Asking for my Dad. Prostate issues.

[2kidsintow]

Does anyone have experience of prostatitis? And if so, was it successfully treated and did it go on to indicate prostate cancer?

Thankyou.

My dad had problems last year that led to urinary retention. It turned out to be BPH. He's had a few scans and treatment has been medical (drugs) rather than surgical. It took a few months but does seem to have settled down now.

Not personally, no. But someone close to me has had a lot of problems. Both prostatitis in his 40s, and in his 60s had BPH and needed surgery cos the meds did not work. By prostatitis are you meaning inflammation, which is usually due to an abscess or some infection, or BPH (which is the benign enlargement that most men get if they get old enough)?

AFAIK neither of those benign conditions increase the risk of cancerous changes, but risk does increase with age anyway - e.g. when a man is over 70 the incidence of prostate cancer is quite high. But - I think - it tends to be less aggressive than in younger men who get it. If you want more info you could read something like Patient UK. And there is a site specific to prostate health, called Prostate UK.

HTH

He'd had an abcess a while ago apparently so the GP thinks that it is inflammation as a result of the infection.

BPH hasn't been mentioned. Just that if he didn't respond to the antibiotics that he'd need further investigation and the blood test for markers for prostate cancer was the first to be done.

Thanks all for the messages. They are helpful.

As far as I understand it, prostatitis can be one of those things that can be difficult to shift, and may need referring to a urologist who has a special interest in it.

The blood test (PSA) is not accurate in someone with on going prostatitis though as anything that annoys the prostate will cause a rise in PSA.

Theres some good info here

My DBIL had it, - his was treated with long term anti biotics, which helped a bit, but didn't totally clear it, then they put him on alph blockers, which seem to have done the trick - I think IIRC it took about 18mnths -2yrs to clear it, - I'm not sure if he still has to take the alpha blockers.

It does take a while to sort out as far as I know. He wasn't told anything about it increasing risk of cancer.

Although I know he had all the various tests - I think they do those routinely with prostate problems, so I don't think your Dad should necessarily worry that they think he has cancer.