Newly diagnosed

Hi, and welcome to a place you probably would rather not be. However, you are in the RIGHT place. There are some wonderful guys here who will be able to fill you in with all the jargon (G's L's and M's) and hopefully ease your mind.

Stay clear of Google though as lots of information there is outdated.

Gina

Yes its all rather difficult at first not knowing really what it all means you will get to understand better as you go along! You seem to be in a very similar place to me last August, I have now completed all treatment and just had a second Very positive PSA result! Have a read of my profile. Be assured there is every hope of a full curative result just take it a step at a time. Wishing You the very Best.  David 

Hi all.

Little update, I have been on the tablets for 18 days now, 10 more to go, had my first zoladex injection a week ago and have had both CT and bone scan done, have an appointment with the team on the 30th, I assume to discuss the scans and next stages.

I told my kids, my 2 boys 15/19 seemed to take it a lot better than my girls 29/22, but after when they calmed down I was able to talk them through the process that was laid out for me and answer any questions as best I could.

The whole thing seems a little surreal but I am getting more used to the fact, that yes I have cancer, but I will not let that get me down.

Thats all for now I guess

Hi Carpydarter : I’m late to the party, (been away hiking in the Alps), but with your statistics, I would clarify what type of radiotherapy they have proposed for you.  With your PSA and Gleason numbers (plus cribriform) it wouldn’t be too late to ask about boosting the radiotherapy with brachytherapy.  Recurrence stats are significantly improved.  There may be a medical reason why you haven’t been offered it (or maybe you have, and yo7 haven’t said so / realised that Brachy has been added).  Anyway, check out my bio on the snowy scene.  Any questions, ask.    AW

hI Alpine.

All I can really remember from the first meeting was being told its cancer, going to start hormone tablets then injections then targeted radiotherepy, I will get more of an idea at the next appointment and be a little more aware as the shock has now worn off.

I do remember being told they were not looking at surgery at this point and cant remember them saying anything about brachy but hoping this will all be cleared up on the 30th 

Hi ALL.

I had a consultation yesterday, and my mind has been put at ease with the news that the CT bone scan came back clear.

Will have a planning scan in early September with a hope to start the radio therapy at the end of Sept, first I have to have a flexible sigmoidoscopy, cant remember the exact reason for it.

Also I have been requested by the urolgy team, the first doc I saw and Gen surgeon (umbilical hernia) to be put forward for weight loss jabs.

I had lost nearly 2 stone in preparation for the hernia op since Christmas this year, but have gained a lot weight back in a short time even though my diet has not changed.

The doc said its to try and control weight gain rather than lose weight but will have to see what happens with that.

Hi Carpydarter , hopefully things will settle down to a new normal now you have a plan.  From your stats it all looks very curable, so hopefully after a bit of treatment all will be well.  If you haven’t noticed it already, fatigue is one usual side effect of treatment, so try and exercise which seems to help to combat fatigue (rather strangely).  Over time, I have found Zoladex has increased my weight, so if you struggle with your weight already,  this will not help.  Please come back with any questions.  David

Hi David2017.

I have been feeling the fatigue but nothing that I cannot work around, the weight gain is a little annoying for me as I had done so well in the diet I was on before the diagnosis, I have restarted the diet now and doing a little more exercise when I can.

I had some severe joint pain, mostly in the shoulders around two weeks into the tablets, but this has now died down to a dull ache so will start back on the weights in a week or so.

From what I could gather from the different consultants the weight loss jabs would be a short term thing to try and control the weight gain rather than to solely lose weight, as to much weight gain could have an adverse effect on the umbilical hernia and cause other issues.

The last thing I need is a ruptured hernia.

Apart from that I think I am doing well, although I do feel a little strange now that I have finished the course of tablets.

I  was started on them the day they told me, so for 28 days it was like I was actively doing something about it, but having been off them since Monday, it feels kind of strange, I know I have the injection doing things but because I am not taking anything now it just feels slightly wrong.

Im sure that feeling will subside as time goes on though.

I would nt worry abut that the injections will certainly be doing good as will what every is planned to be done next, I was very pleased to have got through the tablets take every win!

Hi Carpydarter , I have been on HT by 12 weekly jab for over 8 years and it seems to release the drug fairly well and has mostly controlled my cancer spread with just a little blip a year back.

Weight gain is a problem but a GP friend once told me ‘you are what you eat’,  good advice but I do like some very bad food and drink, so I try and work on eating/drinking less than I want.  Life still needs to be enjoyed!