Hi Goldstar,

I agree with everything you have written. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer about six and a half years ago, but only because my dear wife absolutely made me go to my gp and in doing so I believe she saved my life. The only symptom I had was when I heard water running into the sink, I had to run to the bathroom. I have not heard of this as a symptom of prostate cancer but luckily for me, my gp was on the bal and thats how I was diagnosed, I have been very lucky as my psa was high at 70 and gleeson 3+3=6 but after two years of zoladex and 37 radiotherapy treatments, it dropped right down to 0.01. It is rising slightly and is now 0.87 but still very low.

I admire what you are doing but as men just bury their head in the sand and refuse to accept anything is wrong, I feel that any publicity should be targeted at both men and women for I know of so many cases where it is the wifes/ partners who have been responsible for making their men go to get checked out, just as in my case.

Well done for what you are doing while sorry for your loss.

Take care, best wishes, Brian.

Hi Goldstar, I fully believe that being passionate is how things get done, nothing to be sorry about  - you are doing a grand job.  Awareness and early diagnosis is key to good outcomes.

I'm sorry that  this was not the case for your husband, it must be very hard for you and very difficult to accept.

Unfortunely there are still G.Ps refusing PSA tests when asked.  PSA test are not fully reliable but the best we have at present.  I cannot understand why it is a good enough test to monitor prostate cancer but not considered  as a diagnosis tool by some.  The fear is overtreatment .  If we lived in a house that developed a crack would we not investigate the cause, fix the crack and save the house from possible future collaspe.

Apart from needing to use the loo more and more often are there other signs?

My hubby was diagnosed after a fall and an ache in his side that did not go away after 3 weeks.  We were lucky as the Nurse practioner suggested a PSA test after testing and finding blood in the urine.

My hubby tells all and sundry to see their GP and  have the test if anybody he comes across needs the loo very frequently or urgently.

You're right we need to know more about the signs and symptoms  and act upon them.

We know not to leave lumps in breast untested . Prostate cancer needs the same promernance and coverage in the media.

Hope you understand my bad spelling!

Well done and take care, gardenlady

Hello Brian,I am so glad you got checked out quickly. All praise to your wife for insisting you see your GP. My husband had none of the usual symptoms. He first went to the GP with hip and leg pain and was diagnosed with sciatica. 3 months later as the pain was no better he had a private consultation. His PSA was 256! He had a hip xray immediately which showed his bones were riddled with cancer. He was seen immediately after by a urologist at the clinic, and after a DRE it was discovered that he had nodules on both sides of the prostate and the cancer had broken out of it and caused secondarys to the bones. He then had a biopsy. I think the gleeson score was between 8 and 10. He was given between 2 and a half and 6 years to live. I will never forget that day. We were devastated. It was the beginning of 4 years of treatment. I dont want anyone to go through what we did and so I learn as much as I can and I spread the word and oh boy do I nag! I guess you know that prostate cancer is fuelled by testosterone and is hereditary. Please get your lovely wife to  tell her friends to nag their hubbys.

My best wishes to both you and your wife.

Chris  

Hi Gardenlady,You are so right about early diagnosis, and I agree, it needs more publicity. I know that GPs are not keen on doing PSA tests as they say they are not reliable. When my new partner and I got together 3 years ago ( actually hes not really new in that we were together from 1961 to 63 and found each other again) I insisted that he have yearly PSA checks and in fact he had a blood test yesterday.  I do know that its inadvisable to ride a pushbike or have sex for 24 hours before a PSA blood test as that affects the result.I am so pleased that your hubby was diagnosed early. Re symptoms, if you have any of the following its advisable to get a PSA test..... Getting up in the night to use loo , difficulty starting, slow flow, feeling like your bladder is not empty afterwards. Also pain in hips. You are so right about overtreatment. I do think that MRI guided biopsys are the right way to go, aslo brachytherapy. One of my bike club members was given three treatment options and I urged him to go for brachytherapy as it was much safer and wouldnt cause probs after. He had his treatment three weeks ago and is fine with no bladder probs. Us ladies need to spread the word, nag our men and tell our friends to nag their men.

My best wishes to you and your hubby

Chris 

  I have become a bit of a advert for prostrate cancer myself and have badgered many of my friends to have a test including a mate who had a GP that thought it was unnessasary to do a PSA test

I am 15 months on from HDR which was the fial part of a 24 dose radiotherapy treatment I was and am still on Zolodex (every 3 months) with 3 to go (fingers crossed) I take a pill every morning .

So far so good ive gone from a critical reading to a reading of 0.01 as far as psa is concerend

My Gleeson score was an 8 i think but no spreading

There are some side affects mostly tired sometimes and aching joints around 10 days before a jab is due .

I was treated at Southend Hospital and would praise the treatment i was given no end

if anyone needs a chat in the area feel free to contact me ,i will tell it as it is (which is what i was lucky enough to have happen to me .)