New to the group

Hi Chris

Sorry to read about your diagnosis, it’s always a hard thing to take on board, did they happen to tell you what your PSA and Gleason scores were ? That’s if they did a biopsy on you. 
The effects differ from person to person, in my case ribs pelvis spine, although the latter is under control for now. When you go for your treatment chat, make sure you have plenty of answers wrote down, if you can take someone with you, two people remember what’s said better than one.

The oncologists and nurses are good people, they will sort out the best treatment for you, but don’t rush they may give you options.

Stay safe

Joe

Hi Joe 

Thanks for the reply 

Yes I had a biopsy the Gleason score was 5 + 4 and the PSA 168

Its good to have advice from people who have been there its better than looking on google which will frighten you to death.

once again thanks for your reply and advice

Hi Chris

Well if it helps any, my scores nearly five years ago were a lot higher, ok I’ve been through a lot but stayed positive, that’s important. You go through lots of emotions, being on hormones heightens that, but you get used to them, above all just keep doing what your doing, your the same person as before, with just bad news to live with and let’s hope it’s for many a year to come.

Stay safe 

Joe

Hi Chris and welcome

Your situation with the swollen ankles, u say that the cancer has spread to the nodes, possibly it may have interfered with the lymph system and u r experiencing lymphoedema which causes this swelling.

It may be worth talking with your GP  or the cancer center.

Steve

Hi Steve

Thanks for your reply, I will get in touch with them today thanks for the advice

Chris 

Hi Chris 2 I am a 72 year old reasonable fit, I still work five days a week and as my handle says that’s what I do for a living. Like you I had the same diagnosis by a useless practice nurse I was given antibiotics and not getting any better I was advised to go to the surgery for blood tests, I was having great difficulty peeing, the blood tests were done and my condition worsened so much that I had the first day off work for illness in twenty five years. When my wife came home from work she ran the surgery to ask for help she was told that the blood tests revealed my PSA was high and they were going to do a four week urology referral. My wife decided to drive me to A&E at Queens hospital Burton on Trent , I was seen by a triage nurse who did a bladder scan on me revealing 590 ml she told me she would get a doctor to insert a catheter and take blood tests, these were done and the bloods confirmed my PSA was 100.6 the doctor told me he wasn’t certain but thought I had prostrate cancer, and he was going to do an immediate referral to Urology  the consultant did twelve biopsies, I had mri and ct scans then a bone scan, she told me my cancer had spread to my seminal vestiges and lymph nodes and with a Gleason score of 9us there was no cure for it. The good news was my bone scan was clear and all they could do was control it with hormone injections for life. I have  had four months of these  and like you suffer swollen ankles, excessive tiredness and low mood swings so much so combined with UTIs  five weeks ago I had thoughts of suicide. A lot of people reading this will say pull yourself together man, my answer is Try my shoes for size and see if they fit, when you can’t sleep for hot sweats and heavy pain there is no light at the end of the tunnel. I have turned away from that door, I have started running early mornings which does lift my spirits, yes it’s painful but try going for a walk in a park or woodland  and also due to my mental state my oncologist has decided that it’s to risky for my chemotherapy treatment, so I’m waiting now for a referral for radium treatment. A tip I had was to take evening primrose ioil capsules 1500ml dosage daily, these help but it’s not a cure, my ankles have gone down though not entirely and also try rubbing on hand sanitizer  before bed this takes the heat out of them and at least you get some sleep. I hope you have some success and wish you all the best my friend 

Hi Kitchen Fitter

Thanks for your reply like you I was at my wits end, I have done some research on the Hormone treatment injections I had and behold swollen ankles are a side effect, I went to see my doctor who gave me 14 water tablets to take on alternate days like i really need something  to make me pee more, I have seen primrose oil capsules mentioned by others I think I will give them a go

I have my Oncologist appointment next week so I hope they will come up with a treatment plan.

Keep your chin up my friend you are not alone all the best

Chris 

Thanks mate I hope they come up with a plan that suits you well. None of them are pleasant but if they give you quality of life we must be thankful. The way I look at life now is to make the best of it and don’t look back. You are in my thoughts, all the best for next week and feel free to let us all know how you got on. As they say “ join the club “ 

kind regards R ( KF)