Prostate cancer, maybe...

Cancer
1

Hi all,

I am assuming George will read this, or if he doesn't I'll point him here. wink

I went to see my doctor today, even though I have many problems already, I am already in remission for testicle cancer, but I did not want to find out it was too late if the symptoms I have had lately were pointing to prostate cancer. I went well prepared, even with a urine sample.

Lately, I have lost my appetite - my urine was a dark brown and I am only going to the loo about 2-3 times a day. I checked out on the UK NHS website, which narrowed it down to 3 possibilities, and because I have already had TC in the past - I wanted to get it checked.

My doctor checked my urine sample which showed up clear. She also checked my prostate by a DRE and said well everything seems okay, but because of my past record and my fathers past she booked me in for a scan and blood test, then I have to book another appointment to see my doctor again to discuss the results. But like she said a blood test for prostate cancer can give a false/positive reading, and is not really an accurate way for diagnosing cancer to a single point, which I knew anyway from previous tests.

The reason my doctor asked what type of cancer my father had was because he died from cancer in 2008, which started from his colon and spread rapidly, before killing him in extreme pain from many organs with cancer. I had a polyp removed from my colon last year, which came back as clear.

I am hoping I get the all clear on whatever I have now, which I read could be just an infection, I am not taking any chances this time.

Regards,

Les.

2

Hi Les, 

That all seems very sensible. You also appear to have a knowledgeable and careful doctor. Her diagnostic tools for prostate cancer are not good and there are no better ones at present. 

I do hope it works out that you do not have any sort of cancer. If it is an infection of your prostate that is also a grim diagnosis but not of a life threatening disease. Infections of the prostate are very difficult to treat.

I hope, whever it is, clears up soon.

Geirge

3

Hi George,

I always get on well with my Doctor, she knows all my past history which in my case is a big advantage. She also checked for other lumps elsewhere, normally where my Consultant Neurologist checks. And now I'm on the trial Personal Care Plan in the UK, I can basically phone or check appointments online to see if she is available during the day, up until 2 months in advance.

While I was there she ordered all my medications to take me in to the New Year - all I had to do was pick them up from the Pharmacy up the road. I have got Botox and Pain Clinic before then and to see my own Doctor again regarding the results from the scans, when they can fit me in. She did ask when my next Oncology was, but that isn't until February or March 2015 - so she said we can't wait that long for scans.

Ironically, my own Doctor is married to one of the Senior Consultant Neurologists in the same hospital I attend - 'small world as they say'!

I said to her that I been looking at the internet and the symptoms which is why I made the appointment yesterday. And, unlike other doctors that say "Do not beleave everything you read on the internet", she asked me what I thought it could be, I told her I nailed it down to 3 possibilities, and I told her what they were, she said well you were nearly there, there is in fact 4 possibilities. The forth one was to do with an infection close to the other testicle (I said to her well I only got one left! lol), but she mentioned it to be Epididymitis, she did also ran a couple of checks on this, but it seemed to be fine. The only reason I did not check in this area is because of having testicular twice is very rare.

Now, the aforementioned is what I normally tell people not to do - look on the internet - it can easily give misleading results. I actually asked my doctor at the time can you refer me to have a scan done of the testicles, that was when I had cancer - Yet, my doctor was treating me for an infection for 6 weeks. He did apologize in the end, and asked me how I knew what it was - I said I used the internet, he was shocked. The information is on the internet, but many sites give you the wrong diagnosis, if you know how to use the net correctly you can get results close to medical problems, I tend to use Boolean expressions on keywords, this rules out many sites, but gives you better results.

I will be glad when Christmas has gone and I'm in 2015, perhaps something nice might happen! Well, I can wish...lol

Regards,

Les.

4

Hi Les

Thank you. I will tuck that away for it gives me some new ideas. 

As for the web. It is informative both positively.and negatively. I deduce that the easy to find, Ie with greatest potential for propoganda, or cheer people on, are the OS rates for PCa. It is just a mish mash of barely related data and of no real clinical use. I don't suppose they are intended to be. On the positive side in a couple of weeks I went from near zero knowledge to a correct diagnosis of T3 PCa. My inorrect bit was Gleeson 7 based on the slowish slope of the rising PSA over 4 years. Of course, the moment of realisation took me entirely by surprise and with no support system it hit me like a sledgehammer. Still from then I like to work things out for myself BEFORE the expert so I have something useful for comparison.

I like my doctor, sypathetic and attentive. I rather think I know more about PCa than she does. She does listen to me and she accepts sypathetically that I have good reasons (plural intended) to be wary of medical matters and the practicioners.

So I am needing to step up my knowledge of post RT matters. Partial info. is a problem but gradually the pieces come together. There does not seem to be that much to discover. 

The frequency oncoligists need to see you, and the careful absence of information, scans etc, in analising the situation and the foundational reasoning for offered treatment (I can read NICE recommendations too) speak volumes as to the primative nature of PCa medicine (primative is my polite word)

George