Prostate Cancer Blog » prostate

Prostate Cancer–What treatment did you do and was it successful?

admin — Thu, 27 May 2010 18:06:17 +0000

I had twenty sessions of EBR (External Beam Radiation) therapy followed by two sessions of Temporary Implant HDR (High Dose Radiation) Brachytherapy (not all hospitals have the necessary specialist equipment to offer this option, though).
My treatment also included a three year course of hormone treatment with the testosterone-stopper CASODEX. It is now four years since I was diagnosed and all is well. The brachytherapy was the unpleasant part. 15 catheters were inserted into the affected parts of my prostate gland through the perenium under general anaesthetic and I was peeing, pooing and cumming blood for about a week afterwards! A highly radioactive bead is sent on a wire down each catheter in turn for twenty seconds. The whole thing is repeated 24 hours later when the catheters are first checked to make sure they haven’t moved overnight. In my case six had to be repositioned and this was done whilst I was conscious – painful! It wasn’t a pleasant experience but it seems to have worked, fingers crossed.
The advantage of radiotherapy over having the prostate removed is that I didn’t end up having any bowel or urinary problems, which is a high risk with surgery. Also, luckily, now that I am off the Casodex and my testosterone levels have returned to normal, I have resumed sexual activities (without viagra, too!) except my ejaculate volume has decreased to just a few drops, but that doesn’t worry me too much.
Hope this helps, and good luck.

Any comfort about prostate cancer?

admin — Thu, 27 May 2010 18:06:17 +0000

My dad was just diagnosed with stage 7 prostate cancer this weekend. I would like for some people to reply with comfort, success stories, tragic stories, etc. Please broaden my horizon of thinking that there’s only one way out of this.

I’m only 19 years old and he’s 51. He still has two little girls to graduate high school and I’m frightened that he won’t be around. Please offer stories and/or comfort.

I have worked in a Urologists office for about 3 years now. We have many patients that have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. There are many treatment options out there, from surgery (robotic prostaectomy) to hormone treatment (radiation treatment). Think positive, your father is probably feeling down about things himself right now, i would try to stay as positive as possible. especially for your younger sisters.

To determine a Gleason score the biopsied tissue samples are run through a microscope to determine where the cancer is the most prominent (the primary grade) and then where it’s next most prominent (the secondary grade). the two grades are then added together to get the final gleason grade.
A score of 7 indicates that the cancer is moderately aggressive.

check out the website attatched it is very informative.

I’ve had to go pee about 3 times in the last 2 hours, do I have prostate cancer?

admin — Thu, 27 May 2010 18:06:16 +0000

I don’t think I ever go pee that much, but today so far I’ve had to go pee a lot. Should I get a prostate exam?? I’ve only been going pee a lot today.

If I do have prostate cancer and my symptoms are starting today, do you think it’s already spread to other parts of my body??
I’m only 22 years old.

No Jason. Calm down buddy. Peeing too much could be from several things. It’s just one day! I seriously doubt you have prostate cancer. Do you drink Coffee? It’s a diuretic you know. Give it a few days. If it gets worse see a Urologist that is their specialty. Not a GP. Good luck!

why am i spitting up white milky substance in stage 4 prostate cancer?

admin — Sun, 16 May 2010 08:54:19 +0000

This isn’t a typically symptom of prostate cancer. You will need to speak to your oncologist.

arethere any symptoms of prostate cancer?

admin — Sun, 16 May 2010 08:54:18 +0000

Prostate cancer usually does not cause symptoms in its early stages. Most men don’t know they have it until it is found during a regular medical exam. When there are symptoms, they mostly involve having problems with urination. Symptoms may include:

Having difficulty starting your urine stream.
Having a weaker-than-normal urine stream.
Being unable to urinate at all.
Having to urinate often.
Feeling that your bladder is not emptying completely when you urinate.
Having to get up at night to urinate.
Having pain or a burning feeling when you urinate.
Having blood in your urine.
Having a deep pain in your lower back, abdomen, hip, or pelvis.

do vitamins cause prostate cancer??

admin — Sun, 16 May 2010 08:54:16 +0000

I am taking AST Multi Pro 32X for boxing, twice a day as it says on the bottle. I mean i guess this sounds crazy but I heard or read somewhere that taking multivitamins causes prostate cancer. So whats the deal?
should I take like one a day to reduce my chances of getting prostate cancer

Doctors are investigating a possible link between heavy multivitamin use and the most serious types of prostate cancer, according to an article in today’s Journal of the National Cancer Institute

http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=76577-multivitamins-prostate-cancer-beta-carotene

what are the side effects for prostate cancer treatment.?

admin — Sun, 09 May 2010 18:53:05 +0000

It would have been very helpful if you had said what stage prostate cancer you are talking about and your age since there is a tremendous difference between very early prostate cancer and metastatic disease and also the slow growing prostate cancer which is often found in elderly men.

Often with early prostate cancer that is still confined to the prostate gland the Dr may just wait and watch since often prostate cancer progresses very slowly. There are a variety of treatment options from radiation, implanted radioactive seeds, surgery, anti-androgen therapy and many more options depending on the size and location of the prostate cancer.

Here are some good web pages that discuss your various treatment options and their side effects.

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/cancer/treatment/264.html

http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org/site/c.itIWK2OSG/b.1420081/k.93C6/Side_Effects.htm

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_2_1x_Prostate_Cancer_Treatment_Side_Effects_Impact_Mens_Outlook.asp

http://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/news/20080319/life-quality-after-prostate-cancer

Read up at these sites and then add additional info about your age and disease staging and I will try and answer any specific questions that you might have.

all the best

Hi does anyone know the first signs of prostate cancer?

admin — Sun, 09 May 2010 18:53:05 +0000

I KNOW SOME ONE CLOSE TO ME WHO SAYS HE HAS A BALL LIKE GROWTH DIRECTLY UNDER HIS TESTICLES BUT HE’S SCARED TO GO TO THE HOSPITIAL FOR FEAR OF THE WORST. I ASKED HIM IF HE THINKS IT’S SOMETHING SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED AN HE SAYS HE’S POSITIVE IT’S NOTHING SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED. IF ANYONE KNOWS THE FIRST SIGNS OF PROSTATE CANCER OR THE SYMPTOMS PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

Definately needs to go for a PSA test and then possibly a biopsy. Someone very dear to me was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer on both sides and he had no symptoms at all. They had been watching his PSA’s for about a year and decided to do a biopsy. He still has no symptoms but opted for surgery because it is a silent killer.

Is having ridiculous amounts of sex a cause for prostate cancer as well? No matter how young you are?

admin — Sun, 09 May 2010 18:53:04 +0000

I’m only 32 and I’m thinking about getting it done! What do you think?

I don’t think it would cause prostate cancer, but you can strain your balls

Stage 4 Prostate Cancer

admin — Sat, 01 May 2010 18:41:44 +0000

Any encouraging stories from any one who knows anyone or had Stage 4 prostate cancer?

Yes, a man I know with stage 4 prostate cancer had is prostate removed and underwent chemo therapy. The first year was real rough for him. While he did have some side affects from the chemo, he is still alive and his health is good. He was diagnosed & treated 6 years ago.

here are some web sites that have lots of information about the "grading" systems of prostate cancer and what they mean.

http://prostatecancer.about.com/od/treatments/a/stage4.htm

http://www.urologychannel.com/prostatecancer/stagingsystems.shtml