A load of symptoms and worried!

@MarkBerks

If I've helped lessen worry, I'm happy.

Your points about GPs and education are sensible...
GP awareness is lower than ideal.
Embarrassment is a deterrent to DRE.
DRE is increasingly considered less than effective and unnecessary.
Better education will be of benefit.

@Cheshire Chris...

> ...it would overwhelm the NHS to treat every man with prostate cancer, and in most cases such treatment would be unnecessary. I'm sure you can imagine the worry it would cause to a huge number of men to know that they have cancer, even when that cancer produces no symptoms and will never need treating.

As incidence and mortality of prostate cancer and breast cancer are relatively similar, is the lack of activity (education, diagnosis and treatment) similar to that undertaken for breast cancer (and likewise the smoking->lung cancer connection) acceptable in a relatively developed society? (I think not.)

Though less-than-ideally reliable, a PSA test as potential early detection is worthwhile... fast and cheap, it ought to be far more routine than it to-date has been.

The cost-benefit analysis is likely favourable... reducing the need for the expensive machines and meds which accompany later detection.

And socially, enabling people to live healthy lives... well, what price that?

The validity of 'needless worry' is questionable... although many instances of Pca require no treatment, enough do - and hence the value of the earlier-mentioned breast cancer-type programs, in which an important element is self-education and responsibility.

And, in closing, from a personal viewpoint... although vaguely aware of 'prostate cancer' for years, it's something to which I've not been sufficiently exposed to develop appropriate awareness.

I know far more about requirement and penalties for tv licence and car tax; that smoking causes cancer and other diseases; and that ladies are wise to get their breasts tested.

But, Pca... that it's common and often a killer? Nope, until recently that was something of which I was unaware beyond 'Isn't that where the doc sticks a finger up yer a**? No mate, I'm not into that.'

Edited by member 17 Aug 2018 at 13:41  | Reason: Typos

Thanks again for listening - it helps massively...

Mark

@MarkBerks...

> 'I do have CFS (a bit like ME or Fibro) and read this can of thing can occur with both of those...'

With CFS, 'all bets are off' and the body can behave unpredictably and erratically... scenarios with which many GPs are unfamiliar (and many still 'resist' CFS, wrongly considering it a psychological rather than physiological issue).

Without negating the obvious good intent and value of most GPs, there's a suggestion (which I've heard from specialists) they should increasingly more-quickly hand-off cases for appropriate follow-up.

And, although 'you don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows'... a 'feels ok' from a GP is bl**dy useless - only a small area can be felt, and it's as valid as 'assessing wind by sticking a finger in the air'.

The potential for prostate cancer (and various other things) is often not appropriately considered (by patient and/or medic), and hence disregarded, to the detriment of the patient's health (and the NHS budget).

Sorry to read this Mark, the wait for the MRI plus results will compound how you feel.

Take care,

Ian

>...I am to have an mpMRI and CT scan in Guildford. Back pain becoming immune to painkillers now and fear still there. Any tips on working through that appreciated. Also itching skin which seems an odd symptom.

Ah, Guildford... I once passed a relatively pleasant (yes really, things can always be worse than what's happening at the time) half-day in a locked-door pysch ward there. (Those questioning my use of 'relatively pleasant' should try being married to a 'texan, redhead, lawyer'... even though I loved her dearly.)

Anyway...

There might be further painkiller options... to slow tolerance I used to do a month of Dihydro and then a month of Tramadol. For non-opioid, Diclofenac is stronger than Naproxen. (I'm told smoking heroin is quite good, and relatively un-addictive.)

GPs vary in 'willingness to prescribe', but the H should be easy to get.

Itching skin could be who-knows-what - often a stress-related symptom. Simple over-the-counter anti-histamines might help, and those which induce drowsiness should help you better deal with your fears... not much use if you're about to go on The Krypton Factor, or have nuclear bombs to defuse, though.

MRI should be easy (somewhere onsite I've a post - can't remember what it's called - about mine), I fell asleep.

CT is 'over before you know it'. So brief I didn't get the chance for a snooze.

You may at some point also get a bone scan... if so, ask 'em to 'lift the plate, so it's not scraping your nose' - it was only after mine that I learned how some techs have it lower than necessary, thus increasing chance of claustrophobia.

Mark, getting panicky while you're waiting for tests and results is completely normal, but it WILL pass. I was diagnosed with both prostate cancer and kidney cancer in May, and all I could think about from the moment I woke up in the morning until I went to sleep was cancer. At that time I couldn't imagine that I'd ever enjoy life again. Three and a half months later and the prostate cancer is in hand, the kidney tumour is being surgically removed this coming Saturday, and life feels good again.

No matter how bad the results might be, you'll feel better when you know what's wrong with you and have a treatment plan in place. I guarantee it.

In the mean time, do go and see your GP and get some medication for the anxiety. My GP put me on a drug call Sertraline which helped tremendously.

Chris

Edited by member 28 Aug 2018 at 16:46  | Reason: Not specified

Hi Mark,

I’m a worrier too - still awake at 3am as usual. Just sending you a hug to let you know you’re not alone. 

Fingers and toes crossed for good results xx 

Vicky 

Strange, I don’t think I have had any psychological reaction from my raised PSA, to being diagnosed with cancer, subsequent operation and biopsy results. Maybe because I read stuff like this below, and bear in mind, survival rates are increasing year on year.

In contrast, with lung cancer, 96% of sufferers die within five years. Don’t know if these statistics will give you any solace, I hope so.

From an American cancer website:

According to the most recent data, when including all stages of prostate cancer:

The 5-year relative survival rate is 99%
The 10-year relative survival rate is 98%
The 15-year relative survival rate is 96%
Keep in mind that just as 5-year survival rates are based on men diagnosed and first treated more than 5 years ago, 10-year survival rates are based on men diagnosed more than 10 years ago (and 15-year survival rates are based on men diagnosed at least 15 years ago.

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html

Cheers, John

Edited by member 29 Aug 2018 at 13:58  | Reason: Not specified