Hi. PSA 19 in 2019. MRI scan. Appointment for biopsy. No indication before the biopsy that I had prostate cancer. Surgeon performing the biopsy revealed this information for the first time while showing me a scan of my prostate. Advanced prostate cancer. Floored me to say the least. He then proceeded to inform me that due to COVID I would have a local anaesthetic, administered up the rectum into the wall adjoning the prostate. His last comment before the operation to take samples from the prostate was, 'now this is going to hurt!'
I can now empathise with all women who have needed any gynecolgical procedure as my legs were speadeagled apart, two nurses holding my hands while he inserted some device before injecting the inner wall of my rectum. I can only assume that the anaesthetic didnt work, or my threshold for pain is incredibly low, as each sample (and there were 29 of these) felt like a nail gun had been fired into me, jolting me so that my grip on the nurses hands tightened to such an extent that one of them would have needed surgery to reset the bones.
After the event they insisted that I try to sit outside for a while for possible after effects. Fortunately I was picked up from the hospital. My friends reaction on meeting me reflected the shock which I felt when being nail gunned. 'What the hell did they do to you?'
Several days of slight bleeding in the urine and extremely odd textured faeces and I began to feel normal once more.
I later found out that the normal procedure for biopsies was a saty in hospital and general anaesthetic!!!
Zolodex hormone injections started soon afterwards.
However, passing urine was now nearly impossible without excercising for at least 30 minutes before trying. Up 5/6 times a night. Urinating every hour during the day.
Oncologist and urologist were not communicating. Oncologist did not know that the urologist had not booked me in for a bore to my prostate. This would ease the flow along with the Tamsulosin I was taking every day.
First operation failed as I had 3 contusions in my urinary tract!
Home for 2 weeks with catheter until new appointment could be made.
Second operation successful but catheter rather large!
Urologist informed me that I would need to self catheter after having the catheter removed a week after the operation. What????
This procedure is not the most pleasant thing I have needed to do to my body- especially in that area!!!
3 successful self catheterings and all looking good.
4th self catheter and signs of small amount of blood when inserted.
2 hours later I tried to pee and nothing. Couldn't force it. Tried one last time and whoosh!!-- huge blood clot.
Up to urology fast. More catheters etc etc.
One week later all going well but asked to keep self cathetering. No way. I stopped self cathtering and two years later all flowing nicely.
However, still need to pee 2/3 times a night and egularly during the day, but at least I can pass.
New problem.
PSA was reduced to 0.2 after the first Zolodex injections. Stayed 0.2 for 2 more. Then increased to 0.6, 1.5 and the last result 3.4.
My question is what is next?
If the PSA keeps increasing then does the testosterone increase and produce more cancer cells and therefore reduce the urine flow again.
I seriously do not think I could go through the biopsy and operations again.
Hope this helps anyone who reads.
Brooksbank
