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Original poster

Please tell me this is the NHS being super efficient, and I don't really need to worry.

43 replies

MrsExpo · 29/12/2017 13:33

DH was ill a few weeks ago with what we thought was a bad UTI. After a lot of urging, he finally went to see the doc the week before Christmas. Long story short, it seems he has an enlarged prostate, not an infection, and GP organised a blood test which was taken on the friday before Christmas. DH was told to ring today for the results.

However, yesterday morning before 9.00am, the surgery phoned and arranged for the GP to call DH, which he did late morning. He said the results were back and slightly raised, but "nothing to worry about", and he was going to refer DH to the urology dept at the local hospital for further examinations/tests "just to be on the safe side". He said the appointment should come through in a couple of weeks.

That was late morning yesterday, the appointment letter arrived in this morning's post and it's on Tuesday morning next week (Monday is a bank holiday!), which all seems either super efficient, or that they're in a hurry.

Someone please come over and give me a sharp kick up the rear and tell me to stop worrying about this. They're just being efficient, right ....???

OP posts:
twinone · 29/12/2017 13:37

Similar happened to my father last year.
His GP called him on the evening of his blood test and he had to go up to the hospital that evening.
His problem wasn't sinister bit had it been left, his kidneys would have been at risk.

Easy to say not to worry but try not to and be cheered that the nhs are on the ball.

LittleCandle · 29/12/2017 13:41

I would look at this as a 'better safe than sorry' scenario. They want to rule out anything sinister, but at the same time, they don't want to leave it just in case. sorry, that might not be very reassuring, but I would think this is fairly standard in a case like this. There could be, as pp said above, other considerations, like kidneys etc, that could cause problems if left too long. Please try not to worry, which is so much easier said than done.

AlessandroVasectomi · 29/12/2017 14:02

Exactly this happened to me 2 years ago. UTI, GP asked for blood test just to make sure it had all cleared up, discovered traces of blood that she wasn’t happy about, so cue all sorts of prostate tests - ultrasound, urodynamic tests and cystoscopy. All negative and nothing untoward and it all happened in a short space of time.

Original poster
MrsExpo · 29/12/2017 14:05

Thank you for the replies everyone. DH has gone very quiet and uncommunicative, which isn't a good sign, but at least we won't have too long to wait for things to progress. Fingers crossed ......

OP posts:
RaindropsAndSparkles · 29/12/2017 14:09

OP hopefully it's a precaution. But three years ago step father had similar. All happened in a flash after a blood test. Within three weeks he had a robotic removal of his prostate. All cells retained within it. No need for any follow up radio therapy or chemo.

Not quite similarly but in the last month I have been diagnosed with shingles - saw a gp within 90 mins of calling OOH. Yesterday having had endless coughing fits I rang GP at 8.33 had apt at 11, saw a lovely new Dr who thoroughly checked me over and prescribed an inhaler and precautionary antibiotic because symptoms are strikingly like whooping cough. Not the experience we are reading about in the press.

IhaveChillyToes · 29/12/2017 14:22

0800 074 8383 is the help line number for the really lovely prostate nurses you can ring them to talk to, they are really helpful and day to talk to

prostate cancer uk excellent website

There is also an online chat with the nurses that you can do then the conversation can be emailed to you so you can show it to DH IF you prefer to write rather than talk

It is all anon so you can choose a different name if you want they ask you the area you are in but just mean LONDON or Cheshire or whatever not your address iyswim

Good luck to your DH

IhaveChillyToes · 29/12/2017 14:23

*easy to talk to

IhaveChillyToes · 29/12/2017 14:36

BTW it isn't JUST about prostate cancer it is about all things to do with prostate including enlarged prostate

Original poster
MrsExpo · 29/12/2017 15:12

IhaveChillyToes thank you for the info. I’m trying to be the calm/strong one around here at the moment, but it would be great to have a little chat with someone just for my own peace of mind. This is very new territory for me/us and we’re both at a bit at a loss as to what to think/do. I’ll check out the web site and take it from there. Thank you again. Smile

OP posts:
WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo · 29/12/2017 15:24

There's a two week wait rule, which means that anyone with symptoms which could be cancer ought to be seen within two weeks. This is because obviously it's better to rule out the nasty things first. If you had a breast lump, for example, you would (hopefully) be seen within a similar timeframe.

Fingers crossed for your husband's appointment on Tuesday Flowers

IhaveChillyToes · 29/12/2017 15:26

@MrsExpo the nurses are only there until 4pm today so I would give them a ring PDQ

They are really lovely and helpful

Xmas SmileXmas SmileXmas SmileXmas SmileXmas SmileXmas SmileXmas SmileXmas Smile

SoCockneyItHurts · 29/12/2017 15:33

It would have been a suspected cancer referral. It's my job where in work to do these referrals and all patients with suspected cancer symptoms are referred under the 2 week wait rule. It's a fantastic service and the majority of the referrals turn out to be non cancer.

verystressedmum · 29/12/2017 22:04

Something has been red flagged so you’ll be seen very quickly. It doesn’t mean he’s got cancer though.

Tinysarah1985 · 29/12/2017 23:04

The hospitals also use the 2 week wait referrals to rule out cancer, as previous poster has said it doesn’t necessarily mean it is cancer.

moonriverandme · 29/12/2017 23:08

My husband was referred as he had a raised PSA test.His appointment came within 2 weeks,which was in between Christmas and New Year.He was given a biopsy. We were both very anxious but there was no malignancy just enlarged prostrate. He has regular blood tests and medication and his level is now within normal for his age. He has also had an MRI which was also clear. Try not to worry. As previous posters have said if cancer is suspected they have a window to get you seen; it doesn't mean it will be. FlowersFlowers

Ollivander84 · 29/12/2017 23:12

It's not necessarily bad as such. I had bloods done by a locum GP, had previously had about 50 blood tests so expected normal. GP rang me and she had gone through all the previous 10 years of blood test results - I kept being ill, constant infections, never shaking off a cold type thing and I went because I was having night sweats as well

Anyway she rang me that day and sent me to haematology as an emergency. Which is based in the cancer centre. Turns out I was severely neutropenic and probably had been for the last 8-10 years. I was seen that day by a consultant, and again the next week and after a million blood tests was diagnosed with autoimmune neutropenia

My neutrophil count was 0.2 and "normal" is between 2-8, severe is under 0.5

Now I inject myself once a week and see my consultant every 12 weeks for bloods, that's it! But I am SO grateful to that GP for giving me my life back. I've had a 4 day cold since I started on the meds, no chest infections, no tonsillitis etc etc. It's blissful

Sorry that was really long but in a nutshell, I panicked, and it turned out to be the best thing being diagnosed!

Chaosofcalm · 30/12/2017 13:49

I have no idea about your specific situation. My Dad has been referred to investigate stomach issues and his appointment for 9th Jan arrived within 48 hours of seeing the GP. The GP is not massively concerned about the issue and my sister had to push for the referral so there maybe some element of efficiency.

SeaToSki · 30/12/2017 13:53

Maybe they just had a cancellation as its around the holidays and they were able to slide your DH’s appointment right in the gap.

Original poster
MrsExpo · 30/12/2017 14:58

Thanks again for the replies everyone. I had coffee this morning with a friend whose partner is the same age as my DH and who was diagnosed 5 years ago. He’s on treatment but is well and active, so feel a bit more reassured. Let’s see what Tuesday brings. Smile

OP posts:
RaindropsAndSparkles · 31/12/2017 12:42

Good luck for Tuesday.

IhaveChillyToes · 03/01/2018 11:06

@MrsExpo how did it go yesterday?

Original poster
MrsExpo · 03/01/2018 11:54

@IhaveChillyToes thank you for asking .... Smile

It went OK. DH was as nervous as hell, understandably. The staff at the unit were brilliant, helpful, professional and caring. We now have to wait for the results of course, but DH told me when we got home that his PSA was 22 (normal 6 apparently!) and he's now been referred for a bone scan as well, which is next week. I'm assuming we'll be called back at some point after that, when both sets of results are available.

DH is upset and worried, but we're trying to be positive .... they're just being thorough, right?? (Well that's what I'm saying to him anyway ...!)

So, onwards and upwards. We're on the road now and we'll have to travel down it and wait and see where it leads.

Thank you again. How lovely to think that someone is thinking of us ... Flowers

OP posts:
IhaveChillyToes · 03/01/2018 13:14

Glad they were lovely to you guys Xmas Smile

Did they do the DRE yesterday too? Did they say whether it was smooth like a grape or bumpy like a walnut?

Did they do a MRI or CT scan

If they do find "hot spots" on the bone scan it might be previous broken bones so before the appointment to discuss the results get him to think about previous accidents that might have damaged bones (like having a fall or banging his head hard on a cupboard door) cos that might be the cause of the "hot spot" obviously it might be bad news but it might not be

Yes 22 is higher than 6 but PSA results sometimes can go up into 1000s so if it is cancer you have hopefully caught it quickly

Are they doing core biopsy?

I found getting as much info as possible beforehand was how I coped with the journey by speaking the the amazing nurses or sometimes doing a web chat with them so he could read it afterwards. Some of the time I filtered the info when telling my DH

You are being looked after amazingly well so far Xmas SmileThanksXmas Smile

Tippexy · 03/01/2018 14:16

Another one here who had been thinking of you and just popped on to see how it went. So pleased that they are taking good care of you, best of luck for the road ahead FlowersBrew

Original poster
MrsExpo · 03/01/2018 21:09

Thanks again for thinking about us. It means a lot Smile. DH had a DRE which revealed a hardened and enlarged prostate. Not sure about lumpy or not ... ?? He also had some biopsies taken which have to be analysed, a repeat of his urine sample but not the blood test, and a flow rate test. They did some kind of ultrasound of his lower abdomen/ bladder as well. He’s on a short course of antibiotics which we were told were precautionary. He’s been fine today and not experienced any bleeding or other adverse effects which he was told may happen. He’s also still taking some medication prescribed by his GP.

We now have to wait for next weeks scan and then a follow up appointment at some point later in the month.

Onwards and upwards. Thank you again for your support: it really is much appreciated. Smile

OP posts: