DP prostrate issue

[Fatrascal27]

Hello. Looking for advice/bit of an off load. Bit worried.

After nagging DP for months to go to gp about always having to wee, urgency etc, he finally went to see the doc. Sent him for a PSA which he’s awaiting results from. Did an internal exam which he said was mainly fine except one area he wanted to check.

DP got letter to go to urology next week. So this seems the fast pathway. The clinic is run by the urology oncology lead.

in my head I know that fast referral and getting things checked out is a good thing. I know it’s not always the scary thing, but I have terrible HA and am so stressed. He seems to be very nonchalant and I am keeping my worries to myself of course. (Except here!)

I think he could get his psa test results via the app as that was done a week ago. He hasn’t downloaded the app yet so again I will leave him to it. If it were me I’d be chasing those results!

However, any words of wisdom support, anything? I can’t tell anyone RL. I guess at his age and symptoms the 2 weekpathway is standard but still very worried. He’s 60 and is pretty good health.

My DHs journey began with a diagnosis of an Enlarged prostate. PSA blood tests every 3
months. The routine Medication also.

After about a year, we got a referral for further tests. The physical examination revealed a small tumour. Fast track to hospital for a neuclear medicine bone scan to see if the cancer had spread. This is a long day at the hospital and I was worried at this point. Because of my husband’s other medical condition, he needed my assistance and I was allowed to sit in the actual room while he had the scan,
while this massive camera passed over him from his toes to his head. I am medically trained, so
I new what to look for, I saw that the cancer was confined to the prostate area, it hadn’t spread. it was sadto see, but a small relief also.
Due to my DHs other medical condition and his age, we are on a watch and see medical plan, and blood test every 3 months. He exercises everyday, has a good diet (eats lots of grilled, roasted tomatoes) and lifestyle. We are now in our 6th year. I also signed up‘to NHS app and can therefore see his test results within days rather than waiting for the GP to get in contact.

4 of my neighbours have had prostate cancer and surgery and all live full and active lives.

Well done you for insisting the he go to the GP.

Hope all goes well!

Mine was symptom free but had a PSA test due to family history. It was slightly raised so he had another three months later and then was fast-tracked into the full diagnostic procedure, internal exam, biopsy and MRI. The results were that s very small patch of cancerous cells was found but nothing else. He went on to PSA tests three monthly results by app, another MRI after a year, they have dropped the tests to 6 monthly now as it is stable but he is still being monitored. I know several men who have had prostate cancer treatment and all are healthy and well, although there are some side effects for some.

Thanks for your posts. They don’t make me very optimistic if I’m honest but I appreciate you posting them. I am just hoping it’s nothing sinister. I realise it’s just a waiting game.

do you know when your partners went for the initial urology appointment we’re all the tests done on the same day?

So the GP will put you on the "two weeks pathway" for any symptoms that could be cancer. My mum has a health condition that means she struggles with swallowing. It comes and goes and every time it comes back and she has to go back to the GP she gets put on the 2 weeks pathway, we know it's almost certainly because of her condition but there's always a chance she's struggling to swallow because of a tumour so they act as if it could be.

They will have done the referral probably before the PSA results are in. My partners family have a history of prostate cancer. For the most part prostate cancer is slow growing and many men have no symptoms for years and years. My fil was having his PSA levels monitored for years before it went from ever so slightly raised to ok it's definitely high and he then had scan which showed prostate cancer. They made the decision that the appropriate course of treatment for him was removing the prostate rather than chemotherapy/radiotherapy but for others chemotherapy or radiotherapy would be more appropriate. The recovery was quick and he has now been in remission for 6 years

Thank you.

It is a worrying time. And everyone’s journeys is unique. Are you able to attend the appointments with your DH? This really helps me, as I am able to ask questions and do I!

My DH wouldn’t, he is quite nonchalant also!

It is an ongoing process of tests, medication and
treatmement. He will be asked to take a urine sample to be tested, the urology appointment is a real good time to ask questions. The urologist will put together a treatment plan and your DH enters the system.

Thanks. It may not be cancer though right? Hoping he won’t have to enter the system.

I might see if I can attend with him.

Even with a high PSA it may not be cancer.

My DH's PSA was hardly raised, but it was cancer, so it goes both ways. Hopefully if it is cancer it's been caught early and will be curable. Prostate cancer is treatable even when it's more advanced and not curable, the treatments are really good and often result in many years of good health. So try not to panic.

I agree, with @BadgernTheGarden, please try not to panic amd we don’t say this lightly because we are going through it too.

I can only repeat, go to this first appointment with your husband. Will he be willing or able to you all the urologist says when he gets back? Is he putting on a brave face but needs your support?

Our urologist is such a nice man. They know you are scared and worried. If he has to have another physical examination, it will be done behind the screen or you can leave the room, for your husband’s dignity.

It may be cancer, it may not but either way he is going to be treated. Try to not go from A to Z, easily said than done, but try!

It may not be cancer no, but actually, in some ways being in the system on the watch and wait system like my DH is good , it means that if anything changes it will be caught early. Whereas if he had been clear he probably wouldn't have had another PSA test for many years and it could develop completely unknown in that time.

Yes this, especially with if the proposed changes go ahead. There's currently a consultation on halting routine PSA testing.

My fil was having PSA tests every year or two due to family history and then once he had a slightly raised PSA result they then did them more frequently whilst they checked if how quickly they were changing. They weren't changing significantly so they went a bit longer between tests but still more frequently than before.

The urologist will be able to explain everything to you. I know it's a worrying time, my dad years ago saw a urologist on the two week pathway for testicular cancer after he developed a large growth on a testicle. They arranged scans and tests promptly and it turned out to be a cyst in scar tissue from a previous operation. It was dealt with quickly.

Thankyou. I’m sick with worry but it’s only a few days to wait to his appointment. I’m guessing another DRE and PSA. A MRI if warranted. I’m trying not to google. Or show I’m worried. It won’t help.

We were sick with worry too, our wait was over Christmas two years ago and it was like a black cloud, we couldn’t talk about it at home because we didn’t want to worry the teen DCs (we told them as soon as the results were confirmed so can talk about it openly now). Also didn’t tell anyone else in case it got back to the DCs it was hard keeping it all in, I normally share my worries with friends, luckily I had some lovely MNers holding my hand. Sending positive vibes

It’s all ok. Thanks for your posts. They helped.