Hi all, just been diagnosed last week after several years of niggles that no one could diagnose. I went from diagnosis of possible UTIs to it might be prostatitis and eventually when my PSA levels rose significantly I ended up with the mpMRI and TP Biopsy last month. I'm still coming to terms with all this, having had a heart bypass only three years ago I had hoped I've had my share of serious health issues but alas no.
My background is as follows...
I'm 50, non smoker, non drinker and average weight. I started having UTI like symptoms back in 2013 and over the next two years I had 14 episodes of these UTIs, each treated with antibiotics lasting a week to four weeks. I finally saw a consultant in 2015 who suggested prostatitis might be the cause. I had suggested this to my GP after my third or fourth UTI episode back in 2013!
Unfortunately he gave me Ciprofloxacin and I had a significant reaction to it after eight days of a six week course. I developed significant musculoskeletal issues and struggled walking and using my arms. I had tendon pains, headaches, fatigue, insomnia and developed neuropathy issues. I still have the muscle, tendon and neuropathy five years later and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia as a result. After the 2015 Cipro issues I had no further treatments for UTI/Prostate type issues and only had mild and infrequent issues, usually with needing to go more frequently at night and occasional discomfort after sex. In 2017 a whole new ball game started when I had emergency open heart surgery after suddenly developing episodes of chest pains. the GP insisted it was stress!
My PCa journey started in 2018 when I had a PSA test after one if the milder episodes and it was 5.5. I was referred to Charing Cross and had an mpMRI that showed nothing of concern. By October 2018 my PSA was 7.5 but it was decided surveillance was best option. by May 2019 it was down to 7.2 and so surveillance was the chosen option again. In October 2019 my review appointment was cancelled and despite me chasing Charing Cross many times I never had an appointment sent to me. I was also dealing with some cardiac stuff again and the prostate appointment slipped...
Then Covid appeared and all of my appointments went on hold until September this year when I managed to get some bloods done by my GP. Disturbingly the PSA had risen to 12.9 and alarm bells rang. It took a couple of weeks but I managed to get an mpMRI and then another 17 days later I had a biopsy. Two weeks after that I had the positive diagnosis and confirmation. I'm a 4+3 localised so a few treatment options have been put to me, specifically RALP or HIFU. The goal I hope to cure by removing the cancer if all goes to plan.
So I guess I'm here for support, research, sharing experiences etc.. I'll post my questions in a separate post!