Prostate cancer. A useful resource.

[Ingwe]

I’d like to thank all the posters on this thread. I’ve learned such a lot, not only about this horrible disease (prostatic cancer), but also about methods of coping, the human spirit and caring for and about each other. So far, I’ve escaped, but a thread like this removes the social taboo of talking about such things and keeps the subject at the forefront of our minds. Thanks.

 

[fred_jb]

I don't think it was related to the cancer. The urology team seemed to think it was with working outdoors and holding on had gradually stretched my bladder. I genuinely didn't know. When they drained it in the hospital and let me leave with the catheter in, I went home and had lost 9lbs

It could be due to a back injury - have you had this checked?

I had had difficulty in peeing for many years, but no treatment was offered, as when checked by ultrasound about 20 years ago it was found that I could eventually nearly empty my bladder, albeit not quickly or easily. Fast forward to during lockdown when I was sent into hospital due to a day long inability to urinate. I was found to have a severe compression of the spine, probably due to to an old footballing back injury, so it was probably this which had been causing my difficulties. Initially they were going to operate on my back, but managed to relieve the problem with a dose of oral morphine.

A couple of years later following my prostate cancer diagnosis and prostate removal I was peeing like the proverbial racehorse, with only a little shortlived leakage. It seems that the sphinter in the prostate was the one being affected by the spinal compression. Three years on, the flow has reduced quite a bit but I was told that was to be expected due to thickening of scar tissue where the urethra is rejoined after the prostate is removed. I could have a further procedure to alleviate this, but don't think it is bad enough at the moment.

 

[DMC65]

It could be due to a back injury - have you had this checked?

I had had difficulty in peeing for many years, but no treatment was offered, as when checked by ultrasound about 20 years ago it was found that I could eventually nearly empty my bladder, albeit not quickly or easily. Fast forward to during lockdown when I was sent into hospital due to a day long inability to urinate. I was found to have a severe compression of the spine, probably due to to an old footballing back injury, so it was probably this which had been causing my difficulties. Initially they were going to operate on my back, but managed to relieve the problem with a dose of oral morphine.

A couple of years later following my prostate cancer diagnosis and prostate removal I was peeing like the proverbial racehorse, with only a little shortlived leakage. It seems that the sphinter in the prostate was the one being affected by the spinal compression. Three years on, the flow has reduced quite a bit but I was told that was to be expected due to thickening of scar tissue where the urethra is rejoined after the prostate is removed. I could have a further procedure to alleviate this, but don't think it is bad enough at the moment.

Interesting that it was down to a back injury. I got the FF the tools 11 years ago due to chronic back pain. It's thankfully all right now that I'm not doing manual work all day, but that'll get have been the cause.
Anyway, I am now like yourself and that proverbial racehorse. Just hope it stays that way. The bonus after my prostatectomy was practically no leakage, just a couple of drips occasionally that stopped pretty quickly.

 

[Speve]

My whole process through my treatment sprang from what I believed to be an old problem that started 30 yrs ago a ureatheral stricture which I had operated on several times but it kept returning,back in 2023 I was referred to urology for a check and flow test and several other tests and it was discovered that although I thought I had a good pee there was actually 1200ml left in bladder and that it was stretched to double the size it should be.
They decided to carry out a TURP a procedure to open up the Ureatha the result of this was I still had retention and it did not resolve the retention however it discovered cancer cells in the clippings from my prostate Gleason 3 + 4 which needed further prostate biopsies not a nice procedure where they took 32 specimens and it came back as Gleason 4+3 which has ended up with my pending operation on June 12th.
I consider myself very lucky that I was given the TURP as I would never had known about the cancer had I not had it

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Best of luck and a speedy recovery for your op on the 12th.

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[sedge]

Speve - it is indeed an ill wind that blows nobody at all any good!

 

[Rich-H]

Most important before any treatment gets going is - get those pelvic floor exercises going cos if you don't need the benefit of em now - you absolutely will post op. Most useful feature of doing them for blokes is that if you're doing it properly, every time you contract those muscles, your willy will raise so if you practice in front of a mirror you can see immediately if you're doing em effectively or not. Us girls have no such help!

Thanks for the reminder, I'm having my prostate removed on 25th June, and know I must keep up these exercises as both of my brothers had incontinence issues after having their prostates removed too.

 

[Oldrat]

Thanks for the reminder, I'm having my prostate removed on 25th June, and know I must keep up these exercises as both of my brothers had incontinence issues after having their prostates removed too.

‘Post it’ note reminders everywhere. Loo, fridge, bathroom mirror,

Just one 20 second hold each time works amazingly.

 

[gus-lopez]

Best of luck and a speedy recovery for your op on the 12th.

ditto from me-& too the others with ops due soon.

 

[DMC65]

Squeezy - Apps on Google Play

Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises

play.google.com

I had no issue with forgetting the kegels, but this might be handy for some. Couple of guys at a prostate cancer group I attend swear by it.

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[varaizian]

I finally started my radiotherapy programme today after delays for a bone density test (for hormone injections that it was later decided I didn't need!) and then a "short" colonoscopy to check all was ok. Short means no anaesthetic and only going as far as I could take. In the event it was far enough and not particularly uncomfortable. Not being unconscious meant that I could watch the images of the procedure myself which was slightly weird but very interesting! 20 straight days to start with and then an assessment. Possibly more after that if needed. Very bland diet, buckets of water to drink but no alcohol prescribed. Ho-hum.

 

[The general]

20 straight days

Do you have weekends off ?

 

[varaizian]

Do you have weekends off ?

Yes, and this being France, holiday days too! May would have been a nightmare.I was given a programme for the first 5 days and the times are dotted all over the place during the day. Presumably everyone else is the same. Being retired I think they give me the times that suit the poor sods who are trying to manage their treatment whilst still working.

 

[rod_vw]

Yes, and this being France, holiday days too! May would have been a nightmare.I was given a programme for the first 5 days and the times are dotted all over the place during the day. Presumably everyone else is the same. Being retired I think they give me the times that suit the poor sods who are trying to manage their treatment whilst still working.

Mine in the UK was 20 sessions with weekends off. Mt first was a Thursday and was told that I would be given the times for the next week on the Friday. I, very tongue in cheek, asked if they could be as early as possible. The kind nurse said she would do her best, all the next week were timed at 08:30am, success! It didn't work quite that well with the subsequent weeks but was reasonably convenient.

 

[sedge]

When OH had his radiotherapy, the radiographers told him, because they (correctly) assumed he'd do his best to get there at the appointed time, not to worry too much cos the truth was that as long as he got there in working hours, he'd get his treatment.

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[Speve]

I finally started my radiotherapy programme today after delays for a bone density test (for hormone injections that it was later decided I didn't need!) and then a "short" colonoscopy to check all was ok. Short means no anaesthetic and only going as far as I could take. In the event it was far enough and not particularly uncomfortable. Not being unconscious meant that I could watch the images of the procedure myself which was slightly weird but very interesting! 20 straight days to start with and then an assessment. Possibly more after that if needed. Very bland diet, buckets of water to drink but no alcohol prescribed. Ho-hum.

Hope all goes well for you good luck

 

[big bertha]

Yes, and this being France, holiday days too! May would have been a nightmare.I was given a programme for the first 5 days and the times are dotted all over the place during the day. Presumably everyone else is the same. Being retired I think they give me the times that suit the poor sods who are trying to manage their treatment whilst still working.

My OH starts his 20 days in July. Weekends off and 1 Monday for some reason. First 10 he has to have enemas.He has to drive himself but might be tired last 2 weeks of treatment seemingly. Unfortunately we are committed to looking after grandchild 2 days over same period so a lot of running about. Good luck with you're treatment

 

[The general]

He has to drive himself but might be tired last 2 weeks of treatment seemingly.

‘ seemingly ‘ me it was like a cliff edge , first 10 fractions ok but second 10 were challenging , i am sure you got bases covered .

 

[rod_vw]

My OH starts his 20 days in July. Weekends off and 1 Monday for some reason. First 10 he has to have enemas.He has to drive himself but might be tired last 2 weeks of treatment seemingly. Unfortunately we are committed to looking after grandchild 2 days over same period so a lot of running about. Good luck with you're treatment

Hi big bertha, don't worry too much about either the enemas or the tiredness until he's had a couple of sessions then he will have an idea how his body responds. We are all different and the RT affects different people in different ways. If his RT treatment is like mine he won't be troubled by it in any way. The enemas are just to ensure that the bowel is empty i.e. everything is in the same shape as when they did the CT planning scan, likewise is how they have requested the fullness or otherwise of his bladder.
If he / you are not yet a member of the Macmillan Prostate cancer forum then I suggest that you could benefit from joining even if it's only to read the experiences of others. Everyone on there is wonderfully knowledgeable and supportive. If you join you can read a long winded diary of my journey through PC from diagnosis and treatment to date in my profile, you will find me there using the forum name Osca2023.

PS I began my RT on the 18th July 2024 and completed it on the 14th August 2024 three weeks later we were in France in the camper and experiencing no troublesome after effects of the RT. Don't get me wrong, there are lasting side effects but they minor rather than major.

 

[The general]

there are lasting side effects

Correct .

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[big bertha]

Hi big bertha, don't worry too much about either the enemas or the tiredness until he's had a couple of sessions then he will have an idea how his body responds. We are all different and the RT affects different people in different ways. If his RT treatment is like mine he won't be troubled by it in any way. The enemas are just to ensure that the bowel is empty i.e. everything is in the same shape as when they did the CT planning scan, likewise is how they have requested the fullness or otherwise of his bladder.
If he / you are not yet a member of the Macmillan Prostate cancer forum then I suggest that you could benefit from joining even if it's only to read the experiences of others. Everyone on there is wonderfully knowledgeable and supportive. If you join you can read a long winded diary of my journey through PC from diagnosis and treatment to date in my profile, you will find me there using the forum name Osca2023.

PS I began my RT on the 18th July 2024 and completed it on the 14th August 2024 three weeks later we were in France in the camper and experiencing no troublesome after effects of the RT. Don't get me wrong, there are lasting side effects but they minor rather than major.

Hi I do dip into the MacMillan forum and recognise your forum name. We were hoping to have RT during June to leave July free for holiday childminding duties. The unfortunate think the hospital is only 45 minutes away in Edinburgh but the childminding is an hour away in the opposite direction.