Anyone know anything about prostates?!

[SirChenjin]

DH has been having lots of symptoms (won't go into details out of respect for the bloke...) but suffice to say, he's been to the GP, given a urine sample and has now been called back to see her - we tried to make an earlier appointment (she's been off on holiday for the last week and a half) but they said he had to see her.

I'm going to go with him on Tuesday and we're both trying to be calm and rational - but obviously we're really worried. Anyone know why we might have been called back and why that specific GP?

It might be to repeat the test and monitor the psa level or offer further screening. Family members had/have this but invasive treatment is unusual in early stages.

Did the GP mention prostate gland to your DH? Or have you been googling?
Blood in urine for men can be an indication of prostrate problems, but even if you are fearing the worst diagnosis, it has a high rate of cure and tends to stay where it is for many years.
Usually there are no other symptoms than having difficulty in 'going'.

Good luck on Tuesday

Thanks everyone - I really appreciate your advice . No, not the result of googling (well, not pre Gp visit - we have looked at Patient UK and other reputable sites since) - but there are quite a few more symptoms than simply not being able to wee unfortunately, which is why we are concerned. He's only 52 - which still seems v young to us! I know that it could be other things, so trying not to worry too much...not very successfully, it has to be said

Dbro is same age. Is there any history in the family?

No, no history at all.

I'm not sure what to make of the GP thing...I have a vague recollection of there being something that says that anything sinister should be under the care of the one GP (we're in Scotland) so that's what's making me worried. Otoh, if it was urgent then presumably they wouldn't have made us wait 1.5 weeks before referring - any GP in the Practice could have done that, surely?

If this has not happened yet, your DH should have a rectal examination done.
PSA is a measure of prostate size so on its own it is pretty useless for the diagnosis of a prostrate cancer - it can be raised for many reasons including infection. It is a useful measure of how well controlled or not it is.

A borderline PSA result should be rechecked after 3 to 6 months to see whether there is any kind of 'trend'.
Tbh, we all talk about 'prostrate cancer' but it is really not ONE disease - just like breast ca it can be very aggressive or very very tame (more men over 85 will die WITH their prostrate ca than OF it iykwim).

Sorry to hear that you have to deal with this worry, but don't get ahead of yourselves too much if you can at all help it.

Good luck

He's already had a rectal exam done - she did that at the appointment 1.5 weeks ago before sending him away with his wee specimen bottle.

So - do you think it's likely that the PSA test (if that's what they did ) could simply be showing as raised, and they just want to keep an eye on it? Or do you think it could have shown something more sinister? They wouldn't tell us over the phone - just said that we had to come back in to see that GP.

PCA3 is not available on the NHS yet - not sure whether that is different between Scotland and England?

It is probably that the sample indicated a raised psa level. Not necessarily excessively so and it could still be due to an infection. There are potentially scans , biopsy and other tests before any treatment even if the levels indicate a possible problem.

It could well be an enlarged prostate. This runs in our family men get to a certain age and the hosepipe turns into a dripping tap. We ended up working out where all the loos were before embarking on a day out.

The PSA test is a blood test, has your DP had one of these yet?

So would a PSA test actually show up cancer? Or just that there is a raised level which needs further investigation?

Crossed posts - no, he's not had a blood test done yet, just a rectal exam and a urine test. What would they have tested his urine for?

It is a potential indicator not diagnostic on its own.

Oh, and the rectal exam showed an enlarged prostate - so with a combination of that plus all the other symptoms he had, she decided to do a urine test. There were 2 sample bottles that he had to fill.

White topped bottle - dip test at the surgery. Tests for a number of things including blood, protein, nitrites, sugar, ketones, specific gravity. Really just a screening tool.

White topped bottle - goes off to the lab. Microscopy to look for number of red blood cells, white blood cells, bacteria, etc. Culture to check for a urinary tract infection (not necessarily able to pick up a prostrate infection).

A PSA blood test is a tricky test to fully understand: lots of false positives (high test but all's well) or false negatives ('reassuring' result does not positively rule out a nasty).
High PSAs kinds of 'force' the decision to refer to urology which usually leads to biopsies. Where the sun don't shine. And they are sore, have their dangers and, again, can lead to false negatives.

Depending on your DH's symptoms, whether or not he decides to have a PSA blood test, monitoring and watchful waiting IS one of many options.

Would it help if I described the symptoms in more detail - maybe give some more pointers as to what the outcome might be? Or not really?

I really, really appreciate all this advice, help and kind wishes

Yes, all those symptoms present apart from dribbling. Blood in semen too (a tiny smear on 2 occasions - sorry for tmi )

Thanks everyone - I feel a million times better now after all this advice

Dp has on and off prostatitis SirChenjin, and has all the same symptoms and erectile dysfunction (I'll join you with the TMI)

The pain and problems come and go, and occasionally he gets an infection which needs antibiotics.

Good luck for Tuesday and try not to worry.