Diagnosis journey

hi I'm dale ,I was diagnosed in January, you can read my bio so far to see were I'm.  but basically I had psa of 505. sent for a mri then a bone scan then the biopsy. I believe that's pretty much the way it go's to determine wich path youl be going down . hope that helps

. regards dale. 

Hi worried wifey. My husband has a different cancer to your husband (tonsil cancer) I was exactly like you. I read everything I could find about it on Dr Google and none of it was encouraging only the worst scenarios. So please listen to the people on here that are going through it and stay away from Dr Google it will drive you mad. If you haven’t already join the prostate cancer forum. They will be able to guide you through.

stay strong 

sue x

Hello Worried wifey 

Welcome to our part of the Macmillan Community. The diagnostic part of a Prostate Cancer journey is the hardest part of the journey and once you have the full diagnosis you will feel much better. Two points for you:

* Try and keep away from Dr Google - much information is old or just wrong.

* 98% of men with Prostate Cancer die WITH IT not OF it.

So he's on the normal diagnostic pathway and the biopsy will give him the full details he needs to sort out what treatment path he needs. I am in my 4th year on this journey - I had an initial PSA of 182 with potential lymph node involvement - I have been treated with Radiotherapy to the lymph nodes. I also had a couple of issues that nearly killed me. (You can read my journey by clicking on my name or avatar - it's got a happy ending!!)

Here's a link to some trusted information:

FIGHTING PROSTATE CANCER - A Survival Guide by Dr Jyoti Shah

and here's a link to the Prostate Biopsy;

The Prostate Biopsy

I hope this helps - please do come back to us with any questions, however trivial - there;s much to take in.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hello Worried wifey and welcome from another wife. Don't stress about the bone scan being done before the biopsy as it is normal to have it done as part of the work up for the full diagnosis and in most cases it is to rule out bone mets. For information on the diagnosis process and treatment available there is a very good book which you can download for free.

https://issuu.com/magazineproduction/docs/js_prostate_cancer_guide_for_patients_ezine

Many of us wives and partners have shed tears on this journey especially at the beginning as our world has been turned upside down and we are left wondering what the future will be like. Treatments have come on in leaps and bounds over recent years so a lot of the information on the internet relates to retrospective data. Nowadays lymph nodes can be treated along with the prostate itself and in many cases with curative intent.

For more up to date information on treating node involvement try this.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10251924/

Please ask whatever questions you want and we will try and help.

Hi Worried wifey , this is a really bad time for you until you get a proper diagnosis.  I know it won’t help saying don’t worry, but try not to stress about what ifs.  Once you know what is going on things will get much better.  Prostate cancer is generally a slow growing disease.   I was diagnosed with incurable prostate cancer 8 years ago. Drugs and treatments are progressing so that most guys don’t die of it but with it!  David

Hi Worried wifey - please don’t stress too much about the potential spread to lymph nodes in the pelvic area.  It looks like the medical team are already pushing him towards radiotherapy, which is likely to be full pelvic radiotherapy or brachytherapy boost. Remember- a dead cancer cell is dead wherever it is, and the radiotherapy will kill them.  Your husband’s PSA isn’t too high, so I suspect early breakout so the radiotherapy should take care of it all (along with hormone therapy which is systemic, which will starve any tiny stragglers). I had both and I’m back to climbing mountains.  Read my bio - click on the snowy scene next to my name. My gut feeling is that he will be absolutely fine on a curative pathway.  Try not to worry. However, do push yourself get him on hormone therapy as soon as possible, because this stops the cancer in its tracks.  It puts it to sleep whilst those cunning radiographers work out their plan to kill it all!    AW

Hi Dale,

Many thanks for your reply.  Makes me feel a little better that he appears to be on a normal diagnosis pathway.

Wishing you all the best.

Thanks you Sue for your reply.  I'll try and stay away from Google

Hi Millibob,

Many thanks for the warm welcome. 

Makes me feel a little better that he appears to be on a normal diagnosis pathway and I'll try to stay away from Google

I'm glad to hear that you are doing well.

Wishing you all the best.

Hi Alwayshope,

Many thanks for your reply and your warm welcome.  Makes me feel a little better that he appears to be on a normal diagnosis pathway.  

Thanks you for the link to the book, it is very informative.

I have cried so much since he got the call, but I am sure in time this will stop.

Wishing you all the best.