Old pains and prostate cancer diagnosis

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Hello

I have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, Geason 4+3=7. Medium risk. I am having a bone scan next week. Physically, I don’t feel any worse than I felt before I requested my PSA blood test. I take very long daily walks, don’t feel particularly tired afterwards, no mobility issues, etc. Anyway, I have had back issues for a very, very long time (I am 70 years old after all), sometimes crippling, which haven’t got worse and yet, I have developed this tendency to associate any small back discomfort with the possibility of having stage 4 prostate cancer. It’s illogical, but it getting my head in. I sleep well at night, sometimes (or most of the time rather) without OTC medication. But one bad night is suspicious in my mind. My partner has been a rock, but I can’t bother her with y anxiety all the time.
I don’t know how to deal with this, and I fear for my mental health.

Any advice?

Many thanks.

Javier

OneInSixBilliona162e1 1 day ago

Hi Javier, I completely understand that feeling of anxiety, and sometimes my mental health gets stretched a bit with the same type of anxiety, somehow we get through it. I am 63 and have advanced prostate cancer diagnosed in march/april this year with no family or friends or partner alive anymore(I lost both parents, partner, best friend and sister and both pets) during early covid between 2020-2022 That is great that you have at the very least the loving support of your partner which must make a great difference. I try to look at inspiring videos on YouTube, people who are homeless and have lost everything, yet keep smiling and trying, young sick children in hospital full of smiles... A little dose of good music helps too!!

Take care Javier, hope it has helped to get a reply from someone, I often feel invisible as I am completely alone and miss a good laugh with partner, family and the miss coming home to no pets anymore!

Javierb3ee90 1 day ago in reply to OneInSixBilliona162e1

Thank you very much for your message. I still don't know if the cancer has spread. I might not have it, but I am trying to prepare for the worst. I am ever so sorry that you have lost the people you most love. We are here to support you.
Take care

eddiel 22 hours ago in reply to OneInSixBilliona162e1

Hi OneInSixBillion, and a warm welcome to the forum, I too have APCa, for about 42 months now, treatable; but not curable and I'm often on the Prostate cancer forum with the wonderful guys and ladies there, who are an amazing group of people, who will be happy to support you anyway they can, from treatments to side effects, physical and emotional, from concerns or advice, somewhere to have a rant, blow off a little steam. Just a chat, support or the proverbial shoulder to cry on, they are there for you my friend, and I don't know anyone who's ever regretted joining, I look forward to seeing you over there.

Eddie

Millibob 13 hours ago

Hello Javier (Javierb3ee90) and OneInSixBilliona162e1

A warm welcome to the Macmillan online Community from me. I am Brian one of the Community Champions here on the Community. I am 70 years old and also with a Prostate Cancer diagnosis.

As Eddie (eddiel) has said above, why not come and join us on the Prostate Group - here's the link you need:

Prostate cancer forum

Once you click on the link and the page opens up, just click on "Join" on the black banner at the bottom of the page. Once you have joined us you can introduce yourself in the "New Here - Say Hello" section. There's plenty of help, information or just social chat on the group.

I look forward to meeting you again in our little part of the Community.

Best wishes - Brian

Community Champion badge

Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

Strength, Courage, Faith, Hope, Defiance, VICTORY.

I am a Macmillan volunteer.

OneInSixBilliona162e1 2 hours ago in reply to eddiel

Hi Eddiel, lovely to meet you, thanks for kind message, I was diagnosed in March this year after having a serious scare with bad case of food poisoning some 5-6 months prior(contaminated food - Hepatitis A, apparently from contaminated food! ).

I came out of that fine! I was supposed to be going onto(taking) this drug called 'XTANDI' (enzalutamide) a couple of months ago, but thought that the side effects and problems associated with it overwhelming, so I just opted out so far, yet stay on my only drug Relugolix to lower testosterone levels.

I don't know what drug(s) you are on, but would welcome any opinions you have on my current situation.

Kindest regards !!

Robert

eddiel 16 minutes ago in reply to OneInSixBilliona162e1

Hi my friend, as my only understanding of your diagnosis is you have advanced prostate cancer APCa, and I don't know if it's localised, where any mets are, or variant cancer cell types you may have, It's not for me to to guess, I know Relugolix as a first line HT treatment, though not used as often as others, is very effective, and can be used with, or subsequently by Abiraterone, Apalutamide, daralutamide then Enzalutamide. These 2nd Gen treatments are proving to be very effective, though my only experience is with Enzalutamide, which I take alongside Prostap3, as I have lots of mets, including to the bones. My friend, please join the prostate cancer forum, if you would give some details of your diagnosis, PSA, TNM staging, Gleason scores, and where your cancer has spread, "this is your choice," it would help others with a similar diagnosis to get in touch sooner. On Millibob's/Brian's post earlier, you will see prostate cancer forum in green letters, just click on it to take you there.

Eddie