Just diagnosed

Hello, had my diagnosis of prostate cancer that's gone to my hips about three weeks ago and confirmed by consultant 3 days ago. Have had blood test,  high PSA, full bone scan and biopsy with CT scan next week. Started hormone tablets with injections starting in 10 days. Bone scan didn't hurt was ok. Biopsy, thank goodness for amazing professional staff who took a very nervous patient, reassured me and did the procedure and were utterly amazing throughout. It isn't a pleasant experience more uncomfortable than darn right painful but glad to get done. So far feel ok apart from hip discomfort but still getting my head around the dramatic turn of events. The waves of despair of the first 48 hours now much more infrequent and helped enormously by people telling my wife and I to live in the moment, one bridge at a time. When things get bad, often at night for one of us, we talk in detail about a favourite walk (Langdale Pikes) and, in our minds, set off chatting about the views! Sounds crazy but seems to work. 

You mention beam therapy? Is that targeting radiation on prostate or bone too? Anyone have experience of this? 

Many thanks

G

Hi 

Well im pretty new to this so the beam Therapy for me at least will be targeted just on my Prostate but i believe it can be a wider range, but many people on here will know far more than me,

I hope it all goes well for you and you make a full recovery, as for me its going to get better soon. Hopefully by July it will be a distent memory

Good luck and best wishes! 

Good evening Cader28 . To answer your question about radiotherapy, yes it can be used to deal with bone mets but what treatment you will undergo depends on the results of the other tests which you are still due to have. The reassuring thing is that you have started hormone therapy which works to put the cancer into hibernation no matter where it is in the body. Some treatments are time dependent from starting hormone therapy so now you need to ensure that you have all the tests and a consultation with an oncologist within 12 weeks of starting the hormone therapy - politely push and advocate for yourself.

The hormone therapy can come with side effects but the best thing you can do for yourself is to try and get as fit as possible, especially with weight bearing exercises, as this helps to mitigate some of them. HT can lead to bone loss so ask about calcium and vitamin D supplements. Also think about your penile health as the genitalia will tend to shrink so have a word with your GP if this is going to worry you and they can prescribe tablets to help maintain blood flow as well as a possible vacuum pump. If you have any questions about the hormone therapy and side effects then just ask. Fatigue is the most common but you learn to live with it. 

That is helpful. Thank you very much. Early days and still finding our way and getting our head around things. Advice and support from such as yourself means a lot. Thank you and best wishes. 

Hi all.  I agree.  The advice on here is very informative and cuts through some of the c**p you can read on line.  I only read about my perennial invasion after reading it on my nhs app results    I searched it online as I didn’t know what it was was scared to death after reading at first.  Was only after looking in this site I realised it’s pretty common.  I’ve stopped looking at dr google.    Cheers Simon 

Yes. Agree again. It's been tough enough these last three weeks trying to filter and weigh up what it all means and still stay relatively sane. 

Many thanks Simon and best wishes 

I’m on the same journey.    In 3 weeks.  I did a home test which came back high psa 19.     Went to doctors same day.   Blood test day after psa 22.  MRI scan. 4 days laters. Blood at hospital.  Biopsy 4 days later.   Results last Tuesday.  Bone scan Friday    It’s been a whirlwind.    I have moments of clarity.   Then moments of dread.  It’s not a journey I wanted to come on really.  

Boy you did well but what a whirlwind it took me almost 3 months not weeks, Yes its a journey none of us wanted to be on and hoped we never would be!

Agree.   I’ve just had a friend diagnosed with mnd so I’ve got to put it in perspective.  Although we are all on this journey it’s one that we can probably survive for many years.    Cheers. Simon