Good morning Colin and welcome.
Firstly, could I just say how fortunate you are!! Odd thing to say eh? BUT if you hadn't gone to the pub on that particular night then you would still have had the possibility of prostate cancer and it would have been much further down the line.
As Colin (Lyrical) says, try not to worry too much. There could be a number of reasons for a high PSA (infection, prostatitis, even sex just before the test believe it or not)
OK, so half the prostate being hard makes the possibility that much more real, BUT again, it isn't all doom and gloom.
If you have been reading through the posts on this site you will have seen that there are many many men on here who have massive PSA scores and very high Gleason scores and who have still had treatment and are living their lives to the full.
There are many options available to PC men now and cures are definitely possible.
To help you sort it all out in your mind you could try ordering (or downloading) the TOOLKIT from this website.
Go back to the home page then publications. They are all free of charge.
Personally think the hard copies make it easier for referencing as you look through the different choices.
You are blessed in having a wife who is going to support you.
As far as reading everything about prostate cancer that you can, it's best not to browse the web on it but stick to particular sites like this one. Don't believe all the anecdotes you read.
Not everyone is the same and the same treatments might not be suitable for all. if it comes down to it and you do have cancer then there isn't a single member on here that won't offer you support and guidance.
Get that toolkit. Get a notebook and pen. Read this toolkit make notes about things you want further info on.
If you need clarification then ask on here (there are also nurses on here ready and available to help with queries) and believe me there are no questions you need to be embarrassed about.
When you go to see the consultant take the list of questions with you. Take somebody else with you as it is a lot to take in and you are bound to miss some of it or put a different perspective on it to the other person. Together you can sort out what was said. Consultants are used to us all turning up with our list of questions and won't bat an eyelid.
Good luck and best wishes to both of you. You came to the right place
Sandra
Edited by member 04 May 2015 at 08:23
| Reason: Not specified
We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails |
User
Thanks to Lyrical and Sandra for your reassurance, but it's still hard to deal with. I'll be pleased when I've had the scan and biopsy. Apparently a link exists between prostrate an my sister having had breast cancer.
I'll wait and get the toolkit, if I'm told the tests are positive. Don't want to tempt fate.
Thanks Colin
User
Hello again
Well it's been a long week. I had my MRI yesterday and finally had my biopsy today. So now have to wait for the results. One question I have is after the biopsy I've drank loads of fluids as instructed but yet don't feel the urge to urinate. I understand the the prostrate will be swollen ho long does it take to reduce in size and allow me to go.
Thanks.
User
Hi Damperman,
You should be able "to go" when you want to go. There shouldn't be alot of swelling as such.
If you feel you want to go, ie. your bladder is full, but can't, get yourself down to A&E.
Flexi
ps. don't be surprised if your urine is tinged with blood
pps. you've been asked to drink a lot of fluids to dilute your urine and so prevent the formation of a blood clot
Edited by member 08 May 2015 at 17:57
| Reason: Not specified
User
Thanks for the reply flexi, I feel I could go, but nothing. Not urgent yet so wait and see. It's only bee 6 hrs.
User
Hi Damperman
From my own experience (see my profile) water retention isn't good. Please do something to get it checked asap as Flexi has said.
Arthur
User
Hi AWR1946, just read your profile. It's opens your mind to the problems that can occur. The nurse at hospital said if I didn't go within 12hrs go to A&E. Another 5.5hrs. Hopefully something will happen. Keeping my fingers crossed.
User
I had no problems after my rectal biopsy, but went into retention after my template biopsy and had to go to A & E and was kept in. I'd go sharpish if I were you, judging from my own experience.
Stay Calm And Carry On. |
User
sixfoottwo I'm waiting till 10pm, hopfully things will happen soon I feeling a little pressure now.
User
10pm may be too long to wait, consider going to A&E or your local drop in centre as soon as it is obvious that you have urine in your bladder that you can't expel. If you leave it too long, you could damage your kidneys. You may also not be aware that once You go into urine retention, it becomes extremely painful astonishingly quickly and a 2-3 hour wait in a busy casualty department could be excruciating.
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
|
User
Eureka, it's just happened.
Thank goodness for that, Friday night in A&E doesn't bear thinking about.
Thanks for all your advice, I'll let you know when the results are in.
Colin
User
Gosh...other half wasn't allowed to leave hospital until he had opened his bladder. I hope you get on ok with your results, the waiting is so hard.
User
User
Thanks for the replies, it's good to share a problem. I feel back to normal today, I have to say that the biopsy wasn't as bad as I had thought, (don't want another yet though).
So now the wait for the results, it has been a worry since January. I feel sorry for my poor wife. She does worry a lot. I keep telling her we can't change what happens in life.
2 to 3 more weeks and we should know.
Thanks again, Colin.
User
The waiting for the biopsy results is so hard, I feel my life is just on hold. I know I'm in the long line of many, but I just need to know one way or the other. Any others feel the same.
User
Hi Damperman
I remember waiting for my results and it was an anxious time. I had my biopsy 10 days before the Christmas and didn't get the results until mid January. It turned out the CNS was on 2 weeks holiday!! I was too naive at the time to chase it up thinking the delay was due to Christmas.
Hope you hear sooner rather than later
Arthur
User
Thanks, I will probably ring the nurse next week.
User
Haven't rang about results, thought it might upset the hospital staff. The waiting is driving me nuts. That will be 2 weeks tomorrow I had the biopsy. Is no news good news???