagnosed in their 40s and we have had a couple of members diagnosed in their 30s but as a general rule, the earlier a man is diagnosed the better the outcome.

 

You could also give the GP a call to ask him what seemed abnormal about the DRE 

Edited by member 13 Aug 2018 at 22:33  | Reason: Not specified

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

User
Posted 13 Aug 2018 at 23:36

Hi,  I had a similar experience where I was told to have a diabetes blood test but actually he'd added a psa test and I wasn't told the dre had found anything.  Although I was told my psa was high and sent for a biopsy.  I notice that you said you're going for an ultrasound and you didn't use the word biopsy.  I'm wondering if you are just having an ultrasound.  They normally use ultrasound as part of the biopsy and normally tell you it's a biopsy.  The ultrasound could be to check if it's something else as a biopsy will give you blood in your semen.

I was also told not to think every pain is related to cancer.  That turned out to be true,  during diagnosis I injured both my hip and my back and at the time I was very worried it was a very advanced case. Especially reading some articles I found in the Daily Mail.  Keep off that search.

As Lyn says you could ring your GP to clarify and ask your psa level, the dre and if it's a biopsy.  It could be that on Friday they'll tell you what they see but if it's a biopsy it might take over a week.

Also when I was most concerned about my hip pain I rang the Prostate Cancer UK nurse and was told not to get ahead of myself.

Good luck  Peter

 

Edited by member 14 Aug 2018 at 22:07  | Reason: Not specified

 
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