Waiting for test results, new cancer journey

My hubby still eats eggs 

fingers toes crossed it be no more then grade 2

Thank you

Sorry to hear about your worries. You don't say when the biopsy was done but we were told to expect to wait 2 weeks for the result. We were then told my husband needed a bone scan with another 2 week wait. We pushed for earlier, potentially cancelled appointments and saved a lot of delay, we alsoasked the prostate cancer specialist nurses to phone through the results as soonas they had them. As others have said here, you have to push (politely) to get through the system and you also have the PAL's (patient advisory and liaison service) -sometimes called pils - to call upon and the formal complaint route.in the meantime, try to find out as much as possible about grading, treatment options and treatment side effects so you will be able to ask all the questions you need answers for.

Another tip, keep a diary of all the people at the hospital that you speak to, get their names and contact details and note what they have said The further along you go  the more events get muddled in your mind. I wish you all the best and hope that you will get the best of results.

Thank you for your response, the oncology nurse called my husband about an hour ago after I made another call to the urology secretary.  The results are  - 

Gleason 7 (3+4) 

Code T2 

CN0 - ?

MN0

Treatments can be discussed on the 29th and he doesn’t need any more tests so I guess that means there is no spread.  Treatment should start about 6 weeks after this according to the nurse.  It seems surgery is definitely an option and we feel very grateful and positive that this is curable although will change our lives due to our self employment (a small price to pay).  

We had a holiday booked for the end of September which had been moved three times due to Covid so I was hoping to take Perky away before treatment but its not looking like he would be insured… 

Thank you for your good wishes 

Hi Pinkyperky

If I understand his stats above, they are not too bad - my Gleason was 9 and staging of T4N1M0.

There will be a number options that will be available to him,  so I would suggest you read up on the side effects of surgery and HT/RT so he can make an informed decision. 

Regarding your holiday, try Insurancewith. They were very good when I went to Oz. My HT/RT had finished but your husband hasn't really started on his journey so I feel the insurance won't be a problem.

Speak with the hospital, so they know when you plan to go away -  I'm sure they can and will work with you.

Regards

Stuart

Hi Pinkperky

Missed something.

My treatment was to cure me,so don't assume surgery is the only option to cure.

Please research the ither options.

Regards

Stuart

HI Stuart, 

The stats are pretty good so we feel very lucky in that respect.

We (I) have been researching and the reason we are considering the surgery above other treatments is that surgery would be off the table following radiotherapy.  So, if the cancer came back he would be limited in options as we understand it.  

Proton Beam therapy is the other of his options but requires 4 months of taking medication for 4 months before starting treatment so would delay the start of treatment further.

We do understand the side affects of the surgery as my dad had it and also a friends husband has surgery last year.  It’s definitely life changing for most people.  Also, a very long recovery period.  

Thanks for the tip on the insurance  - I”ll try them tomorrow and try to get many husband head out the sand as he hasn’t really taken it in that’s its major surgery and not like having a tooth out.

Thanks again

Hi Pinkyperky,

My PC journey started in March this year - age 67 with a PSA of 7.6, Gleason 4 + 3 = 7 & staging cT2a NO - localised PC.  I chose the RT/HT route rather than surgery & the HT started immediately I made that decision on the 12th June with RT due to start on the 13th September.  I have chosen SABR RT which means 5 higher dose fractions over 2 weeks rather than 20 over 4 weeks so will mean less hospital trips & hopefully less challenging.  I was told this was aimed at a cure rather than treatment.

My best advice is to read up as much as you can before the appointment on the 29th on the possible treatment options so that you are as informed as you can be before making any decisions.  Make a list of any questions you have (no matter how small they may seem) & take them with you when you go to the meeting (I had 3 pages of them although most were covered in the discussion anyway).  It's important to note that there is no right or wrong answer as to the treatment option you chose as it all comes down to personal preferences.

In answer to your actual question, I have continued eating eggs as part of my diet.

My personal observation is that a PC diagnosis is much harder for a partner to cope with so if you have any questions then please fire away.  We are a friendly bunch on here & everyone is more than happy to help.

Kind Regards

Brian

Hi Pinkyperky

Sounds like you are on it!

Forgot your question regarding eggs. Whilst I was being treated via external beam RT, there were loads of things I shouldn't eat or drink but eggs wasn't one of them.

Regards

Stuart

We got insurance through Travel Insurance For Medical after my husband was diagnosed and waiting for treatment. 

He had surgery 8 weeks ago and I contacted them last week and they changed his medical declaration to treatment completed.

Our bank insurance company had withdrawn cover so we had to look around.