Hi Shant
I think you are jumping the gun. You're new to this, but trust me there are some pretty old hands on this forum and we've seen it all before.
Yes, you've had a shock. No one wants a blood result that indicates a possibility of cancer, though at 72 it would be more of a surprise if you did not have prostate cancer. At your age 70% of men have got prostate cancer, look at all your friends and contemporaries and just remind yourself that nearly three quarters of them have prostate cancer, most of them just don't know it. And don't go worrying that three quarters of your friends are going to die of prostate cancer, because they won't; nearly all of them will die of something else long before prostate cancer advances enough to be a problem.
First thing to do is download the "toolkit" from this site it has lots of information about PCa (you'll get fed up of writing it out in full shortly).
Before you even think about treatment you need a full diagnosis, usually that will involve an MRI scan and possibly a biopsy. A psa test of 13 is not at all conclusive. I know someone of your age who has had a psa of 14 for the last decade and not even thought about having treatment, this is a very slow growing cancer.
When you have had all the diagnostic tests, the medics will be in a far better position to tell you if you really have got cancer, and if you have they will be in a position to offer you some treatment choices.
Please keep posting on here, in particular any worries you have about the ensuing tests, and if you need help understanding the results.
My cancer started off with a blood test showing a psa of just under 30. My attitude was far more optimistic than yours, I said to myself I have a high chance of having cancer, but I haven't got cancer until I get a piece of paper saying I have cancer. Yes by the end of the process I did have such a piece of paper, and only then did I think about treatment.
There are more treatment options than you would think, but I really don't think there is any need to discuss them yet as we don't even know if you have cancer let alone if it is an agressive kind, or if it is inside or outside the prostate.
Good luck, next test is usually an MRI scan. Half an hour of lying very still in a machine which makes a lot more noise than you would have thought from a piece of hospital equipment.
|
User
Early days, don't use doctor Google until you have an actual diagnosis only then will you know if radiotherapy is even an option.
At this point it could be prostatitis, a large benign prostate or even a low grade cancer that may need no treatment.
User
Hi Dave
thanks for the response comments noted and taken on board I think the worry for me is am I age barred for the op if I test positive
quite relaxed in myself and accept the tests need to be done but it’s all new to me and I like to make informed decisions not just being told this is the next step in your treatment
Will keep in touch and please prompt me if you don’t see further posts
User
Originally Posted by: Online Community Memberquite relaxed in myself and accept the tests need to be done but it’s all new to me and I like to make informed decisions not just being told this is the next step in your treatment
Totally agree with that. We're not all the same, but I am. I like to have "all of the information" as soon as possible so I can get on with processing it in my head. Not everyone wants that. Some people would be "taken down" by it. There is no "one size fits all" approach. The toolkit will give you loads of information to be getting on with about surgery and radiotherapy options.
Everyone copes differently, which is why it's good that we have quite a range of people on here giving different points of view.
Do ask specific questions though, no matter how silly they might seem. Someone will have had experience which may help you (and others).
I don't know what the "age cut-off" would be for surgery. I would think it would likely depend on your surgeon, your fitness and general health too rather than a blanket policy. (They say the surgery is easier if you're not carrying too much excess weight).
_____ Two cannibals named Ectomy and Prost, all alone on a Desert island. Prost was the strongest, so Prost ate Ectomy. |
User
I never knew there was an ‘age bar’ at 72 to prostate surgery, so I suspect it’s fiction.
As others have said, you are racing ahead of yourself without so much as a cancer diagnosis, which of course we all understand.
Please come back to us when you know what’s what.
Best of luck.
Cheers, John.
User
If you Google prostatectomy age limit, you will find some references to a limit. They are mainly American sites and nothing is set in stone. As Alex says it will depend more on your general level of fitness, and other diseases.
My aunt live(ed) in a different country with different health policies to the UK. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at 89, had an operation that was successful, and went on to live another 2 years in the nursing home. I think in the UK such a waste of taxpayers money would not be tolerated, not when there are other priorities; 10 Downing Street needs a new lick of paint.
|
User
Thanks for the positives guys think I am now ready for my first meeting with the consultant and understanding of the issues although very infantile in the overall picture
did explore the op and found they use a Da Vinci robot minimum invasion 24 36 hour recovery
User
Loads of us here have had the Robotic Op. As has been said previously, don't worry yourself about this yet. Take things one stage at a time. Next stage MRI.
User
Originally Posted by: Online Community MemberThanks for the positives guys think I am now ready for my first meeting with the consultant and understanding of the issues although very infantile in the overall picture
did explore the op and found they use a Da Vinci robot minimum invasion 24 36 hour recovery
If you click on my profile you can see my notes on my surgery aged 62. I was well enough to leave hospital the next day, which is normal for my surgeon, but as I had a 120 mile journey home I stayed in another night, which was a nightmare as the idiot in the bed opposite had his TV on at 3am, without headphones.
I was well enough on day three upon discharge to hotfoot it across the road to the hospital social club for a couple of pints of real ale whilst waiting for my lift home. They did tell me to drink plenty of fluids!
My father-in-law has just had a very successful hip replacement, aged 86.
Cheers, John.
User
Hi all
had all scans tested positive opted for removal that took place 24 September home evening of 25 September catheter removed 10 days later ( hated that) found unbearable to sit which is still going on also pelvic exercises increased pain not getting any control when standing gravity takes over and I am getting very frustrated as there seems to be no improvement in urine control especially as I never had any problems prior any tips would be appreciated
User
Hi Shant
It is way too early to be worried. See this similar thread.
https://community.prostatecanceruk.org/posts/t27612-Ongoing-soreness#post260625
|