Prostate cancer update

I’ve decided to put any posts related to my condition here rather than were they are up until now in my cycling blog which from now on I will restrict to more directly related issues. This blog will be rather more eclectic and will cover a much bigger range of topics but still including stuff on health and lifestyle. Where it seems to be appropriate I will cross-post between the two blogs or at least refer to and summarise posts on the other blog. The two posts specifically about prostate cancer on the cycling blog are Prostate Cancer posted 15th August 2014 and Active surveillance posted 29th August. One thing I forgot to mention in the last post is that, on making a firm decision to opt for the active surveillance programme I was informed by Dr. Owen that this had been the interdisciplinary group’s recommendation. This is the first time I had heard this and I must say it gave me some confidence in my decision. I guess that was the point f not letting me know earlier  – let the patient make their own mind up since there was no sure-fire way of making the right one anyway.

Having opted for the AS regime this involves a 3 monthly PSA blood test, and initial MRI scan 3 months after going on the programme and, if necessary, further biopsies if changes in the prostate and tumours warrant them. I had a blood test early December 2015 which gave a result of 8 – a little higher than the last one, 7.9, but quite a lot lower than the highest taken while I was in hospital with the ruptured kidney of round 9. So the latest test may mean something or nothing – the usual problem with PSA tests. The initial MRI scan due at the same time (part of the AS protocol I was told) never happened but after chasing this up I have it booked for 28th January. I understand from others on this programme that test time is a particularly stressful period as you dread being told the tumour is on the move and surgery, etc. is now necessary. I can feel the tension mounting already even though the scan is 3 weeks away, in fact the day before my 70th birthday.

Rectum? It certainly didn't do them any good. (Thanks to several Carry On films for this)

Ouch! An ultrasound probe is inserted into the rectum to show where the tumor is. Then a needle is inserted through the rectum into the prostate to remove tissue. Apparently 1 in 10 men find the biopsies process too painful to tolerate so it is abandoned and rearranged under a general antithetic. I was one of the 9 out of 10 lucky ones.

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  1. Pingback: Prostate cancer update | The Bicycle Diaries

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