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New member, old worries

User
Posted 06 Jan 2019 at 05:50

A number of minor problems drove me to my GP. A DRE (such indignity, but I imagine more for him than me) was followed by a blood test and a follow-up a week later. PSA of 17 (I think) and he said the DRE had raised concerns. Now looking forward to an appointment at the hospital UD in a few days time. Possibilities and probabilities keep churning through my head. Having spent my career analysing the worst outcomes for nuclear plant, I tend to take the least optimistic view. Not helped by knowing 2 ex-colleagues, one dead and the other terminal, who had/have prostate cancer that spread to other parts of their bodies.

My poor sleep pattern is currently even worse and allowing me too much time to surf the internet for information.

Nothing new to any of you, I suspect, and I know I should not worry, but....

Depressed is my middle name and depression my continual state

User
Posted 06 Jan 2019 at 11:10

Hi NAJB

Maybe nothing new to many of us now but we all started off in a similar position to you so understand where you're coming from.

May I suggest that you download the Toolkit from this site for information rather than trawling through Google.

You are a planner and I guess a pragmatist so you are aware of possible outcomes but they remain  just that at the moment and so you take a step at a time with your team, analyze results as they become available and move on. 

The Toolkit can help you to formulate questions that you might want to ask your team but as in your working life, planning for a worst outcome doesn’t mean it's going to happen so you just have to work with the facts as they present themselves.

All the very best with the results at your appointment and let us know what happens as you will get a lot of support on this site from more knowledgeable members than me.

Kind regards

Kevan 

User
Posted 06 Jan 2019 at 13:13

I am just over the border in Wiltshire but am originally from Gloucestershire.

Good to know that you have a great source of information and support already in place. 

Hope all goes well for you.

 

Kevan 

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User
Posted 06 Jan 2019 at 11:10

Hi NAJB

Maybe nothing new to many of us now but we all started off in a similar position to you so understand where you're coming from.

May I suggest that you download the Toolkit from this site for information rather than trawling through Google.

You are a planner and I guess a pragmatist so you are aware of possible outcomes but they remain  just that at the moment and so you take a step at a time with your team, analyze results as they become available and move on. 

The Toolkit can help you to formulate questions that you might want to ask your team but as in your working life, planning for a worst outcome doesn’t mean it's going to happen so you just have to work with the facts as they present themselves.

All the very best with the results at your appointment and let us know what happens as you will get a lot of support on this site from more knowledgeable members than me.

Kind regards

Kevan 

User
Posted 06 Jan 2019 at 12:16
Thanks, most of my reading has been based on the pages on this site. My brother-in-law is very sctive with a Gloucestershire Prostate Cancer support group and pointed me in this direction. He was diagnosed a couple of years ago and we have been “in the loop” since then. Although he has made a recovery from his prostate removal, I still look at the worst outcomes, as until proved otherwise they are still probabilities. I am tempred to invoke a version of Schrodingers cat here!

Depressed is my middle name and depression my continual state

User
Posted 06 Jan 2019 at 13:13

I am just over the border in Wiltshire but am originally from Gloucestershire.

Good to know that you have a great source of information and support already in place. 

Hope all goes well for you.

 

Kevan 

User
Posted 06 Jan 2019 at 15:57

Quote:
NAJB;2077 I still look at the worst outcomes, as until proved otherwise they are still probabilities. I am tempred to invoke a version of Schrodingers cat here!

Just think though, of all the years you were in the nuclear industry worrying how often was there an actual meltdown💀. I expect you had some near misses but not actual disasters. 

Wishing you best wishes  and hoping you have a near miss.

It's almost impossible not to worry in the meantime I know but usually the time to diagnosis isn't that long.

User
Posted 07 Jan 2019 at 10:43

Hi NAJB

You may already be aware of this but I'll post anyway as it was useful for me.

The NHS guideline for time from urgent referral to starting treatment is 62 days.  After referral from GP I was quickly seen by hospital consultant then had lots of tests (biopsy, MRI, CT, ...) before the results were considered by a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) and a treatment plan put together.   At this point there was a delay in setting the next appointment where I got the results / plan by about two or three weeks.  Having had a gloomy prognosis from the first consultant and high PSA score I was fairly frantic to get the results and get treatment going.  When trying to get my appointment brought forward the mention of the magic phrase ".. and if I have to wait this will mean that we'll miss the 62 day target" basically got me an earlier appointment / quicker treatment of the cancer / less time worrying about the unknown.

Good luck with everything.  

User
Posted 07 Jan 2019 at 13:28

Hi N,

We just got rid of one depressive over the weekend who thought he had cancer but did not. Then you come along!

You may or may not have cancer as other things can cause a raised PSA, but obviously be guided by your urology team. I am sure your appointment will come through very soon.

If anything untoward is suspected, do request an mpMRI scan before any biopsy, as that is the gold standard. Sometimes in some hospitals it happens the other way round, which is not best practice.

If as it appears, you have an analytical mind, you might like to check the morbidity rates for prostate cancer vs. lung, liver or pancreatic cancer. Might make you slightly less depressed?

And as for indignity, I suppose one hairy puckered ar**hole looks much the same as another to a doctor. If you do have a problem you can look forward to more of the same!😉

Best of luck for the future.

Cheers, John.

Edited by member 07 Jan 2019 at 14:23  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 10 Jan 2019 at 14:36

A repeat of the DRE at the Urology Department today at Ipswich General (gosh it is a depressing site, even in comparison with Ipswich, which makes the Calais refugee camps look liek the Hanging Gardens of Babylon). Back for an MRI tomorrow; tablets to help with the frequent and urgent need to urinate. Very friendly nurse. I offered to shake her hand then remembered where it had been!

Depressed is my middle name and depression my continual state

User
Posted 21 Jan 2019 at 07:40
Call back from the UD on Thursday and a biopsy is booked for this Wednesday. I am impressed at the speed with which the NHS is moving; if I get tbe biopsy results within the stated timeframe, it will only be a month from seeing my GP.

The contiflo tablets are, however, proving ineffective, except for my dry throat and an increase in nosebleeds.

My wife is doing a great job in keeping me distracted and avoiding too much time to sit and think. 10 hours on the train today, though, so I hope the crossword is challenging.

My event tree continues to plunge inexorably.

Depressed is my middle name and depression my continual state

 
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