Well Done for posting Bikerman, There was a time when it was a Taboo subject . It really is worth getting checked out. We all dread the finger up the bum check while laying in the fetal position but at the end of the day it could save your life. When you get to your 50s things dont always work as they used to, Your flow rate can slow down or your stream can be like a sprinker . Both signs of an enlarged postate. This doesnt mean you have cancer but as mentioned, get it checked out. How life changes as you get older. Things that worked well when you were young become a bit of a risk in a different way . Oh the joys Ah. Anyway, Best of luck Bikerman i am also glad the treatment went well. Im off on Friday to have my replaced knee replaced (finaly) Everything falls apart . My biggest advice for this Christmas is, If your Date of birth begins with 19, Dont wrap presents on the floor !!!
Hope all goes well for you Wayne. With all the comments on this post, I'm glad I decided to post it. If just one person goes and gets tested, then it was worth it.
@Bikerman Yes all booked up for Thursday. The Doctor said Mr. McDonald i see you have been here in a while but there are a few tests we would like to look at with you. He did say but for the life of me i can't remember what he said. Other than they were Wellman checks.
Well Bikerman you have me all revved up for a reply. Firstly thank you so much for starting this thread and your great out look on life. I'm so pleased your well and "opening up" to th community.... I too passed 50 a long time ago and since then had quite a few ops and MRI scans. Funny enough i'm going for a camera "up bank" this January coming. Luckily for me!!! its every 2 years as iv got Ulcerated Colitis and a family history of bowl cancer. Iv had th camera many times, and i could talk about it for ever. But i wont. For me its th same way of thinking about this and th stroke i had in 2018... Its a total waste of life thinking about whats next. I see it as when/if it happens then deal with it then. Yes th CSA can give high readings that don't match th MRI pictures but its still worth "a look" surely, as been a long time dead could be th alternative. My last hand op (5 so far) to remove a significant dupuytren's contracture was done whilst awake. Th surgeon said to me... Th trouble with you stroke patients is, when we sedate you you some times don't wake up...!!! But let me tell you. That liquid (carnt remember its name now) they injected me with didn't half take my mind of what was going on a made me a hole shed load of chatty.. So kids. Its never as bad as you think and if we look after our selves more NOW and things are caught early, my deeply missed brother in law Alan would still be here now.... Take care.
SE London, and my bladder cancer was on the NHS and very quickly dealt with. I was advised it would be quicker because of the restrictions on private clinics through covid. Prostate was private because I have cover and would prefer not to hit the NHS if I don't need to. Super quick again.
@Bikerman Many thanks for raising this subject on the forum, it's about time someone did. I've got the Tee Shirt already, in fact I will be seeing my oncologist tomorrow. I'm surprised that they only gave you the two options, but maybe it was because of your PSA level in double figures, mine never got anywhere near that and I had radiotherapy every weekday for 4 weeks. So just a few observations for our fellow forum members. This may come over a tad blunt but there is no sugar coating it. Don't ever let your GP try and persuade you that you don't need or shouldn't have a PSA test. The NHS constitution says that if you are over 50 you are entitled to have a PSA test irrespective of whether you have any symptoms or not. To see what other bikers are saying about the subject try this thread on the Ducati forum which has been running for quite a while now. If you are black you are twice as likely, 1 in 4, to be afflicted as white guys 1 in 8. If you have a family history of it your risk level is increased by 2½ times. This episode in your life will probably go something like this:- PSA test or DRE (digital rectal exam). As my job entitled me to a BUPA MoT every year I already knew from the annual DRE that I had an enlarged prostate. MRI scan. Biopsy. The usual NHS method is the ultrasound guided transrectal method (TRUS) which involves access to the prostate via the rectum. Some NHS hospitals are now favouring the MRI guided transperineal method (TP) where access is gained midway between your annus and your scrotum. Transrectal method will carry a higher post op risk of infection due to the access path and cannot access as much of the prostate as the transperineal method. Local anaesthetic. Transperineal method has a lower risk of post op infection and can access more of the prostate. General anaesthetic. NB. getting on for 20 different tissue samples will be taken during the biopsy. I had both biopsy methods and would strongly advise arguing for the latter method. Upon positive diagnosis hormone treatment to prevent/stop production of testosterone which the cancer cells thrive on. I had 2 three monthly implants injected under the skin below my naval before my radiotherapy. Treatment will be one of the following:- Active surveillance. In some cases it is possible to live a full life with prostate cancer and it not being the cause of your demise. Low dose rate brachytherapy where radioactive isotope seeds are embedded in the prostate. Just the one operation under a general anaesthetic. The seeds are never removed. High dose rate brachytherapy is a procedure where the cancer cells are subjected to a short high dose of radiation which is not left in the body. More details can be found here. External Beam Radiotherapy uses high energy x-rays to bombard the cancer cells administered a number of times. I drove to Oxford every weekday for four weeks (2,000 miles) but treatment can last as long as 8 weeks. I had never seen the point of adorning one's body with tattoos but I now have 3, just dots, one on each hip and one in my short and curlies they are the aiming points for the x-rays. Surgery to remove the prostate gland is done under a general anaesthetic using a keyhole surgery technique. Whichever of these alternatives are recommended for you, most will have some side effects which you will eventually adapt to dealing with. The Prostate Cancer UK charity website and their personnel are really most helpful, as are Macmillan Cancer Support. There will be much that I have missed so please chip in to provide our fellow motorcyclists with as much advice and support as possible. Not always a sombre experience, during the period of my radiotherapy sessions I met a fellow motorcyclist who has become a firm friend, he delivers chandeliers strapped on the back of his Kawasaki that has been breathed upon to produce over 200 bhp. One other acquaintance is a humble guy who has worked on the land all of his life and has now had TV fame thrust upon him solely because he was in the right place at the right time. I've banged on enough so I'll give it a rest now.
Joe, not wishing to inject too much humour into something that is deadly serious, and could have consequences, but . Well done Joe. that's the trouble with all these tongue twisters that the doctors come out with, I can never pronounce them, let alone remember them. Hope all goes well.
They did give me a third option as you rightly said which was radiotherapy should all else fail, but after speaking to the surgeon, who was not in favour of active surveillance I decided to go for get the sod out option. My apologies for not making that clear in the original post. P.S. You've not banged on one bit, you've added valuable information to this post, something you'll notice I didn't do.
Yes you know this is a great topic and so helpful to others. Time we big brave men faced up to the fact that we are only flesh and blood. And its all right to to say something is wrong. The fabulous words they use i just ask my Tracy and she puts a meaning to them. You know i am so glad @Bikerman raised this topic obviously not for him being ill but for giving us all a good kick on the back sides
@Bikerman: I wish you all the best for your therapies! Your attitude and approach are impressive and an example to others.
Well after reading bikerman's post and being of a certain age with certain conditions I decided to give my docs a ring first a psa test, first appointment i could get is 12 January so I booked it so fingers crossed, tho I think it best if the doc doesn't cross his.
So yesterday i went along to the health center and had my test done. Also took a urine sample as requested. So just waiting now for the results.
I've been told if guys live long enough, eventually we will all get prostate cancer. I don't if that's so. I'm 73 and a few of my circle of friends in this same age bracket are now being diagnosed and getting the surgery. I just had the PSA test done and I'm supposedly in the low-risk category. Another sneaky cancer to keep up on is colon cancer. Get the colonoscopy done, guys and gals! I had polyps removed a couple years ago, which I was told, would have become cancerous within a few years, so I'm getting the procedure every couple years now to be on the safe side. It's decidedly unpleasant, but considering the alternative, absolutely necessary. Best of luck, Bikerman. Glad it was caught early enough to save you and good luck and blessings to all of you who have piped up with their various troubles.
@Bikerman Very glad for you that the treatment went well Some of you may remember I went on a trip to Alaska, 35 days on the bike, back home in June ... sometime in August I got a prostate infection ... not fun at all , after 3 weeks of antibiotics the infection subsided, gladly symptoms went away in just 2 days after starting the medicines. At the time of the infection my PSA was over 30 ! Now is below 1 I'm taking tamsulosin (anti-inflammatory) every day and I no longer need to get up multiple times at night, sometimes none, once usually. My doctor recommended a PSA test every 3 months since the prostate is large, he's recommendations is to eventually get surgery to reduce the size, not urgent, but I'm 62yo and now is better than later. i'm thinking of doing it next year.
Bloody hell a rating of 30. But don't worry about that too much a friend of my brother's has had an enlarged prostate for many years, he, like you gets regular check ups, and tablets to help control the symptoms. But as you said, its better to get something done about it sooner rather than later. Have a great Christmas Armando.
I was offered Tamsulosin but one of the possible side effects is Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome (IFIS) which, as I wear contact lenses rather than spectacles, I refused. I have no idea whether this would have affected the wearing of lenses but I chose not to let the buggers mess around with my eyesight.
When you say “reduce the size” I’m guessing that as the urethra passes through the centre of the prostate you are referring to a procedure called Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) which removes the central portion of the prostate, thus preventing the prostate constricting the urethra which is the cause of frequent visits to the bathroom during the night. What we motorcyclists would call a rebore However, make sure that you are fully aware of the possible short term and long term side effects. The later includes the possibility of retrograde ejaculation.
