Prostate Cancer

[happy daze john in oz]

Well John, those that have not survived would not have much to tell would they LOL. Just could not help myself.

Les any one with a gallows sence of humor is Ok by me, sadly the world does not laugh as much as it should.

[happy daze john in oz]

I was informed by my oncologist of the following. The initial reading means little, it is only ongoing ones that may indicate a problem. Some men have a naturaly high number with no concern.
As you age from 40 the risk of prostate cancer is 40% at 40, 50% at 50, but by the time you reach 90 there is a higher risk of natural demise. It is after all natures way of telling you to slow down.
Many men die with it without knowing it is there.
Treaments vary depending on the type of cancer. Removal of the prostate is the most common now. Radio therapy is being discourages as the scaring from the treatment means little else can be done if it fails. As Den tells it chemo is the only option after that.
Bracyatherapy involves inplanting a radio active seed in the prostate and this is good for older men, mainly over 65, but only if the cancer is not a violent one.
Watch and wait is often the outcome for very low levels of cancer.
Rising levels can also be caused by infection and can be treated with antibiotics, but they must be specific not broad based. this is sometimes done by intravenious methods.
Hormone treatment is now usualy only with radio therapy, on it's own it can have teriible side effects.

[Les Woodard]

Now is that not the cruelest thing to do to a bloke. getting Prostrate and not being able to get it up then giving hormone treatment so that he ends up with a pair of boobs that he can now play with at leisure. Or something like that as I am not that involved with what is happening and to be honest one of those that will face it if it ever occurs until then full steam ahead. Then again is it a case of not using it and loosing it which if so then will be getting the sheriff to read all about it.

[Dennis McGuckin]

Have heard it said that ALL men who reach 'old age' will have prostate cancer.
May not be the cause of death, but it is there.
Den.

[Richard Quartermaine]

If that's the case, Den one can hope to go with it and not of it.
regards, Richard

[Lou Barron]

Just this morning i read a article in the newspaper Nagging wives link to prostate cancer it states that married men prostate cancerhave a much better chance of survivalthan bachelors and nagging wivescould be the reason there is a lot more said but i thought it might be ok to mention it

[happy daze john in oz]

Now is that not the cruelest thing to do to a bloke. getting Prostrate and not being able to get it up then giving hormone treatment so that he ends up with a pair of boobs that he can now play with at leisure. Or something like that as I am not that involved with what is happening and to be honest one of those that will face it if it ever occurs until then full steam ahead. Then again is it a case of not using it and loosing it which if so then will be getting the sheriff to read all about it.

Well Les I know a guy here in Melbourne who had the hormone treatment for nine months prior to radios therapy. He grew the best pair of 36D boobs you have ever seen. Had to have a double masectomy. But the little blue pill they tell me does wonders.
But my surgeon must have been fairly good because now there is movement at the station.

[happy daze john in oz]

Couple of other points to mention. When I was first diognosed I was appointed a Prostate Cancer specific Nurse, he became by go between. He arranged all appointmenst for tests etc, after sales service and any other things thta were required. He was there 24/7 to answer any question I or her indoors had.
I was also given a Blue Box. In this box a number of small boolets all to do with the issue. One book on the disease itself, one on the variety of treatments, one on how family members may react, etc. Alsoa couple of DVD, one of men who had been through it and how they managed it, the other of a Specialist who explained all the varying types of Prostate Cancer and the variety of treatments and how the different styles of treatment suited different types of the cancer.
Alos recieved an invitation to attend a seminar on the issue including how to cope with the problem how to control the incontinence etc.
Not sure how this compares with service in Uk and other countries, but here it is first class.

[Roger Dyer]

Hi Lou,

It sounds as if the preventative treatment prescribed (nagging wives) is almost as bad as the disease itself.


.....Roger

[Neville Roberts]

I,m a 16 year survivor of radical prostatectomy, my reading was 16 at first and the doc called and had me do another reading about a weelk later it was 24, so that was it had to take a pill and schedule an operation for it out ,I was only in 3 days and then home for 6 weeks reovery . I have no incontinence thank goodness , but the side afects to the old willy is profound and you only do what you can ,with what they can proscribe . a lot of men put it off because of the outcome , but what is best dying . the first symtoms for me was feeling very tired ,thats when I went for a checkup . I will be 75 this month and have seen a lot of the old lads cross the bar too early . but as I tell everyone when I die and go to hell it will be a shopping Mall that I cant find the exit .HELP HELP ,