[2006] Hey Guys...anyone having prostate problems?/Merged

[AwayWeGo]

N. I. H. Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Story On The Internet.

Click here for the story.

The MRI procedure described is like what I got at NIH in 2008 -- except that I had already been diagnosed by conventional ultrasound-guided biopsy before they inserted the apparatus & slid me into the MRI machine. I did not have to get another biopsy -- I'm guessing that in my case the bad places shown in the MRI pictures coincided with the places the conventional biopsy had already sampled.

In any case, Dr. Pinto's recommendation following MRI -- surgical removal -- was the same as what my private urologist & my 2d opinion doctor had both recommended. So I went ahead. Dr. Pinto did the operation via DaVinci surgical robot.

The private urologist, by contrast, had recommended conventional open surgery, which is also the technique recommended by my 2d opinion doctor. So by going with robotic surgery instead of conventional open surgery, I was going against the flow of recommendations from 2 specialists I had seen before going with Dr. Pinto.

Following surgery, all my follow-up PSA test levels have been negligible. I am satisfied with the outcome of all the medical decisions I made after elevated PSA was found in 2008 at my age 65 Medicare physical.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[AwayWeGo]

Still Cancer-Free, Thank God.

Following surgery, all my follow-up PSA test levels have been negligible. I am satisfied with the outcome of all the medical decisions I made after elevated PSA was found in 2008 at my age 65 Medicare physical.

Most recent follow-up test (last month) again found that my PSA level is undetectable, but the latest chapter in the story did not end till today.

Because tests showed a trace of blood in my urine this time (& last time, December 2010), the doctors ordered C-T scan & bone scan & cystoscopy.

I got the bone scan last week & the C-T scan the week before that -- but nobody told me any of the results so I was semi-worried, to say the least.

I got chest X-ray & EKG & another blood test & another urine test the same day as the bone scan. Those were preparation for cystoscopy, which fortunately for me was done under general anesthesia.

Undetectable PSA level is an extremely strong indication that the prostate cancer is gone (because all the prostate tissue is gone). But that string of heavy-duty tests that were ordered for me got the Chief Of Staff halfway convinced that I had developed bladder cancer or kidney cancer or some other kind. After all, beating 1 form of cancer does not mean a free pass thereafter against all other forms of cancer.

So today's report straight from the doctor's mouth that my kidneys & bladder, etc., are healthy & cancer-free is specially good news. The Chief Of Staff & I are both extremely grateful.

The NIH cancer doctor says I no longer need to go back for any more annual or semi-annual follow-ups. The family doctor can take it from here, he said.

Thank God.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[mrsstats]

That great news. My brother is a survivor.

 

[MULTIZ321]

Alan,


Great News! Thanks for all your follow ups.

Did Medicare inform you to schedule their "free" annual check up or do you just have to sign up for it within a certain timeframe once you enroll in Medicare?

Best regards,

Richard

 

[Ridewithme38]

i know its not a prostate issue...but i've been pooping blood lately...i figured i should tell someone...and since this thread is about yuck stuff...and i don't know any of you guys in Real life...i'm not embarrassed to say it here...

I'm not the type to go to the doctor for every little thing...but if it lasts another month or two...i may be forced to set an appointment

 

[Passepartout]

Ride- If it goes on another month or two you might not need to go to the doc. If this is for real, get thee to thy doc. Now!

 

[AwayWeGo]

Credit Where Credit Is Due.

Did Medicare inform you to schedule their "free" annual check up or do you just have to sign up for it within a certain timeframe once you enroll in Medicare?

The Chief Of Staff is up on this sort of thing. She already knew that people newly enrolled in Medicare are entitled to 1 Medicare physical examination el freebo, but the free exam has to be done within the 1st year of Medicare eligibility -- maybe sooner, I don't know, but for sure no later than that.

So right after I signed up with Medicare, I got a physical exam appointment pronto with a well regarded MD-PhD internist -- & Medicare paid the bill. The rest is history.

If The Chief Of Staff had not been savvy about free Medicare physicals, I doubt I would have found out about it in time to take advantage of that feature. The Medicare pamphlets & web sites, etc., may well spell it all out, I don't know, but that doesn't mean I would have read that part in time to do me any good.

Hats off to The Chief Of Staff.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[AwayWeGo]

Don't Wait Another Day.

i've been pooping blood lately...i figured i should tell someone...and since this thread is about yuck stuff...and i don't know any of you guys in Real life...i'm not embarrassed to say it here...

I'm not the type to go to the doctor for every little thing...but if it lasts another month or two...i may be forced to set an appointment

Not just some routine little thing -- could be extremely serious.

Get yourself an appointment as soon as you can.

Forget embarrassment -- tell'm about the blood.

Good luck.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[Ridewithme38]

Ride- If it goes on another month or two you might not need to go to the doc. If this is for real, get thee to thy doc. Now!

I'm hoping its just a hemorrhoid, because when i poop it feels like i'm pooping out something sharp and then there's a good amount of blood both in the water and umm, on the paper...it's kinda embarrassing i'm not the kinda guy who feels comfortable spread eagle in front of his doctor... Its been years since i've been to the doctor

Even talking about it here feels odd....

 

[Passepartout]

Ride, it REALLY is something you need to see a doc about. And trust me, If (s)he sees you on the street afterwards (s)he won't recognize you. People are not supposed to poop blood. GO. ASAP.

 

[AwayWeGo]

There's Worse Stuff Than Embarrassment.

i'm not the kinda guy who feels comfortable spread eagle in front of his doctor... Its been years since i've been to the doctor

Hey, I wasn't all that comfortable at the prospect of getting a TV camera & probe, etc., inserted up my urethra so that the doctors could get a good look at the inside of my bladder. (Fortunately, it was done when I was out cold under anesthesia. Thinking about it ahead of time was worse then the actual experience.)

By me, lying there dead in a coffin would be lots more embarrassing than getting various parts of my private anatomy checked out while I'm still alive & kicking.

I would like to remain on the upper side of the grass as long as possible. So I put embarrassment aside & get stuff checked out & attended to.

If it's minor, the doctors will tell me.

If it's something serious, the doctors can get to work on it right away, while my chances are still good.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[MULTIZ321]

Ride, it REALLY is something you need to see a doc about. And trust me, If (s)he sees you on the street afterwards (s)he won't recognize you. People are not supposed to poop blood. GO. ASAP.

Ride,

You've received good advice here. Get this checked out by a physician as soon as possible (read today).


Richard

 

[Passepartout]

it's kinda embarrassing i'm not the kinda guy who feels comfortable spread eagle in front of his doctor... Its been years since i've been to the doctor.

Ride, if you don't have a doc, at least go to one of those corner clinics. I call 'em a "Doc in the Box", but most are open 24 hours and have a doc and a small lab and will give you a recommendation and referral if it's something beyond their scope, (pun intended).

Not the most pleasant thing in the world, but embarrassing is laying in a box with all your friends and family gathered around saying nice things like, "If only he'd gone to a doc. Dummy."

Jim

 

[rapmarks]

my mom was bleeding rectally and it went on for years with the doctor kind of ignoring her because she is old. Finally he referred her to a doctor who wouldn't give up. She was diagnosed with Crohn's, given pills, and the bleeding stopped. she was 90 then, three years ago.


Medicare now lets us old folks have a physical every year.
thank god for that and a thorough doctor. She found thyroid cancer before it spread to lymph nodes for me. too bad the oncologist I have been seeing for previous cancer never checked into more body parts.

 

[Ridewithme38]

Ride, if you don't have a doc, at least go to one of those corner clinics. I call 'em a "Doc in the Box", but most are open 24 hours and have a doc and a small lab and will give you a recommendation and referral if it's something beyond their scope, (pun intended).

Thats a good idea...we have a 'family' doctor i saw since i was a kid, but i haven't seen him in years...Might be better if its a random clinic doctor i go see then the same doctor that see's my parents and brothers

Not the most pleasant thing in the world, but embarrassing is laying in a box with all your friends and family gathered around saying nice things like, "If only he'd gone to a doc. Dummy."
Jim

haha, they'll all be whispering about my butt when i'm in the box...thats about the creepiest thing i can think of

 

[bogey21]

Ride, it REALLY is something you need to see a doc about. And trust me, If (s)he sees you on the street afterwards (s)he won't recognize you. People are not supposed to poop blood. GO. ASAP.

Pardon the bluntness, but you are a fool if you don't get this checked out ASAP. I had a friend who had somewhat similar symptoms; he held off getting it checked out; when he finally got around to getting it checked it turned out to be colon cancer; he died weeks later. True story!!

George

 

[rapmarks]

Pardon the bluntness, but you are a fool if you don't get this checked out ASAP. I had a friend who had somewhat similar symptoms; he held off getting it checked out; when he finally got around to getting it checked it turned out to be colon cancer; he died weeks later. True story!!

George

a friend had colon cancer, had a section removed, and no chemo or radioation, is fine, so don't be afraid to go in.

 

[mrsstats]

Ride:

Go to the dr. There is nothing to be emarassed about. This could be your life that you are talking about.

 

[caterina25]

i know its not a prostate issue...but i've been pooping blood lately...i figured i should tell someone...and since this thread is about yuck stuff...and i don't know any of you guys in Real life...i'm not embarrassed to say it here...

I'm not the type to go to the doctor for every little thing...but if it lasts another month or two...i may be forced to set an appointment

Most blood that is red and visible when you go to the bathroom is caused by hemorrhoids. The test for colon cancer is a test for occult blood (blood you cannot see) another bad sign is black tarry stool. Those symptoms are more serious than red blood that you can see. Go get a check up to ease your mind.

 

[fnover]

You have gotten good advice, I was bleeding bright red blood but it wasn't hemorrhoids it was from diverticulosis which required a colon resection.
Even if the bleeding is from hemorrhoids and has been going on for a long time you should still have it checked out because you could be anemic because of it.

 

[Miss Marty]

New Urine Test Might Help Predict Prostate Cancer Risk

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 3 (HealthDay News)

A new urine test might help doctors detect prostate cancer and
better evaluate a patient's treatment options, researchers say.

The test looks for two genetic markers associated with prostate cancer.
The first, called TMPRSS2:ERG, is caused by two genes changing places and fusing together; it is thought to cause prostate cancer. Since the gene fusion is only seen in about half of cancer patients, the test also looks for another marker, called PCA3.

The two genetic markers may be more reliable indicators of prostate cancer, he said. One of them, TMPRSS2:ERG, is only seen in cancer

The researchers specifically looked for the two markers and used them to slot the men into high-, intermediate- or low-risk groups for prostate cancer. They then compared their results with the results from biopsies, which are done with a needle in a physician's office for detection of any cancer cells.

Although not yet available to the public, the test soon will be offered at the University of Michigan. The test is licensed to Gen-Probe, a San Diego maker of genetically based diagnostic tests.

 

[funtime]

I hope you are going to the doctor. He probably sees a lot of cases that are far less serious than yours. It really will be no big deal to him. And, it could be that they just take a stool sample - who knows. What I do know is that there are dedicated colon cancer doctors who live for the chance to detect colon cancer as the earlier it is detected the better. My Mom had colon surgery when she was 93 - she tried to put up with the problem for too long as she is part of that generation that does not discuss things "down there" but she was mighty glad that my sister insisted that she go to the doctor. He sent her right on to the hospital from his doctor's office and she got excellent treatment. She sailed through with flying colors and if she can do that at 93, you can trek down to the doctor's office. If you are not insured, a "doc in the box" at the least is an option - they are trained to sort out minor problems from serious ones and I know of "doc in the boxes" who screened and sent uninsured patient to emergency room if it was beyond their area of expertise. And if it does turn out to be hemorroids, (probably the most benign diagnosis but not guarantee that that is what it is) there are things they can do for that too so let us know that you are making that trek! Janette aka Funtime

 

[Miss Marty]

Urology: Bladder, Prostate and Kidney Imaging


Ultrasound

An ultrasound examination, also commonly referred to as a sonogram, is a painless, diagnostic technique that makes use of the behavior of sound waves in the human body. When these sound waves are transmitted into the body, they are reflected in specific ways by specific tissues and organs. These reflected waves can be used to produce images of internal organs without harm or exposure to radiation.

Depending on the reason for the study and the circumstances, ultrasound imaging may be performed in the urologist's office, in the hospital or in an outpatient facility.

http://www.urologyhealth.org/urology/index.cfm?article=40

 

[AwayWeGo]

Advanced Technology For Seeing The Unseen.

Ultrasound

The private urologist who did my 2008 prostate biopsy used a device guided by ultrasound.

Last year, when my NIH urologist sent me to my family doctor for some follow-up not directly related to prostate surgery, my family doctor ordered sonograms (ultrasound) of my kidneys & bladder. No problems showed up.

This year, when my NIH urologist decided I needed more follow-up, I mentioned the earlier sonograms. "Ultrasound images are not detailed enough for kidneys & bladder," he said. So he ordered C-T scan & cystoscopy. No problems showed up from those, either.

Click here for a story about another patient's diagnostic experience with my NIH doctor.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[tombo]

TUG is an unusual place to discuss prostate cancer, but it caught my eye because of my current situation.

My father had prostate cancer with removal of his prostate and radiation and leupron over the last 20 years. He is 80, diagnosed in late 50's. His PSA since the surgery and cemo remained at .02 or so. Not long ago it went up to 1 and they were about to put him on Leupron again (which he hates because of the side effects). They waited 6 months and thankfully his PSA dropped so they are waitning and watching.

My Dad always tells me to get checked every year. I haven't been to the Dr for the physical in 3 years. I finally after prodding from my wife went 2 weeks ago. My PSA was 1.8 in 2008 so nothing to worry about. My PSA was 4.1 two weeks ago. Thanks to not getting an annual check up my Dr does not know whether my PSA increase has been gradual over 3 years (not much cause for concern), or fast growing during the last few months (great cause for concern). I knew better but the 1.8 three years ago lulled me into a false sense of security. By missing 3 years I have made the correct diagnosis harder if not impossible. Is it fast growing requiring aggressive action or simply a slow rising PSA that we simply need to wait and watch. We don't know because I don't have PSA results for the last 3 years. I see the urologist tomorrow to see how to proceed. Probably won't sleep too well tonight.

Anyone out there 50 or older or who has a family history of prostate cancer please do no miss a single year's check-up. I can promise you that if I survive this scare that I will not miss one again.