Possible prostate tumour

Karlen1 · February 2004

Hi everyone, I am looking for advice from you concerning my partner, Bob. He had an increased PSA count about three years ago and had a biopsy done. The biopsy did not reveal cancer but the doctor wanted to do another biopsy as something about the results made him suspicious. Due to the pain while having this biopsy, Bob canceled his apptmt for the second biopsy--twice, and then just refused to make another apptmt. His PSA count has increased slowly since then from 4.6 to 6, and now to 11. Bob has been having lower back pain lately and our family doctor said a week ago that he suspected that Bob had prostate cancer and that it had spread to the bones. The lower back pain, plus the fact that Bob has been having sweats several times per day is what led the doc to think along those lines. However, we visited the doc today and Bob's back x-ray shows deterioration of some disks and some osteoarthritis so now the family doc no longer suspects mets, but when I questioned him, he said Bob definitely has a tumour of the prostate. Bob just seems to want to bury his head in the sand on this as he has a low tolerance to pain. I am going to do some reading on this site and on the net, but wondering if other tests like ultra-sound or CT scans wouln't show a tumour if he has one. I believe the doc thinks he has a tumour because of elevated PSA alone. Bob did not ask the doc any questions, only my questioning got as much info as we did. The doctor did say that prostate tumours were usually slow-growing, but that it could differ from person to person. If any of you could enlighten me on the usual procedures re prostate cancer, I would really appreciate it. Thanks, Karlen

mikebur · February 2004

Hi Karlen1!!! My psa was also 4.6 and I had cancer, then had a radical prostatectomy (surgery) on 7/25/03 and I am doing fine. Prostate cancer is a slow moving cancer - sometimes - especially the older you are but from what I have been told - it can be more aggressive in younger patients (I am 55 years old). It is different in everyone and I would tell Bob not to play games with it. I have a friend of mine who was put to sleep when he had the biopsy done. He did not feel anything but he said it took longer in recovery that day. Psa of 11 may not mean cancer - it could be enlarged prostate but I would want to know if it is and take care of it. If it is cancer and is still only in the prostate (has not spread) they can do either surgery or radiation and remove the cancer. I'm sure someone will come along and give you more information. This site has a lot of great information but Bob has to want to check into it and take care of it. You are a good support for him for helping him find out what to do. We will keep you in our prayers. God bless. Mike

rogermoore · February 2004

Hi Karlen,

Please do not let Bob ignore a possible problem that might be taken care of in it's early stages. Something is causing the rise in PSA and tests should be run to determine what it is. PC can be taken care of if detected in it's early stages. However, it can be deadly if ignored.

There are a lot of us that have survived treatment, whether surgical or other, and are leading perfectly normal lives. There may be some trade-offs, but it certainly does not mean a normal life will not be possible after treatment.

Don't hesitate to contact me either via a posting on this page or at my e-mail given on my profile page.

Best of luck,

Roger

warren612 · February 2004

Hi, I don't know where you live, but when I had my 2nd Biopsy (18) 4 were negative I went to a Dr. at New England Medical Center in Boston because he injects Lanocane into the prostate to numb it. I felt nothing. You could ask the Dr. who would do your partner. Good Luck !!!

nutt · February 2004

Karlen1,
The option ---if it is cancer and goes untreated, is far greater pain than much of the treatment options (depending on which one is selected).

We here are all survivors with our various experience, opinions and treatments that we have all endured, and are available for sharing BUT, we all are and have had to step up to the plate and become fighters! Your mate must make that choice and take it as just another blip in life that needs attention - somethng like taking out the rubbish. No one likes it but is has to be done.

Your problem is greater in that your mate doesn't seem to what to take charge of his life? Let us know if we can assist further but there has to be a desire on his part. It does not have to be the end of the world. Just another act in a series. It too will have a beginning and an end and then you move on with the rest of your lives.

Joe

Karlen1 · February 2004

nutt said:
Karlen1,
The option ---if it is cancer and goes untreated, is far greater pain than much of the treatment options (depending on which one is selected).

We here are all survivors with our various experience, opinions and treatments that we have all endured, and are available for sharing BUT, we all are and have had to step up to the plate and become fighters! Your mate must make that choice and take it as just another blip in life that needs attention - somethng like taking out the rubbish. No one likes it but is has to be done.

Your problem is greater in that your mate doesn't seem to what to take charge of his life? Let us know if we can assist further but there has to be a desire on his part. It does not have to be the end of the world. Just another act in a series. It too will have a beginning and an end and then you move on with the rest of your lives.

Joe

Hi again and thanks so much to all who replied. I should have said that Bob will be 73 this year and has been in pretty good shape for a man that age. He has had congestive heart failure twice, but medication is currently taking care of that very well. We have also been through cancer with me. I will soon be 62 and we're both retired, thank heavens. I had surgery for colorectal cancer in April 2003 and then chemo/radiation and so far all seems to be going well. Bob was just the most wonderful support through all of that.
But we are poles apart when it comes to illness. I want to know everything I can about it and then make my decisions. He just wants the pain to go away and I am afraid that by ignoring this that he might wind up in even more pain as Nutt has said. Bob has also, apparently, heard people talking on TV (I've no idea what program(s)) saying that they greatly regretted having prostate surgery, so he really doesn't want to look into things further.

I'm pretty sure we asked our family doctor if they couldn't do a biopsy with less pain involved and he said no. But, I will schedule an apptmt with fam doc next week and have a list of questions for him. In the meantime, I will try to talk to Bob more about this and see if I can get him interested in learning all he can and then make his decisions. I would have no trouble respecting his decision to do absolutely nothing about this illness as long as he did so having all the facts beforehand.

Thank you so much for your concern, thoughts and prayers. I will be doing much reading on this site and others to learn all I can.

All the best to you, Karlen

Paw71 · March 2004

Karlen1 said:
Hi again and thanks so much to all who replied. I should have said that Bob will be 73 this year and has been in pretty good shape for a man that age. He has had congestive heart failure twice, but medication is currently taking care of that very well. We have also been through cancer with me. I will soon be 62 and we're both retired, thank heavens. I had surgery for colorectal cancer in April 2003 and then chemo/radiation and so far all seems to be going well. Bob was just the most wonderful support through all of that.
But we are poles apart when it comes to illness. I want to know everything I can about it and then make my decisions. He just wants the pain to go away and I am afraid that by ignoring this that he might wind up in even more pain as Nutt has said. Bob has also, apparently, heard people talking on TV (I've no idea what program(s)) saying that they greatly regretted having prostate surgery, so he really doesn't want to look into things further.

I'm pretty sure we asked our family doctor if they couldn't do a biopsy with less pain involved and he said no. But, I will schedule an apptmt with fam doc next week and have a list of questions for him. In the meantime, I will try to talk to Bob more about this and see if I can get him interested in learning all he can and then make his decisions. I would have no trouble respecting his decision to do absolutely nothing about this illness as long as he did so having all the facts beforehand.

Thank you so much for your concern, thoughts and prayers. I will be doing much reading on this site and others to learn all I can.

All the best to you, Karlen

Hi Karlin:
I read your note concerning Bob's Prostate cancer. Thanx for sharing your concerns. They are valid concerns.
I'm 70 years "young" and had radical prostate surgery 5/03. My surgeon took biopsies, 12 of them. I was not put to sleep for the procedure. I will agree that it was not comfortable, however I'm grateful that I had that procedure. It was determined that I did have cancer. My PSA level was at 3.5. The prostate was very enlarged.......the size of a large California orange. At surgery the PSA count had gone up to 10.5. The surgery went very smooth as well as my recovery. There were a few challenges as may be expected. It was a great day when I said good bye to the catheter!
The first blood draw for a new PSA count was taken two months following surgery. The new PSA count was 0.2. After three months that number was 0.1. After another three months the PSA remains at 0.1.
Karlin, I'm very gratefull that I followed through with the surgery. I did not have to follow up with radiation. Today I enjoy excellent health. Sure, there are still some minor challenges. I'm just so grateful that I followed my surgeons advise. What could have been a severe challenege to my health was taken care of.
God bless you and Bob. You will be in my prayers.
Bill

Karlen1 · March 2004

Paw71 said:
Hi Karlin:
I read your note concerning Bob's Prostate cancer. Thanx for sharing your concerns. They are valid concerns.
I'm 70 years "young" and had radical prostate surgery 5/03. My surgeon took biopsies, 12 of them. I was not put to sleep for the procedure. I will agree that it was not comfortable, however I'm grateful that I had that procedure. It was determined that I did have cancer. My PSA level was at 3.5. The prostate was very enlarged.......the size of a large California orange. At surgery the PSA count had gone up to 10.5. The surgery went very smooth as well as my recovery. There were a few challenges as may be expected. It was a great day when I said good bye to the catheter!
The first blood draw for a new PSA count was taken two months following surgery. The new PSA count was 0.2. After three months that number was 0.1. After another three months the PSA remains at 0.1.
Karlin, I'm very gratefull that I followed through with the surgery. I did not have to follow up with radiation. Today I enjoy excellent health. Sure, there are still some minor challenges. I'm just so grateful that I followed my surgeons advise. What could have been a severe challenege to my health was taken care of.
God bless you and Bob. You will be in my prayers.
Bill

Hi Bill, thanks for your reply and best wishes. I am going to post a new message to all those who replied here to my post.

All the best, Karlen

Possible prostate tumour

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