Just diagnosed

Hi John and welcome

I know all a bit of a shock when first diagnosed.

Not sure if u have some stats but if u do we may be able to reassure u somewhat. PSA, Gleeson that sort of thing.

If you don't have any figures I think u will have to give them a call this week or next to try and get more info.

Get back when u know more 

Steve 

Do you know your stats? PSA,  Gleason score and staging?  Have you had an MRI scan  that will help us to help you - age is also a good steer.  You can also contact the specialist prostate cancer Uk nurses - look up the prostate cancer UK website for the times they man the free phpne telephone lines over the Christmas New Year period.  They were far easier to contact than the key worker I was given at the hospital. I only managed to contact her by e mail and get a reply once.  This was 6 years ago so no Covid or strikes to blame then.  The telephone number for the specialist prostate cancer Uk nurses is 0800 074 8383.  I shall look up their times for you for this period and get back to you.

Sorry tried to search for their helpline opening hours over the holiday period the normal times are Mon, Tue, Thur and Fri between 9am and 6pm and Wednesdays 10am and 8pm

He said 4 assumed was psa be honest just bit shocked when he confirmed it said was intermediate needed dealing with advised surgery pretty much said don't do radiotherapy as too damaging  said wouldn't get election again slim chance of leaking pee but would improve 

Yes had biopsy and mri scan ultra scan and camera in bladder biopsy showed cancer am sure he said both ends 

Thankyou very much   , yes its the hospital ones not got back the first card I had was a mcmillan  nurse who worked in the hospital said call anytime for help but ???????????? The mcmillan nurse I spoke to online said she is only one can access my records to give proper help

Thank you

John 

U need to get all the details because that can help u make a decision about treatment options.

Radiotherapy is nearly always another treatment option instead of surgery.

Beware of some surgeons heavily promoting surgery for abvious reasons, obviously not all like that 

Steve 

You need to get all the details pertaining to your situation as mentioned above PSA. Gleason score it is made up of two numbers to make the total score - mine was 7 (3+4) the lower that first number in the equation the better.and then the staging made up like this T (number) N (number ) and  M(number)  Mine was T2 or 3 N0 M0. so termed as locally advanced.  You have to remember that a surgeon will always steer you towards surgery and a radiology consultant will steer you towards radiotherapy as that is what they know most about.  it is up to you to make the decision based on what they both say  Prostate Cancer is generally slow growing when caught early so most of us do have the time to make a decision but to make that decision you do need all the information.  In a way I was lucky as at MRI my tumour was shown to be pushing out at the back of the prostate into the rectum and so they upped the T score to 3 as they could not definitely say whether or not any minute cancer cells had escaped into the local area and would not be picked up as to small on PET Scan so it went from a  choice between either removal or radiotherapy to radiotherapy with Hormone Therapy before hand to treat the whole area to mop up any cancer cells that could have escaped into the local area.  that was now 7 years ago and as promised by the first urologist I saw I am to all intents and purposes "cured" with just a few side effects in the first 6 months immediately following radiotherapy but now I am "back to normal" in all respects - apart from getting older of course and concerned about every annual PSA test..

Have a look on the Prostate Cancer UK website and look at their leaflets in the Prostate Cancer Toolkit - these give clear information on what you need to know and the questions you need to ask at diagnosis.  Though no one will help you make a decision on the treatment unfortunately that falls to you.  Hard as it is  you need to gather all the information you can and then work out which will suit you. You can read throughthese amphlets on line or down load them - you can also call them and have them posted to you but at present that would just take too long.

You should also be able to get the details of your cancer from your GP as a letter should have been sent to your surgery and you can ask for a copy of that letter or call the consultants secretary and ask for a copy to be sent to you. As you live in England you may also be able to access your details on line - but as I live in Wales where this is not available I do not know if you actually are able to access this or how you would do so.

Take care.