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Preparation for first consultation after my biopsy

Posted , 4 users are following.

georgeGG
georgeGG

In seven days I shall be back at the clinic to learn the results of my MRI scan and subsequent biopsy. What questions do I need to put me in a position to make sensible decisions for my future treatment and life style?

I have no symptoms at present but PSA 2011:2012:2014 were 7:10:18. Rectal exam showed some enlargement with abnormailities on right side. The consultant said these PSA figures suggested slow growth.

0 likes, 18 replies

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  • peter06554
    peter06554 georgeGG

    Posted

    It depends very much on the results its difficult to give an answer but in the same situatioin I went through all the questions I wanted to ask and none of them applied.

    the results should be in Gleeson scale 1-10  i being the least agressive and 10 the most. The staging is the degree of spread from 1-4. one being early stage usualy curable. to stage 4 its already spread, treatment will vary very much on what the out come is.

    this is a very personnal thing but i was offered a trial and yes I admit my concern is for me in the here and now and not the effects on other patients in 10 years time thats my view which i stand by. selfish as that might be.

    This is not a nice time and my advise would be that having been told the out come ask as many questions as you think neccasary and leave any decision that gives you time to talk to family.ons to be considered.until the next appointment which should be within two weeks.

    I wish you the very best and with this final note In 2009 i was given 12 months to live and im still here.

    this is not some thing you can deal with alone. with out my good wife id have gone a long time ago. I set out to find out every thing i could about the cancer so that i knew exactly what I was dealing with. when the consultant starts talking in a language you dont understand tell him/her to stop.

    • georgeGG
      georgeGG peter06554

      Posted

      Peter, that is so kind of you. Very helpful indeed. Very useful to know that the coming clinic will be for information with a follow up to decide what should be done. Did your wife join you for the follow up/decision clinic?

      With best wishes, George

    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey georgeGG

      Posted

      George, whilst you are waiting, and if you haven't already done so, you can do no better than contact the Prostate Cancer Charity on 0208 222 7622 and ask for their Tool Kit which contains wonderful information on diagnosis and the different treatments available.  I will give their email address in a follow-up post otherwise this one will be held up for ages by the moderator.  They also have an amazing forum full of very professional help and friendly and caring advice from other sufferers - you won't ever feel alone in this.  My hubby has successfully come through 7 weeks of daily radiotherapy followed by 2 years of hormone injections - he continued working in his part-time job (he's now 78) throughout the treatment.  All the very best.
    • georgeGG
      georgeGG MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      Mrs O,

      Thank for your care and kindness. I have seen other post from you by which you seek to encourage prostate cancer sufferers. I have no difficulty in acception that at 73 it is reasonable to depart this aging body. I had not at all thought that prostate cancer would be my lot. None of my family have had it. A heart attack in my 70s seemed to be the family pattern. So I am having rather an emotional turmoil as I struggle to get to grips with and accept this new situation.

      I have found the Prostate Cancer UK website and order their test pack. I got no reply to my phone call. Thank you very much for suggesting that resource. Best wishes to you and your now recovered husband, George

    • georgeGG
      georgeGG MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      PS. and I got the email from the website. The moderator may relax and zap that second email if desired.
    • georgeGG
      georgeGG MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      Many thanks Mrs O. I have followed that link to the Prostate Cancer's link and arrive at their web site. So that is great. George
    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey georgeGG

      Posted

      You're welcome, George.  Don't forget to join the Prostate Cancer Charity's forum too - it is excellent, and is the one I relied on for support following hubby's diagnosis - he doesn't use the internet so I was able to pass on lots of very professional and helpful advice from that source - they have support groups across the country as well.  Thank you for your kind wishes too - which I reciprocate a thousandfold for you.
    • georgeGG
      georgeGG MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      Yes, thank you. I have joined the forum and am also trying Cancer Research. I have not worked out how to start a conversation on Prostate Cancer UK and I am waiting for help from the moderator. As I am back to somewhat relaxed/ somewhat anxious there is no immediate hurry. I expect having ready access to the forums once I have the results will be really useful. I am very glad I blundered into this forum. It has already been of huge benefit to me. George
  • peter06554
    peter06554 georgeGG

    Posted

    Hi george. Its been a long and some times very painful Journey which i could not have endured with out my wife. i have discovered on the few occasions she hasnt been with me the news was devastating.

    I asked my consultant staight out how much time do I have 12 months she said. Hit me hard although i was expecting it and i had to say went down hill emotionaly for a week or so.

    At my next consultation I see her every month i said how it effected me. her answer was. no one can give you an exact prediction. The treatment is fairly new and there is no long term statistics to provide a guide line. its just a guess.My wife stands by me through thick and thin and trying to avoid the nasty things i have to do comes with me. Im now registered with Phillis Tuckwell I had an option of a macmillion nurse but the hospice is nearer

    You cant hide some thing like this you need as much help as you can.

    Good luck George

    • georgeGG
      georgeGG peter06554

      Posted

      Thank you Peter. That is very much to the point. How would we do in good times without our other half; even more so when the going it tough? Best wishes to you both, George
  • james87879
    james87879 georgeGG

    Posted

    After your biopsie you will now your gleason score look it up it is a complicated system of judging how aggressive the cancer is and where it is you will then be given a grade T1,T2,T3 or T4 (look these up).You should have had or will be getting a bone scan to see if it has spread (be Strong!) also an mri to see the state of the prostate gland sometimes they in ject dye(painless) to see the tumour.So it is all depending on these facts what treatment is on offer.If it has spread they will not offer surgery the cancer is now uncurable though men can live for ten years on hormone therapy.If it is contained and you are in good health surgery could be an option.Wait till you get the gleason score.Good luck
    • georgeGG
      georgeGG james87879

      Posted

      Thank you James. That is clear and straight forward and I will look up those terms. They are vaguely familiar but I had better work to understand them. It should aid real communication with the urologist.

      As to the bone scan - do I need to be strong to undergo the scan or strong to take the results on the chin and respond sensibly? George

    • james87879
      james87879 georgeGG

      Posted

      You see george at the moment for you, your in the dark.I have been there and its not nice.But all will be revealed.The bone scan is painless they inject some dye and then you lie on a bed while a scanner moves very close to you, no problem,its the result that could be a problem.Keep everything crossed that it will be ok.Your psa is indicative that things are still local.Now if you had a psa of say 200 as someone i know of has then the chances of spread (metastises )are much higher because there are a lot more cancer cells giving out psa.The consultant does not have all the answers and to live with that is hard.There are many things that can happen .Give prostate cancer uk a ring they have specialst nurses who you can talk to about your concerns,but again they dont have all the answers.good luck!
    • georgeGG
      georgeGG james87879

      Posted

      Many thanks. I have been on Prostate cancer UK website (no one answered the phone) and ordered their info pack. Yes, I have got the impression already that certain knowledge is not available. The best is imformed best guess as to the most appropriate treatment. The side effects are as in all medical drugs and procedures a personal lottery. Many thanks. Gradually my anxiety is diminishing - slightly. I am not making as many typos. Best wishes, George
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