Prostate cancer

LiE · 3 Feb 2018 at 09:51

Sounds like it's worthwhile getting checked regularly? Can you just request your GP to run the test?

Steampunk · 3 Feb 2018 at 10:15

Buddy said:
There are several reasons why screening isn't already in place. Namely due to high percentage of false positives and false negatives. Risks of subsequent investigations.

That's because better tests have not been developed/funded. I saw an estimate that the state of testing/treatment for prostate cancer is running approx ten years behind what it should be. The money for research is not there compared to the more well advertised cancers like breast/cervical.

Buddy · 3 Feb 2018 at 10:58

Dis86 said:
Its.not about screening or regular testing, I'm talking awareness. Look at the massive targeting of breast cancer. Look at the fantastic progress that made. What's needed is the same hammering of prostate and testicular cancers.

You had replied to a poster about screening which is why I quoted you.

I think we'd all agree any awareness is a good thing. The limitations of the suggested tests aren't even mentioned in discussions though.

Ayahuasca · 3 Feb 2018 at 12:40

I love having my prostate massaged, even better when a sausage fingered doctor does it.

terley · 3 Feb 2018 at 12:43

Robdav said:
I was diagnosed with PC in 2008. I was 38 years old. I had no symptoms but thought I'd get checked as both my granddads had died of it and my dad had been diagnosed with it a couple of years before (he's recovered and doing well)

I had my prostate removed via the da vinci "robot" in 2009 and have been cancer free for just short of 9 years now. The recovery from the operation (as well as the two follow up operations I needed) was hard and took a while but the hardest thing was coming to terms with the fact that I had cancer and survived. It's life changing and really messes with your head. I was very lucky to catch it when I did, a few months later and it could have been a different outcome.

Congratulations for surviving it mate, I am so sorry you had to go through it.. I know what the idea of having it had on my Dad, watching the mentality of "I'm going to beat this" to "This is going to beat me" is absolutely heartbreaking.

Do you suffer with any long-lasting side effects from the prostate removal? Obviously no seminal fluid, but are you still able to have children? & do you have any incontinence?

I am at high risk for it, so it is something that plays on my mind.

Robdav · 3 Feb 2018 at 21:19

terley said:
Congratulations for surviving it mate....[snip]

OK so I was very lucky. The operation was successful but there have been side effects:

No seminal fluid. no fluid of any kind what so ever. With the removal of the prostate you loose the ability to have children completely bar the use of a needle! I had already had children so it was no great loss for me.
I can and do have normal orgasms and have no erectile dysfunction. If I'd had an "open" traditional operation instead of the robotic one then ED would have been a real issue/concern.
I don't have incontinence although as a result of the operation very occasionally i may "leak" very slightly if I stand up from a crouch position.
For many years, as seems to be normal for anyone surviving cancer, i suffered from survival guilt. I also suffered from a kind of PTSD, which is again quite common.

Having said that, I was very young when I had the diagnosis compared to the "normal" age which is 60 - 70 years old. What is unclear are the very long term effects, 20 - 30 years post operation time frame so I don't know if things like incontinence will get worse or eventually sort itself out.