It all feels so unreal!

Thanks Big Col.

Yep,it's certainly a roller coaster of emotions. Hopefully we can get a cancellation and get seen sooner.

Thank you David, you lot have been a great help already and I've only posted once! Fingers crossed a cancellation comes up.

Hi Willow67, just to let you know we have all been through this period before knowing what is going on and it’s extremely hard.  We are all with you.   However, my personal view, is that you have hopefully been lucky to stumble across this at a very early stage. If you hadn’t had a PSA test I suspect you would have sailed on in blissful ignorance for years.  PCa is a slow growing cancer and as others have said 98% who have it die of something else!  Best wishes and good luck with the biopsy.  David

Yes,you're right we have caught it early and so should be grateful for the screening. It's the not knowing...

Thank you for your reply  , they have all be really supportive and helpful.

Hi Willow67,

I feel a bit calmer now and have a bit more understanding of my partners cancer ( after a year) , but at the very start I was in a complete panic as you probably are. This is what I did;  I chased every appointment and phoned up every department he needed to see and said if there was a cancellation my Partner could be with them within 20 minutes. I was very polite. I briefed my partner that he could get a last minute call and he must drop everything and get there. He had the biopsy, Ct scan and bone scan within a few weeks because of this. But he still had to wait 3 months for the actual Consultants appointment. We saw a hospital urologist a few weeks after the scans and started hormone treatment, but the wait for the main treatment plan was too long . So I phoned up the Royal Marsden and booked a consultant appointment privately. You can have all your scans sent through via your GP. I couldn't cope with the wait and I went into organised overdrive. Best £480 spent. One of the most annoying things was that the (three month wait) Consultant phoned us and said that he had been notified that we had gone private for the consultation and treatment plan and that he could see us that week if we wanted another opinion. (paying) So that's something to consider.. Where theres a will theres a way, you don't have to stick to the plan. You can dip in and out of NHS/Private. There are a lot of great consultants out there and it's easy enough to get a first or a second opinion.

So, it's an option, though probably a bit of an extreme reaction on my part. The thing is PC is usually very slow growing it can sit there for ages not really changing much. In most cases there is no need to panic . A PSA of 3.9 is nice and low. The word cancer is terrifying but if you are going to get a cancer ,Prostate is one of the best to have because it is very treatable with a high rate of cure.

If you feel three weeks is too long phone the department and ask for any cancellation that comes up and that your husband can be there, but in the meantime you can be proactive by doing some research on sites like Prostate cancer UK/ Macmillan because the more you know the calmer you will feel. 

It's going to be ok. You've found a great forum full of lovely men and women that have gone through the same things you are now experiencing and there will always be someone to help and answer your questions. 

Best wishes L.x

I'm so glad you replied as I was going to ask about private treatment and if anyone had tried it. I'm hoping we have caught it early, and it seems to be contained according to the MRI. It's just the waiting is so hard. I've been reading up on here and it does feel reassuring. The replies I've had too have been so supportive and lovely....you are a great bunch.

Thank you for your reply and best wishes xx

To be honest, not sure having treatment privately is much benefit, NHS have so much experience in sorting out cancers.

The only thing is perhaps for a second opinion if needed in difficult cases can be a benefit

Steve 

Yes I agree, the only advantage is speed and second opinions. pretty much the same treatment. 

L

I can echo that  sentiment. This morning I am staying positive  

Hello Willow67  A belated warm welcome to the online Community. It's half term so I have had a day off and in that space of time you have had a great response from our Community members - I must say they are a great bunch.

I can't add any more to what's been said so below please find a link to a cracking publication on how Prostate Cancer is diagnosed - you can read this online.

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

Don't forget it's OUR Community and YOU are a most valued member -feel free to ask questions and join in any conversations.

Best wishes - Brian