Prostate – tests, checks and concerns

I start 20 radiation treatment for it tomorrow, M-F for 4 weeks, back in July, night before I was due to fly out to ride the Maratona dles Dolomities, I had an issue with Urinary retention, ended up in hospital then spent a fortnight with a catheter,  subsequently had a series of scans and a biopsy to then be told I had locally advanced prostrate cancer, in two pelvis lymph nodes as well as prostrate, it was a bit of a shock to say the least, but looking forward to getting through the treatment, the Hot Flushes from the Hormone reducing pills/injections are somewhat interesting.

I’m already in the screening thing, awaiting the results of an MRI with a normalish PSA ATM.

@stanley, good to see you’re in the pink.

I visited the doc a few weeks ago on another matter, but as my auld man has had prostrate cancer,  I thought I’d ask for a PSA test as I’m in my mid 50’s.

Came back clear, however I’ve now had repeated blood tests for other stuff…..

I’ll probably ask for a test annually now or if I notice any symptoms from the IPSS questionnaire.

@Shak47 – best of luck on your treatment journey.

it’s great seeing this subject into it’s second page, STW at it’s absolute best.  wish i could add a thumbs up !

My Dad was undiagnosed for some time – kept being told he had UTI and ultimately ended up with catheter. Did some more test and guess what – prostate cancer.

Ultimately was not contained within the prostate so various courses of radiotherapy after the prostate removal including for a hot-spot in his spine. He is currently on hormone treatment and monitored via PSA levels and various scans.

Due to the obvious family history and some other symptoms, I now get PSA and physical check every 6 months and have had MRI previously. My prostate is enlarged but PSA has been stable at ~ 2.4 over the last year after showing increases over time. My Dad is 77, I’m 57.

What a great thread. I’ve been dithering about this for some time, in 58. I’m now in the system.

I went to my gp with a sore testicle. He asked for blood tests, including PSA and an ultrasound . He added psa due my dad having an enlarged prostate

The ultrasound confirmed the problem was the weight of an enlarged vain. It’s not serious, the soreness is the extra weight. Currently the symptoms have gone as i pull my knickers up tighter. The ultra sound technician asked to do bladder and kidneys as a follow up. This showed my bladder not fully emptying and an enlarged prostate. My psa was slightly raised at 4.7. The gp did a finger test and says in should retest psa in 3 to 6 months. Top tip in not cycling.

3 gp appointments, blood tests and 2 ultrasounds in under 5 weeks. The NHS does work sometimes

Except for the ones whose lives are saved and their family & friends. I don’t know the numbers (or how prostrate cancer testing/outcomes compares with say, cervical cancer screening) but currently I’m seeing a lot of posters up in male loos about prostrate cancer & encouraging men to be aware of symptoms & to go for tests.

The message “If you have symptoms get tested” seems to fit the advice. But i do see the message “Get tested” which is less helpful. As other have said testing can do more harm than good. Some people have their health damaged or even die from treatment they don’t need. I heard a brilliant analysis on the radio on the effect of some women not being invited for breast screening. It’s not clear that the missed invitations will result in more deaths. I think cancer charities can feel a pressure to act, whether the action has proven success or not

FYI

Cervical cancer screening is a big life saver. If you have a chance to influence some one to participate then do so.

Good luck to all who are getting things sorted.

I went a few weeks ago for a check up as I’d been having some problems peeing.Finger up the bum and a test. Slightly enlarged prostate but tests were ok. Still got issues peeing so back to the Docs in Nov to see what can be done.

Thanks Ian, been useful reading about your journey through this.

Thanks to all who’ve shared what must be an horrible experience.

Lots of good advice ^^, as one who pees during the night, sometimes too frequently, my GP has said that he’s happy to test as often as necessary

Taken me a long time time to see the clever name of the I-PSS test.

I wish that it was 1-PSS, rather than 3-PSS, but fortunately it’s controllable for me by drinking less later 🙂

Don’t forget that men can get breast cancer as well as testicular so cop-a-feel in the shower 🙂

@timba The first biopsy was referred to as a dignity bypass here. Involving, as it did, the youngest female doctor in urology and what sounded like an industrial stapler.

Cytoscopy ran it a close second though involving possibly the oldest female consultant in urology and standing naked from the waist down in the consulting room.

Though both are a better experience than dying early of a survivable cancer.

I’ve had PSA test, came back normal fortunately. Was a bit worried cos there’s two GP’s in my practice, one an ex rugby player with fingers like Cumberland sausages, the other is an attractive young woman with huge acrylic nails, nightmare scenario is she goes first, loses a nail, then he has to dig around to fish it out!!

Does anyone knowledgeable have a view on why the NHS does not widely use laser therapy to reduce the blood supply to the prostate, in the way that some countries do? It seems to be an effective treatment option for halting non invasive and relatively early cancerous growth.

On BBC News now.

I’ve just noticed that yesterday’s News at 1 is still on IPlayer (I’m not sure for how long) if anyone missed the prostate report and wants a look (it’s the headline piece).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00246w9/sign/bbc-news-at-one-21102024

Thanks to this thread and its awareness posted by people I’ve booked myself in for an exam / test, perhaps something all us Middle Ages should do.

Yep. I had one a couple of years ago due to something that turned out to be nothing.

In retrospect the old “finger up the butt” is nothing to get worked up about. Over and done with in a matter of seconds.

PSA came back normal too.

The first biopsy was referred to as a dignity bypass here. Involving, as it did, the youngest female doctor in urology and what sounded like an industrial stapler.

Felt like one too. I also had a trans-perineal template biopsy for which I was blissfully asleep. It was much less unpleasant and my understanding is that the results are more definitive than the stapler-up-the-bum technique, to the point where some clinics only do them.

Felt like one too. I also had a trans-perineal template biopsy for which I was blissfully asleep. It was much less unpleasant and my understanding is that the results are more definitive than the stapler-up-the-bum technique, to the point where some clinics only do them.

I’ve had both too.  The template biopsy was fine in that I was under GA.  Except that what should have been a day procedure saw me catheterised and admitted for 24 hours because I could only piss blood afterwards.  A  special ‘wide’ catheter so they could flush me out, which they had to get past my minced prostrate.  That was an experience I’ll never forget.  24 hours on a saline drip into the old man until all the blood and livery bits had been flushed out. Then the joy of having the mushroom ended hosepipe pulled out by two medics like they were in a tug of war team.  So yeah, I’m sure a trans-perineal template biopsy is fine when it goes to plan!

I had been wondering about this even before Chris Hoy’s announcement. Mainly because I have recently been changing saddles wholesale to wider saddles with cut-outs, as I noticed by the end of longer rides I was getting distinctly more uncomfortable down there and even felt like a little bit of pee was getting ‘squeezed out’.

As per the poster above I also wondered if too high/too thin/too hard a saddle might cause issues.

My dad died from a metastatic renal carcinoma, after surviving testicular cancer a decade earlier. The initial symptoms of the renal cancer were shoulder and hip pain, so easily overlooked as just cycling related muscular issues.

Crumbs, I’ve a 3pm “back passage” appointment with a young sounding female Dr.    I’m very embarrassed / anxious although I know I need to get over it.

Crumbs, I’ve a 3pm “back passage” appointment with a young sounding female Dr.

You’ll be facing the wall, and once you’ve got past your embarrassment you’ll appreciate small fingers.

I’m very embarrassed / anxious although I know I need to get over it.

Face the wall curled up slightly, relax, and be grateful she isn’t a 6’8 prop forward with hands like shovels nicknamed Gnasher.

It’s all in a day’s work for her, she’ll have seen better and worse, and some people pay good money for that kind of experience. None of which are great conversation starters…

Don’t get hung up on the embarrassment. If it is just a finger up the bum it’ll be over in less time than it has taken you to read this sentence.

Mine was by a young locum. Conversation was something like. “Let’s get it checked then. Get on the bed, pull your knees up… done.”

Pull you pants up, say “thank you” and escape back to the car as quickly as you can without breaking into a run.

I was nervous as Hell and had worked myself up into a bit of a state. A couple of minutes later I was sat back in the car. Job done.

I think on the whole it’s just one of those things that will catch out a small proportion of people. Obviously good to get tested asap if any symptoms, but probably not worth it if there aren’t any risk factors.

I remember hearing that increased screening in the USA had resulted in a large increase in the number of people surviving it, but no real change in the number of people dying from it. The implication being that early diagnosis in symptomless people wasn’t actually achieving anything (but resulted in lots of further treatment, sometimes with nontrivial consequences). That was years ago though and may be a somewhat outdated view. FiL had prostate cancer for at least a decade, maybe two (diagnosed and under minimal treatment, an occasional injection IIRC). Died unrelated causes aged 93.

I’m very embarrassed / anxious although I know I need to get over it.

being 5 years into an MS diagnosis I can confidently say that if the worst medical test you ever receive is a finger in your bum you’re winning at life. Who knows, you might even enjoy it 😉

When I had my digital exam, I was actually with MrsF – I was there for ‘nut’ problems and we were discussing my forthcoming nut surgery, but the Urologist said he’d check – I said to MrsF ‘erm you might not want to be in here for this bit’ – didn’t want her seeing visions of the doctor sticking his fingers up there.  Does make you feel like you need to pee though.

Just to provide a second data point, I only scored 3 on that test and am mid 50s. So if you score higher, then it may well be a wake up call to get some more tests done.

I’m early 50’s and scored 3 as well. Though i’m sure if you discount that i drink almost continuously, that could probably be 2 or maybe even a 1. (I’ve already polished off nearly 1.5 litres of water this morning).
I’m already in a high risk group as my dad has it.

You know there are healthcare economists who spend months pouring over data and understanding the true accuracy of these tests and variability of the population to work out if screening, and at what age / interval would be useful.

That’s what has lead to almost every man in Sweden receiving a completely optional offer to go for a PSA test on their 50th and then at regular intervals afterwards (maximum of 5 years i think), and based on their results and follow up. So they have population data, baseline data and loads of samples for improving the testing protocols.

healthcare economists who spend months pouring over data

Sounds like they need a checkup themselves if they’re that incontinent 🙂

Well on the plus side, no ‘roids.   But I have an enlarged prostrate suspected to be benign as it’s “smooth”.   I have Bloods/PSA and stool/urine tests and an ultrasound to complete over the next few weeks.

Another plus, she double my setraline dose.

All this is minor compared to what some are suffering but I’m very grateful to this thread and its contributors for convincing me to get examined – if you haven’t already, get it done.

Another plus, she double my setraline dose.

They can tell that from a finger up the bum?

I think more likely by the look on my face either side of it 😉

In honesty I discussed it whilst I was there, NHS time is precious for people suffering worse than me so I didn’t want to make another appointment if I didn’t have to.

I went for a PSA after being invited by my GP as part of “well man” screening (not a national thing but something our local surgery were running)

Score came back high (no surprise I later discovered as I’d done a 100 mile road ride the day before – as others have said, I too was unaware this was an issue)

anyway, remember, I had no symptoms…..however, in the days after the finger up the bum I started to feel bladder pain and unable to pee…..a few days after that I had an MRI and had a reaction to the dye…..net effect was really bad UTI…..but all tests clear!!

that was that…..until a few months later after a couple of hard ride days (I was training for LEJOG) and I peed what I can only describe as half a dozen blood clot bullets and collapsed in agony….cue 5 days in a constant round of antibiotic and hydration drips in the local hospital (I did LEJOG 2 weeks after that!)……

I’ve since gone private to have more tests to see what’s going on – it seems I have a “tight” prostate which, as I’m getting older (58) is causing me to not empty my bladder fully due to low flow….and the finger and other treatments started a bit of a chain reaction in terms of stimulating infection….so had I not done the tests in the first place I would have been blissfully unaware of all of this (& if I hadn’t done 100 miles before the PSA!!)

anyhow, I’m glad I did go and I’m glad I now know what’s up – whilst I’m on some drugs the actual best treatment is just drinking a lot more water (a LOT more) than I used to to keep everything flushed through – if the demographic on here is anything g like me and my riding buddies, blokes of our age generally don’t drink enough so as well as all the good advice already passed on above – DRINK MORE WATER!

@kryton57 If you go private they lick your neck.

I went to a men’s health talk at the local hospital last week that focused on proctologt & urology.

The proctologist was renowned for developing a particular procedure so the other medics were in awe of him.

He dismissed the DRE as you can only reach a small part of the prostrate. He explained that the problem with the PSA is that there is no “safe” number- set too low & there are false positives with the related stress- too high  and you miss some.

He said that there was a study on mens health that took blood samples over c 20 years. When some subjects developed Prostrate Cancer they went back and tested for PSA and saw it was initially low then rose  exponentially. If they had been monitoring these people for PSA then all the time it’s level or low growth then ignore- only as it starts to rise start investigating.

He said there could be mitigating factors for a single high reading- recent exercise, sex etc so if he saw someone with a high first PSA he’d want another test to confirm.

his view was to get a PSA when you’re over 50 and that will be the base so any subsequent tests have an initial reading to compare against and MRI is usually the first port of call if they see a patient with a high PSA. He added that more men will die with prostrate cancer than from it.

when he was asked what can we do to prevent it, he replied apart form the usual eat healthily and drink in moderation, ejaculate a lot!

@iainc

wish i could add a thumbs up !

Unless you’re sufficiantly qualified then I politely decline.

Interesting that folk have heard stuff about cycling/PSA tests. Mine told me he expected mine to be high just because I ride my bike a lot rather than advising not to ride in preparation for the test. Am waiting on an ultrasound appt and scheduled for more follow up PSAs. Not to worried at the moment, but I have had a few UTIs so want to rule out anything more sinister than I need to drink more water.

This thread has made me realise the ultrasound referral seems to be taking longer than expected so I’ll chase it up this week.

This thread scares the sh1t out of me.

I’m actually going for an ultrasound scan for a small lump on my neck. Some people have said my face is like an arse.

This thread scares the sh1t out of me.

Don’t let it. Everyone on here has been scared I suspect to some extent or other and bottling things up don’t make it any better. Get yourself checked. It may be nothing at the end of the day.

I had a small lump on my neck, like bit bigger than pea sized at the back of my neck.  Doc cut it out under local, it was just a build up of hard fat.  No idea where it came from, or why it appeared there.  Anyway, it never came back and I don’t even have a scar to show for it.

I start 20 radiation treatment for it tomorrow,

I was roughly in your position about 10 years ago @Shak.  Radiotherapy knocks the stuffing out of you somewhat, but it’s not too bad in the overall scheme of things.  Pm me if you would like to discuss things further.

There’s some helpful info here about treatment options, risks etc

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/prostate-cancer/treatment/decisions-about-your-treatment/

and the PSA test – risks and benefits

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/tests-and-scans/prostate-specific-antigen-psa-test/

Other tests, mri etc

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/prostate-cancer/getting-diagnosed/tests-for-prostate-cancer/

hope it helps

i was told to lay off mountain biking for at least 5 days before PSA test  one doc said avoid for 2 weeks.

ejaculation, anal sex, heavy exercise can all affect (heighten) the result which starts the scary rollercoaster

Kryton57

Another plus, she double my setraline dose

Don’t get get too deep into Sertraline man.  one can perhaps become dependent. I benefitted from therapy (NHS) and managed to give it up but I realise that for some it’s very hard to do that. ..

I believe It’s an SSRI. So increases available seratonin. Some research suggests seratonin may increase cancer risk. Maybe try look that up.