Just diagnosed yesterday.

Hello everyone.  Been lurking here for a while but, this is my first post, since joining the worst club in the world!

I noticed that I had problems emptying my bladder properly last November and, for once in my life, I went straight to the Doctor.  He did a DRE and, I had a blood test.  My PSA came back at 104.  At this point, I had little understanding about prostate cancer but, that was all about to change, mostly because of this website.

There then followed the familiar ride that many of you will be familiar with.  I got an urgent referral to my hospital and, over the course of christmas and the new year, I had an MRI, CT and bone scan done, along with another PSA test.  Then, a biopsy in January, where the consultant "only" took 6 samples as he had "2 clear targets to aim for".

To cut a long story short, yesterday, I saw another consultant (a locum), who confirmed what I already knew, that I had prostate cancer.  Gleason of 9 and a T3b staging, PSA up to 130.  He also requested a further bone scan, as my orignal one was "inconclusive", especially after I told him about my catalogue of previous injuries to ribs and other bones due to my time in the Army and, my active lifstyle.

So, now begins the wait for treatment, which I assume will be based on the extra bone scan?  I'm on Bicalutamide and, am having a Prostap depot injection in a couple of days as well and, I had another blood test on my way out of the hospital as well to see if the Bicalutamide is working.  I am actually pee'ing better now, which the doctor said was a sign that the tablets are having an effect.  I have no other symptoms and, am, at the moment, healthy and active.

I'm holding it together and, trying to be as realistic as I can about it all, if nothing else, for the sake of my wife, who is in total meltdown about it.  The doctor refused to give me a prognosis, apart from saying I was young and healthy enough to last a while yet.   Been trying to take my mind off it all by putting in my critical illness claim on my life policy and, booking myself a parachuting course!

Hi Pete

I like you am 52, and was diagnosed Dec 19th. Ive never had any symptoms of PC and only found out by chance, however after a platelet biopsy showed a Gleason score of 7 4&3 and my Psa was 13, I had a bone scan which thankfully was all clear which was incredibly worrying at the time but a relief when I got the all clear. My hospital has been very good to couldn’t ask for more really under the circumstances. I’ve got an appointment Friday 28th Feb to see the surgeon who is carrying out my robotic assist surgery. So I’m starting to get a little anxious but I’m sure I’ll be ok on the day.

One thing you might want to do, if you hadn’t already is find a local Prostate Cancer group. I was a bit unsure at first but once I attended the first meeting it helped me beyond belief. Not sure if your like me but I’m a real worrier so after my initial diagnosis I was scarred and worried but the guys at the meeting were really informative and spoke openly and no holes barred. The medical professionals a superb, but you can’t beat listening to guys who have been and are going through the same as you.

Keep positive and try not to worry to much.

Carl.