RP possible whilst suffering other conditions?

User

Posted 28 Mar 2023 at 15:49

Hi all

I was recently diagnosed with locally advanced and am in the process of discovering and deciding which treatment to take.
I had a full body bone scan yesterday, the results will be with the urology consultant by Friday this week, then I am to see him again next week to discuss and decide on treatment.

From what I have read here and in the excellent book by Saving Your Sex Life by John Mulhall MD, I am leaning more toward an RP. Providing of course that the bone scan does not automatically dictate which treatment I need to have.
My worry is that I may not be eligible for a RP as I suffer from a chronic autoimmune inflammatory arthritis. I have had this for approximately 9 years and in the past 8 years I have been on a weekly biological injection to suppress my immune system.
As soon as my cancer was diagnosed (middle of last week) my rheumatology nurse advised that they would be stopping my biological injection as it cannot be taken if there is any sign of cancer in the body.
This was a really heavy blow to me as starting the injection was life changing and has definitely improved my quality of life.
After only missing a couple of injections so far I can already feel the arthritic activity increasing across my whole body. It manifests in severe joint and muscle pain and leaves me feeling like I permanently have flu. I know how bad this can get, from the time before I was placed on the injections, so I am seriously dreading how I will feel when the time comes for surgery or RT.

I also have some quite serious digestive issues which have not been diagnosed yet as I am on the waiting list to see gastroenterology at my hospital. I have had a colonoscopy and a gastroscopy, no cancer, crohns or colitis conditions were found but the gastroscopy did show up an 8cm hiatus hernia. My last fecal calprotectin test reported at 547, which was a real shock as it signifies some major inflammatory issues and triggered the non-urgent referral to gastro.

Has anybody any experience of other quite major medical conditions hampering their ability to have a RP?

I am extremely worried that my existing conditions will exclude me from surgery as they may deem me unfit.
Does anybody have any experience with this scenario?

Thank you for your time, take care. Greg.

Edited by member 28 Mar 2023 at 22:49 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 29 Mar 2023 at 18:10

I am on an immunosuppressant (non biological) for an autoimmune disease (Vasculitis). The surgeon said he would prefer me to stop taking them before the RP but after a discussion between my respective treatment doctors it was agreed that I should continue the medication during the RP. Is it possible for you to switch to non biological alternatives such as Prednisolone with something like Azathioprine or Methotrexate?

User

Posted 29 Mar 2023 at 18:28

Hi Chris

Thank you very much for your reply. I mean this in the best possible way but it’s nice to hear from someone who was in the same predicament as me. :)

My rheumatology specialist nurse said that I could be switched to an oral tablet once I and urology have decided which way I am going to go with regards to treatment. She also said I can definitely have steroid injections to act as an arthritis “first aid” to try help get me through the coming months.
It’s just a shock as my biological injection has been lifesaving and gave me so much of my life back for the past 8 years.

I was on methotrexate before moving to the biological but unfortunately it didn’t do anything to help my arthritis. I was then put on sulfasalazine, which to be honest actually made things worse. As I had failed two DMARD’s I was then allowed to take the biological.

I will discuss what you said with my urologist and see if he can speak to rheumatology to see if we can find a happy medium for the short term. It would be nice if departments communicated with each other more to see a fuller picture.

Thank you again

Greg.

User

Posted 29 Mar 2023 at 21:26

I am on non biological immune suppressants for psoriatic arthritis. I also had a tonic clinic seizure in 2013. The surgeon and anaesthetist looked at these and decided to go ahead with surgery.

Ido4

User

Posted 29 Mar 2023 at 21:35

Thank you Ido4. That gives me hope that if I do go for the RP the surgery team will be happy to go ahead.
I’m glad you got through it ok.

Just read your bio Ido, you have been through the mill and back again. I hope you are keeping as well as you can now.

Take care
Greg.

Edited by member 29 Mar 2023 at 21:39 | Reason: Addition

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