Monday, when you probably will see this post. Crack of dawn. I will be on my way to University Hospital London for a Radical Prostatectomy on Weds. Yes, I've had to learn a new lexicon of terms and medical knowledge.
Whilst for the last few months I have been an observer of comments and post rather than a contributor. My Afib being well managed and controlled by no more than good fortune, coupled to sensible life style . Consisting of keeping fit, Tai Chi, Chi Gong and acupressure and a range of herbs- turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, Black Nigella seed, co-enzyme, Vit D, Magnesium Taurate. How much each plays in keeping the demon away, I cannot say. But it seems to work for me.
What none of this has done is stop me from, was going say catching, but more probably getting Prostate Cancer.
The purpose of this post is to say, whilst we Afibers rightly concentrate on how to keep this demon in its box, or at least, chained and managed. A plea to all readers male and female. Female, yes for the men in your life. The facts of Prostate Cancer are stark and clear. 1 in 7 males will get it. If you are of colour, if you have a blood relative, father, brother, uncle who has or had the disease your odds greatly shorten to maybe 1 in 4.
If caught early enough your chance of a cure, by drugs, radio therapy or surgery will be very high 90%. If you are in the latter the greater risk group - aged 40 +, get tested. If you are in the earlier group start requesting a PSA test (not the most accurate test) but its all we have- at 50. Don't wait.
I just hope the anaesthetic doesn't stir up the dragon (I'm Welsh) from its lair.
Written by
Tryfan
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I’m sorry to hear of your upcoming op but glad to know you are getting this thing sorted. Unfortunately, due to misdiagnosis by a consultant who has since been struck off , my husband wasn’t so lucky. I would certainly second your message urging men to get tested when appropriate.
I wish you well and am sure that the lifestyle and supplement regime you follow will speed your recovery.
Good luck with your treatment. My brother-in-law was diagnosed with prostate cancer some years ago, went through treatment and has been cancer free ever since. My husband has had two good PSA results, this year and last year, as his GP reckoned he should be tested after having some pain in his hip joint. Always a good idea to have any pain in the groin/hip area checked out.
Wishing you good luck Tryfan and get well soon. There’s plenty of books and good science out there supporting the prostate diet if you’re interested. My cousin still drinks half a bottle of passata every day since chemo and surgery a few years back and his PSA levels are good now. Another friend did absolutely nothing except read novels, and he’s good too! So whatever you do, make sure it’s the very best for you!
Good luck, Hubble has PC 20 years ago thankfully new GP did full MOT and referred immediately after seeing PSA numbers. Treated quickly with brachytherapy- one day in hospital, 15 follow up radiotherapy sessions and avoided surgery. Still all clear.
Really important to catch early so any signs guys - see your doctor!
Good luck and hope everything goes well. Thank you for posting. Being female it obviously doesn’t affect me personally but it’s so important for men to check themselves too and not ignore anything that doesn’t feel right. Please let us know how it goes and how you are.
Having had several good friends die from this, my husband has insisted on regular tests and medication though some doctors say “why go looking for trouble?”!! Hope it all goes well for you.
My AF was caused by THyroid Papillary Cancer which caused a stroke.
My Echo in Feb 2021 showed heart going 187 on Metoprolol!
Changed finally by a public Heart Specialist to Bisoprolol but although controlled BP it only brought down Day H/R to 156.
Then sent to a private H/Specialist these Chinese skilled Heart persons carefully went through my history and decided on trying CCB Calcium Channel Blocker. It was the best thing ever. BBs Beta Blocker blocking Adrenaline from Heart muscle isn't for me but BP control a low dose does this job.
Now Diltiazem 120mg AM controls my Day H/R down to 60s. Night avge always stays at 47bpm.
a tip for all men- I have given my husband saw palmetto capsules and lycopene for years- he will be 80 in January and his prostate is of normal size. Whether the supplements help I don’t know but …..
well done for taking the bull by the horns. The earlier it is detected the more you can get rid. Unfortunately after a couple of years of me nagging my husband and he eventually got diagnosed he was already at stage 4, and sadly died after 4 1/2 yrs in May
I’m sure your journey will be helped by your lifestyle too and therefore a quicker recovery. I know a lot of men since my husband was diagnosed who caught this earlier enough like you, had it removed and are living a life cancer free. Sending lots of good wishes to you
Good luck Tryfan. A friend of ours had his prostatectomy about a fortnight ago and he is doing so well. Should have his bag removed next week. Very little pain and coping easily with a few paracetamol despite 2 hernias being repaired at the same time!
Best of luck. My dad's prostate cancer was diagnosed far too late for any treatment . He was told "You have 12 months" and exactly 12 months was what he got. 6 of those months were spent in the most unimaginable pain after it spread to his bones. I wouldn't wish what he went through on my worst enemy. His wonderful consultant even came out to our house to see him. Dad couldn't even bear to have a sheet over him.
My uncle on the other hand was diagnosed very early and just took hormone tablets.
ALL you men out there -- GET TESTED. It might be a bit embarrassing but we women put up with far worse. It's your life at risk.
Best of luck with your radical prostatectomy. I may well be following in your footsteps!
Following a raised PSA (12) followed by an MRI (dodgy area on the front of the prostate), I finally had a biopsy 3 weeks ago after 3 postponements. I was supposed to get the results within 2 weeks, but the appointment letters (two of them!) arrived by 2nd class post last week for an appointment next week. I'm not impressed with the NHS's efficiency so I'll probably go private for whatever is required.
Please do let me know how you get on by PM. I'm trying to get myself up to speed with all the lingo, scores, etc.
I do encourage all men over 40 to get their PSA tested and not put up with any nonsense from their GP. If had listened to my original one, I would not have had my PSA tested this year.
Thank you. I had a lot of problems with and after biopsy. If your program follows mine. They will give e you a Gleeson score . In two parts first is how aggressive they think. Second is it contained or how far it has spread. That governs your options surgery or radio and hormone. No easy answer it's what you feel and how you are guided. Good luck.
I agree with you about the importance of the PSA test. 3 friends recently have been diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, based solely on the PSA test! Yet Medicare balks at covering the test more often than once a year!! With all the other ridiculous stuff they cover in the name of "preventative medicine", I am baffled by their policy with the relatively cheap PSA test! Go figure, and best wishes!
My partner has prostate cancer, he was diagnosed in January 2023 with a Gleeson score of 4, 3 = 7. He immediately went on hormone injections monthly whilst waiting for 20 days of radiotherapy which he still hasn't had!! NHS decided a couple of months ago (when he went to the hospital to be marked up for the radiotherapy) that his bladder wasn't emptying properly so he had to have some shaved off the prostate and then wait for recovery. He cannot have the prostate removed as he has had 2 heart attacks and apparently that makes a difference. He now gets marked up on the 7th of November and his radiotherapy starts in December - almost 12 months since diagnosis.
His PSA has plummeted though and is almost not on record it's that low so the hormone injections must be working, side effects are not nice though.
His brother has just finished treatment for stage 4 (again hormone and radiotherapy). It seems to have a genetic tendency.
I hope your journey is smooth and you recover well. Sending best wishes. Karen
Thank you for sharing. Runs in families. The choice between treatments is not an easy one. Seems to be no matrix you plug in your statistics and out pos a solution. Wish your husband well. Hormone stops the cancer in its tracks but does not cure itRadio destroys it. Best wishes.
All the very best. I had prostate cancer 8 years ago. PSA 13 Gleason 7 (3+4) and T3 (?) N0M0. the T3 staging questioned because the tumour was pushing out of the back of the prostate so they could not say whether some cancer cells could have escaped so had 9 months of Hormone Treatment and 1 month of Radiotherapy and, as my urologist stated seems this has been a "cure" though you never feel safe again and await PSA results with baited breath and I know that is worse for my wife.
My late wife's brother died of prostate cancer - diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer at 54 after a stroke and died at 68 my late wife and her sister both had thyroid cancer and ovarian cancer at similar ages - my late wife's was diagnosed as IBS for 18 months so too late and she died at 57. Her sister about 10 years younger was forewared though and is fine. My father died at 88 with prostate cancer not of it and myself and my younger brother were diagnosed at similar ages with prostate cancer - I had the treatment listed above and my brother had brachytherapy. At the moment we are both clear but as you can imagine I recommend all my male friends and especially my two sons and two nephews to get their PSA blood tests regularly. Caught early this is "curable".
Good Luck and heed what they tell you and take things easy.
Thank you for time replying. Reading your post as a non medic it strikes me that it is genetic and little if anything you could do differently to stop it. T stands for tumor T3 means tumor has grown through prostate on 1 side and appears on the outside. You may have had an N number which means node. Node 0 not spread to N1 spread. An M letter metastasis Mx none to M1 M1b Or c showing how far it has spread. Gleeson scoring as I understand it shows how aggressive it may be. Mine was same as yours it is a measure of how differentiate cells are. How much like healthy or cancerous. Well beyond my pay grade to try and explain. Score of 7 is medium grade. Looks like yours was caught in time and I wish you and your bro all the very best.
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Update on AF/Flutter Journey
Kardia - does it detect Atrial Flutter
Thank you for your support
Change from Abixiban to Rivaroxaban
Normal.....for now!!! Xxxx
