MilesA Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 I am sure that medical experiences vary and good that your NHS experience was positive. My chum had no pre-op support. I had advice to start strengthening the pelvic floor as long as possible before the operation to minimise any post op issues, an hour and a half personal tutorial from a specialist nurse on the operation itself, post operation timeline, explanation and demonstration of the catheter equipment and how to use it safely and hygenically, how to protect wounds, etc. I passed all of this on to my friend several weeks before his op, together with copies of all the guidance notes I had been provided with. He was discharged 24 hours after the operation (I was just recovering the ability to walk with the help of a Physio at that time), with a box of codeine and no laxatives to manage post operative constipation and the risk of an anal fissure from the full anaesthetic ( when queried after he got home - get your own from a pharmacist). Now, I acknowledge that my experience was optimal and came at a price, but his should have been a bit better. Good point that recovery experiences vary massively. Again, I was fortunate. I was 60 at the time of the op and reasonably fit running 10k once a week. After about a month I started running from scratch - "Couch to 5k" programme. I went skiing three and a half months after the op and jogged the Great North run on the first anniversary of the op. I was very determined to help myself recover. I did however, go back to work too soon. Note to self - Don't be a show off in future! Limitations of the PSA test as you rightly say are well known. But for me, if you ain't testing you are in the dark. So persevere. End of second sermon! Miles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulAA Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 4 hours ago, Nick Jones said: The PSA test is available free to any well man of 50 or over who requests it. Same here. My GP tactfully suggests it is time if I haven't had it done for 18 months. There was a suggestion a couple of years ago that PSA was of questionable value. I - reluctantly - asked my GP if the manual method was more reliable. He looked at me dourly and said "I think you should have greater faith in science than my index finger." Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 18 minutes ago, PaulAA said: "I think you should have greater faith in science than my index finger." I've been told, by people who should know, that both have their value! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 (edited) May I repeat my post above, to remind everyone, that while 10% of men - 5% of the population - will get prostate cancer, 30% of men and women will have hypertension, and that there are no symptoms. A prostate tumour, benign or otherwise, will tell you it is there, but you notice nothing about your blood pressure until it causes one of the life changing and shortening complication. And, treatment is easy and effective. The critical statistic is the "Number Needed to Screen" to prevent one death from a specific disease: For prostatic cancer , the NNS is 1410 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3058289/) and for hypertension, NNS is 83, for anyone over 65 years, but 1089 if you are less than 60. The NHS plays safe and offers blood pressure checks from 40 years old. It's cheap - done by a nurse - non-invasive, and as you get older far, far more likely to save your life than any prostate checking. Say yes, and go along to the surgery, if and when you are offered a check. If you are 60+ and haven't had one, ask for one! John Edited November 13, 2019 by JohnD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterC Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 I monitor my bp at home, for the cost of less than a tank of fuel. Discovered that too much VitE raises bp, fortunately reversibly. The experiment continues................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chippy63 Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 10 hours ago, MilesA said: Well done for sharing Chippy and to John and Nick for reinforcing the messages as I did a couple of months ago. I had regular PSA tests and the figures were always low but it was a 25% increase one year which set the bells warning and lead to the train of action detailed above. So I agree, regularity of testing is crucial. On the question of testing, most of my chums find considerable resistance from GPs. Unless, symptoms are identified they are very, very reluctant to provide a PSA test. May be an NHS geographical issue. Presently mentoring an acquaintance who has just had his prostate removed via the Da Vinci procedure on the NHS. Support has been pretty woeful by comparison with my insurance-funded private experience but he will be better off in the long run with the offending gland removed. Chippy, impressed that you got 8 weeks off work. I had a fortnight then returned part time. Got b****r all done on the car! Miles Miles your spot on that my GP didnt want to send me for a psa test, once i forced my self past that hurdle the NHS were fantastic and really quick. Second psa test, mri then biopsy all within 2 weeks , op 3 weeks after that. 10 months down the line no more pads needed and only a ring (no pump) needed to keep the misses happy(sorry if that too much information, ive got used to talking to strangers about the machanics of it) Think i got a good result Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chippy63 Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 11 hours ago, MilesA said: Well done for sharing Chippy and to John and Nick for reinforcing the messages as I did a couple of months ago. I had regular PSA tests and the figures were always low but it was a 25% increase one year which set the bells warning and lead to the train of action detailed above. So I agree, regularity of testing is crucial. On the question of testing, most of my chums find considerable resistance from GPs. Unless, symptoms are identified they are very, very reluctant to provide a PSA test. May be an NHS geographical issue. Presently mentoring an acquaintance who has just had his prostate removed via the Da Vinci procedure on the NHS. Support has been pretty woeful by comparison with my insurance-funded private experience but he will be better off in the long run with the offending gland removed. Chippy, impressed that you got 8 weeks off work. I had a fortnight then returned part time. Got b****r all done on the car! Miles Miles your spot on that my GP didnt want to send me for a psa test, once i forced my self past that hurdle the NHS were fantastic and really quick. Second psa test, mri then biopsy all within 2 weeks , op 3 weeks after that. 10 months down the line no more pads needed and only a ring (no pump) needed to keep the misses happy(sorry if that too much information, ive got used to talking to strangers about the machanics of it) Think i got a good result Agree that there isnt much after care though through NHS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 PeterC, excellent practice (of course!), see: https://www.phc.ox.ac.uk/news/home-based-blood-pressure-monitoring-should-be-commonplace-in-nhs-say-researchers J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilesA Posted November 15, 2019 Share Posted November 15, 2019 On 11/13/2019 at 8:33 PM, Chippy63 said: Miles your spot on that my GP didnt want to send me for a psa test, once i forced my self past that hurdle the NHS were fantastic and really quick. Second psa test, mri then biopsy all within 2 weeks , op 3 weeks after that. 10 months down the line no more pads needed and only a ring (no pump) needed to keep the misses happy(sorry if that too much information, ive got used to talking to strangers about the machanics of it) Think i got a good result Agree that there isnt much after care though through NHS Great to hear a 'good news' story Chippie. I don't worry about 'over sharing' details and experiences. My view is that it is only by demystifying the topic and sharing real life experiences can we help other blokes to benefit. It's what we do with our cars after all! Miles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted November 15, 2019 Share Posted November 15, 2019 ^^^ +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 Took the NHS up on their invite to have a camera shone where the sun doesn't shine, as part of their 55 and over bowel screening programme. Was initially relluctant at the thought, not embarrassment, just the process of having to use an enema before hand and any other risks involved in the screening. I received full information of the process a couple of weeks before, along with the liquid enema by post. Enema used on the day at home, was simple and efective. Arrived in the waiting room on the day to be met with a few other guests all awaiting the same process, had a good laugh, with a few 'carry on jokes' and one by one we were processed. The NHS staff were just great, friendly caring, considerate. The examination was painless, and if you wanted to you could get a camera eyes view of your insides on a full HD colour monitor. I chose to have the odd glimpse. The nurse wanted to point out that I had mild diverticula, apparenty age related, and need to have more fibre in my diet. Had a full explanation of the examination afterwards with a written report, along with a few colour pics. Can't praise the NHS and their staff enough. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 (edited) Glad to hear of another satisfied - nay, impressed! - NHS customer! Mark said how everything was fully explained and reported - as someone who has done a lot of 'explaining' to patients, when I was involved from the other end of the stethoscope this year, I was surprised by how many people went to that trouble! First the pre-admission nurse saw me, and explained things, then when I was admitted, I saw her again, and she explained again, with opportunities to ask any questions I might have thought of, then the docctor who would do my procedure came to explain, followed by the Consultant in charge, with entourage, who also took time to explain and ask if I had any concerns. I almost felt 'explained-out'! Yes, yes, yes - let's got on with it! But they were all so kind and concerned, with no hint of condescention, that I could not be so ungrateful! Hooray for the NHS! John Edited November 22, 2019 by JohnD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeljf Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 Hello, I hope everyone reads and takes action after reading this! I thankfully haven't got to this stage at present. Was on the Tamsulosin for about 12 months for an enlarged prostate (75 mm then) when checked after the medication it had GROWN to 120 mm !) std.is about 25mm. Had a big re-bore (so has the TR6, 2.7) .No cancer at this stage. So everyone GET it CHECKED. We are just as bad at check- ups on this side of the world! Regards,Michael. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 14 hours ago, michaeljf said: Was on the Tamsulosin for about 12 months I took it for about 12 days...... I suppose it sort of eased the flow, but it also made me feel quite ill. 120mm!! Mine was 60cc (about twice the volume of a squash ball, or about 5cm diameter) and I was told that was pretty large....... 100% agree on the getting checked out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeljf Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 Hello All, Yes the medication didn't work. Went to a funeral today (which about half the attendees had to leave because of fire threats to their properties) and a couple in the last week,including an Uncle,and one funeral waiting because of the fires.And they are all sudden within 3 months of no signs and all cancer. SO again GET a CHECKUP!! Sorry to harp.Regards,Michael. And they were mostly all young.....well 50's/60's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 Just to show that A/ medication does work, and B/ an enlarged prostate is not a cancerous one, I've been taking tamsolusin for over a year, it made life much easier, but when by symptoms did get worse, added finasteride, which while slow working (three months min) has done well. Meanwhile, my PSA has dropped out of sight, but will be monitored 6-monthly. But the lesson is very obvious - all you old men, and not so old men, get yourselves checked! John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerH Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 My PSA level went up to 7.7 at the end of October. It would have been below the report level the year before. One month later it was up to 9.7. So what treatment to have. I had an Ultrasonic scan. This was in order to use up the worlds supply of bottled water. I then had an MRI. These are stunningly brilliant music machines AND they also produce very good pictures of the internals. This revealed a 'lesion' . I had a (TRUS) biopsy (not an autopsy yet) the other day. Although completely painless it left me totally knackered for the rest of the day. Appointment for the Hospital this coming Tuesday for the results. I read in the paper the other day - a chap was not having his PSA tests ( as suggested by his GP) - it is 1,400 and he is in a sorry state - well done doc. Makes my 9.7 look positively healthy Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HARVEY S M Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 Had an annual blood test 12 yrs ago P.S.A. 4.2 after 3 months rose to 6.7, biopsy result positive for carcinoma of the prostate. Treated with radiotherapy. P.S.A now checked on a regular basis .4 to .5 I had no symptoms of cancer. Please all you men out there over 55 have the blood test and be a cancer survivor. Good luck Roger Harvey S. Maitland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 Sorry to hear this Roger. You may yet be spared the C word, but even if not, it’s being caught at the right time and can be very effectively treated. Infinitely better than suddenly discovering you have a 3 or even 4 figure PSA score! Best wishes for Tuesday! Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 3 hours ago, JohnD said: Just to show that A/ medication does work, and B/ an enlarged prostate is not a cancerous one, I've been taking tamsolusin for over a year, it made life much easier, but when by symptoms did get worse, added finasteride, which while slow working (three months min) has done well. Meanwhile, my PSA has dropped out of sight, but will be monitored 6-monthly. But the lesson is very obvious - all you old men, and not so old men, get yourselves checked! John Just looked up finasteride....... don’t fancy it myself. Increases PCa risk.... but does reduce hair loss.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilesA Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 17 hours ago, RogerH said: My PSA level went up to 7.7 at the end of October. It would have been below the report level the year before. One month later it was up to 9.7. So what treatment to have. I had an Ultrasonic scan. This was in order to use up the worlds supply of bottled water. I then had an MRI. These are stunningly brilliant music machines AND they also produce very good pictures of the internals. This revealed a 'lesion' . I had a (TRUS) biopsy (not an autopsy yet) the other day. Although completely painless it left me totally knackered for the rest of the day. Appointment for the Hospital this coming Tuesday for the results. I read in the paper the other day - a chap was not having his PSA tests ( as suggested by his GP) - it is 1,400 and he is in a sorry state - well done doc. Makes my 9.7 look positively healthy Roger Sorry to hear that Roger. In your case it is not the absolute figure but the c20% increase in a short time frame that is of note. Best wishes for Tuesday. A range of successful options available as well as support here. Miles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerH Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 Hi Miles, indeed, the small be rapid increase is a concern but the consultant explained what they have up their sleeves to help sort any issues. Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulAA Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 Hi Roger Best wishes for Tuesday. Out of interest, am I reading correctly that you had a second PSI a month after the first last autumn? Did something prompt the second test? It seems such a radical change in a month that an annual test would have missed it until a much later stage in development. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerH Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 Hi Paul, late summer 2018 it was below 5. Oct 2019 it was 7.7. The GP sent me for another test(Nov 2019) to see what was happening and it was 9.2 (not 9.7 as I posted above) The GP then went into overdrive. Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 (edited) This thread has been one that promotes prostate health, and a jolly good thing! Long may it continue! But may I mention another health screening project, RESCUE-RACER? It's of interest to competitors, probably not any Triumph racers, but the more who know about it, the better. I'll start another thread at : John Edited January 24, 2020 by JohnD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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