Prostate Cancer - Wife

MRI 3 is more commonly known as PI RAD 3 which is inconclusive as u have already mentioned.

However Gleeson 9 means Def cancer, the hope is that the other scans are clear and hopefully the tumour is contained within the gland.

If this is the case then more easily treatable so fingers crossed.

Hopefully when they give u the scan results they don't ask for a treatment decision at that point because u  may want to think it thru and talk on here

Good luck

Steve 

Hi Joyful,

I am rather late to the party, but as it looks like we are playing Top Trumps, my husband wins, as his psa was 1200 on initial diagnosis! Not sure if that qualifies for a prize or not. That was 2 1/2 years ago and has several hospital visits but none related to his cancer.

After his high reading was discovered, the doctor arranged for him to have an mri scan at our local hospital, but the consultant, having obviously decided that she had not seen enough bottoms that morning, went for a rectal examination prior to the scan. When she had finished, she rather abruptly pronounced "yep, you have advanced prostate cancer!!!!" Just as she was removing her surgical glove, we were all laughing as my husband had been joking that "the last time that happened he had hit his head on the bed post" (nothing to do with me I hasten to add), however the laughter from us both and the nurse soon stopped when the insensitive diagnosis was pronounced. Like you, it was such a shock and I tried to hold back the tears so as not to upset my husband. The nurse, unlike the doctor, was far kinder and told us that most men die with, and not from prostate cancer, which someone has already said on this thread.  I was told to go the the pharmacy straight away to get the hormone injection that he was to start on. 

If your husband has not been started on HT, I would ask why as this is the first step to reducing the testosterone which the cancer feeds on and needs to grow. Apologies if someone else has already mentioned this as I only skimmed through the replies all these wonderful people have mentioned.

Keep strong and go to all the appointments, if you are able, as two heads are better than one. As has been said many times, this is a journey for both of you but one you will get through with all the help and support on this site.

Regards

Gina

Hi Alwayshope,

Thank you so much for sharing. This is great info!!!

Oh wow.....I didn't know about the 'treatable / curable' angles.....good to know.

I'm still doing some research/homework so that we can make an informed decision. Hubby is nonchalant about it all at the moment and has a very positive attitude so i'm trying not to drag him down by talking about it to much (which i'm finding difficult).

The dietary information is also useful and something I didn't know. 

This forum is FAB!!

Hi Sidsmum,

Thank you for your message. I got to admit I laughed out loud at the narrative of your husband's experience.

I think your husband most definitely wins the PSA score trophy...wow!

I agree a sense of humour is a must.

My husbands said his DRE went like this....

Doc: are you happy for me to do a digital rectal examination?

Hubby: Happy?!!

Doc: Sorry wrong choice of words. Do you consent to me giving you a DRE?

Hubby: Okay.

Hubby assumes the position on the examination table with his knees nice and high.

The doc then backs up, takes a run at him from the other side of the room and wham!!! (that was my husband's exact commentary of what happened to him) I haven't laughed so much in a long time and even hubby managed a chuckle. His biopsy story was also comical as the lady undertaking the biopsy was a trainee who chose the wrong size implement and forgot to lube it. 

I have picked up a lot of useful information from community members replying to this thread and have jotted down some questions to ask at his next appointment.

Thank you for your well wishes. I'll provide an update once we get the results of his bone and lymph node scans.

Hi  

There's a lot of great information on the Prostate Cancer UK website in the form of downloadable PDF files. A good place to start is "How Prostate Cancer is Diagnosed" which you can find here:

https://shop.prostatecanceruk.org/our-publications/tests/how-prostate-cancer-is-diagnosed

You can also order printed versions of the publications but this takes a bit of time. There is probably a Macmillan Unit at your local cancer centre and they will also have lots of useful booklets.

Good luck with your journey and, as others have already said, there are no silly questions as we have all been in your position before; so ask any questions and someone will know the answer.

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the info. Good to know. I agree it would be helpful to be given time to think about what treatment to go for after having all the results in. We're hoping the scans will come back clear and they give us some breathing space to make an informed decision.

Thanks for the fab info Seamus and your well wishes, very much appreciated.

Hi Joyful,

Pmsl here, so funny. As for the biopsy, OUCH!!

Best regards

Gina

Hi j33,

Sorry to hear of your news and shabby treatment from the consultant. My diagnosis came as a big shock to me and my partner too as I'm pretty fit and have no symptoms apart from weeing quite frequently.  We had a pretty good consultant and very helpful nurse. We were a little surprised when he asked "how highly do you value your erections"? Anyway moving on I now await for the consultant to get my bone and CT scans then moved forward with a treatment plan with full prostatectomy being suggested as they appropriate way forward. Stay strong as challenging times are ahead of us. Kind regards Barnman 

Sound's like solid advice Alwayshope