Medication to reduce prostate size whilst waiting for biopsy?

Hello Dogs4me 

Don't forget we aren't medically trained on here and we are only going from personal experiences.

Quite frankly I don't think with a large tumour you don't want to be messing with the Prostate, the last thing you want is for the cancer to break out of the Prostate and go "walkabout" in his body.

I had (still have to some extent) the urge to visit the toilet every couple of hours at night. My team advised me to contact my GP to prescribe alpha-blockers - "Tamsulosin" and this works for me. Although it's not cut out the visits at night it's greatly reduced them.

i hope this helps and he gets sorted.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Brian

Thank you for your reply - I appreciate it so much. So you think that he should just wait for now? You make a good point about not wanting to do anything to encourage the tumour to break out and I suppose a big tumour in a smaller prostste might be more likely to do that. 

I realise that you are not medically trained but I honestly think we are getting more common sense from this board than we seem to be getting from the nurses at the moment.

Thank you again

D4Me

Hello Dogs4me 

I appreciate he had his biopsy put back to 27 July so with the results taking 2/3 weeks then the MDT meeting it's going to be late August before he starts any treatment path. I know most Prostate Cancer is slow growing but I would still encourage him to see if he can get a cancellation.

Yes I would also try for the Tamsulosin from the GP as an improved sleep will help his mental health.

Best wishes - Brian.

I finally managed to get him to ring (by telling him you suggested he should try for a cancellation-so thank you) but the lady he needed to speak to had left for the day. They said they would get her to ring him tomorrow . Thanks again.

D4Me

Talk to your GP and see if they can prescribe Tamulosin for your partners urinary symptoms (assuming he doesn't already take it.)

Tamulosin doesn't shrink the prostate but it does relax the muscles in the urinary tract and helps with flow.

Tamulosin is usually the first port of call for men with LUTS (Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms) it is widely used and well tolerated.

Rob

Oh ok. Thank you. He is not taking it atm. He went to his GP about the urinary problems and they did a PSA test and then referred him to the hospital, so his symptoms have not been addressed.

thanks again

D4Me

Thank you so much for the heads up about the Tamsulosin!  It has had a huge effect and he has even had a couple of uninterrupted nights. Really grateful!