Conditions
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, responsible for approximately 9,000 deaths in England and Wales every year. However, as the causes of the disease are largely unknown, the cancer is as mysterious as the gland itself, which is unique to men and assumed by many to regulate the flow of urine, but is actually part of the male reproductive system (sometimes delightfully referred to as the ‘Secret Sex Gland’!) The risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age (70% of all cases occur in men over the age of 65), whilst diet and ethnicity can also play a role. So, if you have any issues with peeing (such as pain or a weak and irregular flow), or find that the best exercise you’re getting is the several times a night you’re having to throw back the bed covers to nip down the hallway to the toilet, then make an appointment to see your GP.
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I seem to dribble a bit after I've been to the toilet, is this anyhting to worry about or am I just rushing off before I've finished? Im only 18 and I'm just worried about the posibility of prostate cancer!
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EARLY DIAGNOSIS CAN NOT ONLY SAVE YOUR LIFE BUT ALSO AFFECT YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE
The good news is that Prostate cancer is a curable disease if it is detected and treated early and some early stage treatment options have a high probability of affecting your quality of life.
I am 54 years old and was diagnosed with Prostate cancer in 2006. Like most men I am reluctant to see a doctor for fear that it might in some way be a sign of weakness even though my father had prostate cancer. Outwardly I was very healthy having recently endured a long cycle ride for charity, but it was through a routine medical exam that I was diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer. Like anyone I was shocked, this only happened to other people, and my immediate reaction was to cut it out. The doctors I saw initially advised a couple of options, radical surgery to remove my prostate or external beam therapy and I actually booked a date for surgery. The problem is that the recovery time from radical surgery can take two months and both of these treatment options have a high probability of side effects that could have reduced my quality of life by making it difficult to obtain and/or maintain an erection and the possibility of not being able to control myself when I needed to urinate (incontinence). These potential side effects go to the heart of what defines us as men and had a greater psychological effect on me than the disease itself and with this limited knowledge of my options I actually considered letting the cancer run its course and having no treatment at all.
I decided I needed more information and spoke to friends and did some internet research. What I discovered was that with early stage diagnosis I had other less invasive treatment options that offered a lower risk of erectile dysfunction and incontinence. I elected to go for “Pinhole Low Dose Rate Brachytherapy”. This is a procedure that simply plants radioactive seeds directly into your prostate. I went into hospital in the morning, underwent the procedure under a general anaesthetic and was walking around my hospital room the same afternoon with no pain. I went back to work the next day. I felt somehow cheated that I had this horrible disease and it could be treated so simply without fuss, I never had the opportunity to be sick and get pampered. As for side effects, I still lead a healthy sex life and decide when I want to urinate, actually no difference from before I was diagnosed.
You could say I got lucky but I don’t believe luck has anything to do with it, there are plenty of signs of early stage prostate cancer, getting up in the night to urinate is potentially one of them, it is what you do about it determines the outcome, not luck.
Make your own luck, get diagnosed early and get on with a healthy life, you owe it to yourself and those who love you.
I would be happy to discuss my experiences with anyone reading this.
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my dad had prostate cancer,the doctor told him for over 2 years that the psa test often came back inconclusive so it was'nt worth doing!He found out last christmas he had prostate cancer!Thankfully after having his prostate removed he is free of cancer.Please please please if you notice problems in that area see your doctor as soon as possible and push them to do the test.Thankfully my sisters and i have still got our dad and our children can still have big fun with their grandpa.
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I seem to dribble a bit after I've been to the toilet, is this anyhting to worry about or am I just rushing off before I've finished? Im only 18 and I'm just worried about the posibility of prostate cancer!
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Why do we always relate prostate cancer with Urine problems? Although this may be an indicator, prostate cancer can occur without these or any problems. I had no symptoms at all. A routine PSA check followed by a biopsy showed that I had an advance state of prostate cancer. Gleason score of 9. Yet I did not have any urinary problems. Fortunately a radical prostectomy followed by radiotherapy has put it right. The only way to be sure is to give all men over 50 a PSA test but even this is only an indication and is not conclusive.
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I had prostate cancer last year, i had no symptoms.My psa was checked at work on an annual Medical. I went for radical surgery.Now 15 months post ops and back to normal. I was only 52. Worth a psa check with doctor .Just a straight forward blood test.I am alive !!
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