Petrified

Hi  Covukmike and welcome 

I think too early to fear the worst, it still may not be cancer, PSA only 5 so even if it is then still potentially curable.

Looks like you've had the MRI but not yet had results so do come back when u  know more, don't forget to ask for full detail from the MRI.

Best wishes Steve 

Hello Covukmike,

I'm very sorry you're having such worry and grief but please do to try and keep calm. Do try to stay away from google, there's a lot of old and mis-information on there and it's guaranteed to boost your worries rather than soothe them. 

Your PSA can be raised for several reasons other than PC. Have you seen the information sheet published by Prostate Cancer UK? It discusses high PSA readings and what night have caused them, there's a link below to access it.

PC is extremely rare for men of your age. Your bone problems have already been diagnosed as osteoarthritis, disc issues and a trapped nerve so try to concentrate on these being the confirmed cause of the pain you're having. Again, it would be extremely rare for PC to be involved with this at your age.

You're on the investigation pathway which will be concluded soon and I'm sure it will put your mind at rest.

I wish you all the best, do let us know how you get on.

Derek.

https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information-and-support/prostate-tests/psa-blood-test

Thanks for the message, I’ve always struggled with my health anxiety and this obviously sent me on a spiral. 

If I didn’t have my babies my approach would be so much more relaxed. 

I guess what will be will be 

I can understand that perfectly.

Even if it was bad news - and remember it's extremely unlikely to be so for a man of your age - PC is often curable and survivable.

My timeline is diagnosed and treated in 2016, recurred 2024, treated again and I expect to survive for many years to come yet.....and I'm 70 in July.

I'm sure you'll be just fine.

All the best,

Derek.

Hello Covukmike, waiting for results to come back can be a tough time like the others have said and it may not be pc. Best thing to do and I know it's hard to hear is carry on as normal, work, home life, hobbies. Keep doing what you have always been doing it will help to keep your mind straight. 

Hi Covukmike , waiting for results is horrible, but Googling makes things much worse.

Firstly, your age makes PCa very unlikely (although possible), secondly your PSA is higher than it should be but not very high and not indicative of metastatic spread.

My own PSA was 74 and although I was not curable have been treated for 9 years.  PCa is not the killer it once was and new treatments are highly successful.  Forget thoughts of 1 year and look towards seeing your grandchildren one day.

Hi Covukmike

So sorry to find you here - but the advice and support you will get is fantastic...

Just to add in I have found the Headspace app (paid for) a useful tool to assist me particularly in the early stages of diagnosis when your head is in a complete whirl.  The Coping with Cancer course was really good for me - and as an old dog I found the new tricks really helpful!  

Best wishes to you and your family

KrisPy

These hours  - and the hours that seen like days are the worst.

I, too, thought I was going to die; thought that cancer was an inevitable death sentence. I was wrong, it isn't, but it is certainly  something  you wouldn't sign up for as fun.

Coping with this, in the early stages, is tough.

Have a look at this website and see if there is a centre near you:

https://www.maggies.org

They are really good at the mental health support.

If you have someone you can talk to,then  do so, especially your partner. This is a "couples disease" and the better you deal with it together, the  easier  it  will  become.

In your last sentence you say you haven't got anyone to talk to right now. Consider talking to the Samaritans on  116 123. You don't have to be suicidal, you just have to have a need to talk, and you do. They are wonderful at listening.

There is a way  through  this.

You will find it.

There is something  that you can do, which  sounds  a little odd, but  works  for  me. Think  very hard about the ordinary. Look  at everything around  you and let the actual  wonder of how and why it is there  fill  you  up. 

My  daughter  had  a favourite  prayer when  she  was  small, which  started "I come in the little things, saith  the  Lord ". Whether  or not you believe, the little things are the reason we  can  continue  to  be  here.  We  don't  think  about  that.

It helps me to really think about  that.

Morning, 

this is exactly me. I’m sat here 2.5 hours away from the urology appt and biopsy etc, I’m terrified. I think it’s more fear for my kids and what it means for them rather than myself. 

I don’t have a partner, I’m leaning a lot on my family at the minute. I am a full time father too a 5 and 6 year old so this all seems a lot to deal with on top, whilst trying desperately hard to keep it all from them. 

I appreciate your support, a lot of people have given me advice and support, it’s very helpful to me. 

Good luck for today, loads of us have been through the biopsy and it is now a thing of the past…

The really tough bit is the wait for the results, see if you can get a timeline on that ?

One step at a time, just get through today. 

( oh and and I found the blood in my pee for days afterward really distressing- don’t k ow why but I did, hope you will be fine).

All the very best

KrisPy