Our [Mens] Health Forums

vicdicdoc

Pusser - lucky you for having a woman doctor . . mine was male - bigger fingers Confused

Sylvia keeps saying "you wimp - pain is giving birth" to which my reply is just wait till you bang you finger with a 2lb hammer . . .
- the results have had the added benefit of removing the worry lines on my forhead, Yep, we can go on our AROUND THE WORLD TRIP [not bragging Wink

] without that worry hanging over me.
Thanks to everyone for your support.

Regal

Vic

Thanks for the update and I am so glad that you have no problems. It will be a great weight of your mind and means you can go on holiday without that worry.

I think all men of our age should even if they only have a hint of a problem go to your GP and discuss. Being embarrassed or a moment of discomfort is worth the piece of mind or action being taken that will extend your life.

Although I know the PSA test is not an accurate test, it does give an indication and I think all men should be screened from 50 upwards to combat this increasing cancer.

Well done Vic

Steve

christopherobin

Hi Vic

Pleased that your results are clear and that you can now go on your trip.
Well done for visiting your GP.

Update on my problem:
Went to see surgeon at Sussex Cancer Clinic in Brighton on Tuesday.
As the MRI and bone scan were clear I was hoping for the "All Clear" but
no. It looks like I will be having chemotherapy or Radiotherapy to get rid of the last bits. I've got a lot of hair to loose !!! Never mind both my better half "Pam" and myself are looking on the bright side. Plenty of people worse off than me.
We are off 28th Feb to Sharm El Shakh for two weeks.

Cheers

Chris

IrishHomer

Great news Vic. Best of luck Chris. Pusser, thanks for the laugh and a great idea!!

when I had a full medical, the doc asked me to pop up on the couch for the finger exam (not my finger!). when I pointed out, somehwhat desperately, that the blood test had never indicated elevated PSA, he said you can never trust the blood test - Finger is best! Oh well! grin and bare it! Very Happy

Irishhomer Shocked

runoutofnames

So pleased to hear the good news - been thinking about you.

If you have made just one 'worried' man on this site act quickly when he gets a problem then your posting has done the world of good. Men should also remember though that they also need to check their breasts for lumps. Breast cancer is not just a female disease.

Well done.

Joy

blackbirdbiker

Went to see a lady doc today Embarassed

about an ear infection.........and I thought I would ask a question about the PSA test, she said that the test is not conclusive really but, if I wait towards the end of this year there is a new urine test about to start that is much more reliable that the blood test.
hmmm it pays to ask, so all, ask your doc for your test now. Very Happy

Keith

bill

Hello All.

As promised I am now in a position to update you regarding my 'problem'. (See my previous posts)

Following appointments with the urologist it looked like I was heading towards having external radio therapy. Well, having seen the oncologist today we have come to the decision that I will be having 'active monitoring'. (NICE made a statement recently basically saying that they feel that some men may be having surgery / radio therapy when it may not be strictly necessary. From what I can now tell this has been the opinion of some in the medical profession for some time) I don't know exactly why the urologist had not made more of 'a thing' about this being a option but as it turns out I am more than happy.

Apparently some people do not like waiting with the problem hanging over them and would prefer to get 'shot' of the gland or have treatment, and put up with the side and after effects.

The governing factors in the decision were, my PSA levels to date have not been particularly high (remember an elevated PSA does not necessarily mean cancer, there are other reasons for it), the cancer is not of a particularly aggressive type, there's not a lot of it, the cancer is confined to the organ itself as far as they can tell and I am advised that with the monitoring there is not much chance of the cancer growing or becoming more aggressive without enough warning being given to do something about it.

It all comes down to personal choice I suppose.

So, what happens now is, I am monitored by seeing the urologist and the oncologist alternately every three months. Each time I will have a blood test taken ten days before the appointment to measure my PSA and I have to have a biopsy every twelve months, deep joy, no pain no gain I suppose.

In the future, if things change, I may have to have radio therapy, surgery or drug treatment but we'll cross that bridge as and when we come to it.

There is a lot that could be discussed about this which but my written english is not really up to setting it down on paper accurately, but if anyone has any questions they would like to ask, please feel free.

I hope I have explained this well enough for you to understand, particularly those of you who may be wondering or dithering over whether to consult your doctors. Water works problems don't have to mean cancer and even if they do it is is not necessarily a death sentence if one gets it investigated, if you what too long it may be. I don't think 'active monitoring' has been mentioned so far in this thread so it is worth considering or asking your specialist about if and when one finds oneself in a similar position to me.

We're off to Spain on the 15 March now we've got that sorted.

Happy travelling.

bill

Biznoz

Hi Bill

Now go and relax and enjoy the best treatment i think!!

Have a good one not far behind ourselves we are off on April 1st.

Take Care

Phil