So this is my first post on this excellent, informative forum.
As a 78 year experiencing frequent trips to toilet at night I was on Tamsulosin and Finasteride. At my regular annual blood test in December 2024 the GP surgery had not planned to test PSA but I insisted they did. Fortunately my own GP knew that on Finasteride the PSA number should be doubled meaning that the PSA reading of 4.1 should be interpreted as 8.2.
He immediately referred me to Dorset County Hospital. Their care has been excellent and pretty fast given the state of the NHS. I have had a DRE, MRI, prostate biopsy, CT and bone scan. During the prostate biopsy procedure 21 sample cores were taken; ten of them exhibited evidence of cancer. Gleason scores: two @ 6 (3+3), four @ lower 7 (3+4) and four @ higher 7 (4+3).
I commenced Bicalutamide hormone therapy on 26 February. I was given my first Prostap 3 injection on 14 March. Yesterday, 17 March the CT and bone scans confirmed that cancer is confined to my prostate and has not spread. Welcome news indeed.
The current plan is for me to undergo a series of radiotherapy sessions in about three months’ time. Prostap hormone therapy is expected to continue for two years.
I count my self very lucky. So pleased I insisted on having a PSA test and that my GP knew about doubling the PSA reading when taking Finasteride, not all GPs realise this.