Prostate cancer and the unknown

Hi Steve12345 and a very warm welcome to the Macmillan Community but sorry to hear about your diagnoses..... how this was found is actually not that unusual.

Navigating the cancer journey can be such a stressful and challenging time but getting support from people who have walked the ‘exact same' cancer type journey can help a lot. (I have a completely different cancer).

The Community is divided into dedicated Cancer Specific Support Groups (Discussion Rooms) so can I recommend you join and post in our dedicated Prostate Cancer support group. This is a safe place to talk to others with a similar diagnosis, treatment experience, to ask questions and get support.

To connect in with the group click on this link> Prostate cancer then once the group page opens click on “Click to Join” when the black banner appears or “Join” under “Group Tools” (this all depends on the device you are using)

When you are ready you can introduce yourself by clicking “+new” or “+” in the top right next to the group title. You can copy and paste the text from this post into your new post.

The Macmillan Support Line is open 8am-8pm (timings may differ across services) 7 days a week on 0808 808 00 00. This service provides cancer information, practical information, emotional support, benefits/financial guidance or just a listening ear.

We also have our Ask an Expert section but do allow a few working days for a reply.

Talking to people face to face can be very helpful so do check to see if you have any Local Macmillan Support in your area, do also check for a local Maggie's Centre as these folks are amazing and give support to all the family.

Do get back to me if you need further help navigating the community.

Hi Steve12345, and welcome to the prostate cancer forum, Every one on here will echo your views about testing, and that waiting for results and treatment is probably the worst part early on your cancer journey, Steve regarding your biopsy, there are two types a transrectal, "which is self explanatory" and a transperineal where the cores, "samples", are taken via the perineum. I had the rectal one and apart from a little tenderness for a few hours it was fine, though the perineum one is the latest one with fewer side effects. Steve there are guys on here with a PSA over a thousand and they have been successfully treated. It's your Gleason score and TNM staging, which you will get after your biopsy, usually a couple oy weeks, which will determine possible treatments, Good luck with your biopsy and hope you have a great christmas, take care, Eddie.

Thanks for your reply Eddie, it's appreciated. 

My biopsy is the perineum route and was cancelled and postponed till next Thursday. I guess I won't be getting Gleason score till next year now. 

I appreciate the ability to discuss with you guys on here. Hope everything goes well for you Eddie. 

Merry Christmas all and Happy and healthy New year.  

Hi again Steve12345 ..... i see that you have not joined out dedicated Prostate cancer support group...... joining and posting in that group will open a large support base for you.

Morning Steve12345, my pleasure, the transperineal is the better choice as many of the guys on here would say. Steve i have only been on the forum for six weeks and the people on here have been so supportive to everyone and willing to help in any way they can. If you have any questions or concerns or just want to talk you will always ne welcome here, take care, Eddie

Steve as my friend Thehighlander has just said, and i could not agree with him more, joining the prostate cancer group would be a great idea, Eddie

I have now joined. Thanks.