Prostate problems

[lancpudn]

Well had the Cystoscopy today at Bolton Urology dept & it wasn't as bad as it sounds or as I saw it in my mind, They inject a numbing gel down your wazoo & it's just a wired uncomfortable experience certainly not painful that lasted 10 minutes.
I watched it on the screen as the camera went down & into the bladder, The lining of the bladder looks like tripe Same appearance as a lb of tripe we used to eat back in the day. I watched it go past my swollen prostate that was narrowing my urethra tube but the consultant said there was nothing untowards & my initial external beam radiation appointment at Christies Salford can now go ahead on Thursday 15th December
Yeah pity they couldn't have done the three monthly hormone injection today as well it's costing a bob or two in bloody car park charges Have to go back again to Bolton tomorrow for that injection.[/quote]

After reading that they’d be getting the same reaction another biopsy would get , just take it away , credit to you lancpudn for going through it but a biopsy awake was my limit , was told on first biopsy any more & id be down the theatre & asleep , that’s why I insisted asleep on 2 nd one & they were only too happy to oblige
Good your getting sorted though , though it’s not helping me sleep well[/quote]

Everything about prostate treatment is rather unpleasant when you think about it, My wazoo was stinging like heck for an hour after the numbing agent they used wore off.
Just got my NHS letter in the post this morning for yesterdays hormone injection appointment at Bolton hospital

Still had no NHS conformation letter for the initial radio beam treatment at Salford Christies tomorrow. I hope that's not going to be a wasted journey.

[dozy]

I enjoyed my last mri at Grantham , brand new scanner , enjoyed watching the dolphins , it was very therapeutic, life like to be honest , psa blood tests are ok as used to needles with having to stick them in every day for diabetis
But rest of it I don’t like , I prefer asleep to be honest , I don’t want to know what there doing , or feel the pain ,

[lancpudn]

Got my initial planning stage done at Christies Salford today, CT scan & three tattoo dots done, two on my sides & one on my lower abdomen so they can line the radio therapy machine precisely on each session.
They gave me two micro enema kits (10 in each) which I have to do myself before each session which starts on the 3/1/2023 & I have external beam radio sessions for every working day of January.

[dozy]

Got my initial planning stage done at Christies Salford today, CT scan & three tattoo dots done, two on my sides & one on my lower abdomen so they can line the radio therapy machine precisely on each session.
They gave me two micro enema kits (10 in each) which I have to do myself before each session which starts on the 3/1/2023 & I have external beam radio sessions for every working day of January.

Did they offer any alternatives to this treatment , how long does it go on for , I’m just watch & wait so never got to discussing treatment , though I’m sure the book they gave me on prostrate cancer ( sobering seeing cancer in front of you for the first time ) probably contains explanations on treatments , I wasn’t brave enough to read it so left that to mrs / my girl / sister

[lancpudn]

Yes they did say there were other options on the table depending on your circumstances but strongly recommended this hormone treatment which will last for two years with three monthly injections along with external beam radio therapy treatment. More chance of a normal life & not being permanently incontinence with this hormone/external radio beam treatment.
This is my schedule for the entire month of January. I have to arrive 30 minutes prior to my appointment time to give myself the micro enema & allow that to work before going on the external beam radio machine each time.
I read the whole McMillan book about treatments & side effects, All of them are more or less the same except for surgically removing it which comes with it's own downsides. They said if all fails they will remove it surgically.

[dozy]

Bloody hell thats jan gone though if it works will be worth it , I’ve had bits explained by mrs , my girl , sister , sister just said will cross that bridge when we get to it
Good your on the move now though , getting treated , fingers crossed for a good outcome

[lancpudn]

Bloody hell thats jan gone though if it works will be worth it , I’ve had bits explained by mrs , my girl , sister , sister just said will cross that bridge when we get to it
Good your on the move now though , getting treated , fingers crossed for a good outcome

Thanks for the well wishes Dozy, Hope all fares well for you too. Just looking forward to when it's finished to tell you the truth.
These are the micro enema kits for anybody wondering what they are or about to go through the same situation.
When they said I have to have an enema before each radio therapy session I had visions of a nurse shoving a hosepipe where the sun doesn't shine with a funnel on the end of it lol.

[blue estate]

Bloody hell thats jan gone though if it works will be worth it , I’ve had bits explained by mrs , my girl , sister , sister just said will cross that bridge when we get to it
Good your on the move now though , getting treated , fingers crossed for a good outcome

Thanks for the well wishes Dozy, Hope all fares well for you too. Just looking forward to when it's finished to tell you the truth.
These are the micro enema kits for anybody wondering what they are or about to go through the same situation.
When they said I have to have an enema before each radio therapy session I had visions of a nurse shoving a hosepipe where the sun doesn't shine with a funnel on the end of it lol.

Glad they found yours before it had left the Prostrate
I’ve had experience of what happens when the Doctors find it to late
It’s hard watching the man that you looked up to all your life , who worked hard , and was only 2 months off his 40th wedding anniversary and just turned 62 pass away before my eyes
The cancer really hit dad in early 2003 and by late 2003 he had to give up work , by Feb 2004 it had affected his lower spine causing below waist paralysis , went in to hospice end of July and died 17/8/2004 on my oldest brother’s 39th birthday
So fight hard to clear that cancer out and good luck

[lancpudn]

Bloody hell thats jan gone though if it works will be worth it , I’ve had bits explained by mrs , my girl , sister , sister just said will cross that bridge when we get to it
Good your on the move now though , getting treated , fingers crossed for a good outcome

Thanks for the well wishes Dozy, Hope all fares well for you too. Just looking forward to when it's finished to tell you the truth.
These are the micro enema kits for anybody wondering what they are or about to go through the same situation.
When they said I have to have an enema before each radio therapy session I had visions of a nurse shoving a hosepipe where the sun doesn't shine with a funnel on the end of it lol.

Glad they found yours before it had left the Prostrate
I’ve had experience of what happens when the Doctors find it to late
It’s hard watching the man that you looked up to all your life , who worked hard , and was only 2 months off his 40th wedding anniversary and just turned 62 pass away before my eyes
The cancer really hit dad in early 2003 and by late 2003 he had to give up work , by Feb 2004 it had affected his lower spine causing below waist paralysis , went in to hospice end of July and died 17/8/2004 on my oldest brother’s 39th birthday
So fight hard to clear that cancer out and good luck

So sorry for your loss mate, That's terrible to have to go through. As you say finding it early is the key. If anybody on this forum has the same conditions as I have go to your doctor ASAP.
Sure some of the treatments are a bit uncomfortable & a bit embarrassing but it's better than the alternative & judging by the number of views on this subject on TruckNetUK It's on a lot of drivers minds.
I was asking the consultant how common is prostate cancer in older men & she said it's at the top of the list for older men. She said if you did a post mortem on all elderly men irrespective of what they passed away from around 80% would show signs of prostate & urinary problems in one form or of the other. If you cant pee like you used to go to the docs, seriously, it's the first sign.
One of the reasons they're doing this radio therapy/hormone treatment on me is the cancer is localised in my prostate & hasn't spread to anywhere else.
Thanks for the well wishes.

[dozy]

Yes they did say there were other options on the table depending on your circumstances but strongly recommended this hormone treatment which will last for two years with three monthly injections along with external beam radio therapy treatment. More chance of a normal life & not being permanently incontinence with this hormone/external radio beam treatment.
This is my schedule for the entire month of January. I have to arrive 30 minutes prior to my appointment time to give myself the micro enema & allow that to work before going on the external beam radio machine each time.
I read the whole McMillan book about treatments & side effects, All of them are more or less the same except for surgically removing it which comes with it's own downsides. They said if all fails they will remove it surgically.

Best of luck mate with the next month lancpudn , hope it all goes well for you

[lancpudn]

Yes they did say there were other options on the table depending on your circumstances but strongly recommended this hormone treatment which will last for two years with three monthly injections along with external beam radio therapy treatment. More chance of a normal life & not being permanently incontinence with this hormone/external radio beam treatment.
This is my schedule for the entire month of January. I have to arrive 30 minutes prior to my appointment time to give myself the micro enema & allow that to work before going on the external beam radio machine each time.
I read the whole McMillan book about treatments & side effects, All of them are more or less the same except for surgically removing it which comes with it's own downsides. They said if all fails they will remove it surgically.

Best of luck mate with the next month lancpudn , hope it all goes well for you

Thanks Dozy, If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all! We've all got this Strep A virus which has knocked us all for six, We're all still in our sick beds since Xmas day/boxing day, I've never felt so ill in my life.


Raging temperature & shivering at the same time, Swollen glands & throat still swollen up, Still haven't had anything to eat since xmas day, All that food I cooked on Xmas day is still sitting there, Nobody can eat it what a waste, I've got a deep rasping cough that doubles you over when coughing coupled with the vilest bright yellow phlegm you can imagine & a constant mother of all headaches.
Finally managed to get some Amoxicillin yesterday evening after waiting to hear back from my GP since Boxing day, A neighbour picked them up from the pharmacy for us.

My wife rang Christies as I could hardly speak to tell them of the situation with this Strep virus & she said Thank you for ringing prior to your appointments & telling us , It's a very contagious virus & they want to keep it out of the radio therapy department so I've to finish my course of antibiotics & they've pushed my appointments back two weeks from the 3rd January to the 17th January, They're sending me out a new appointment schedule, so not too long of a wait.
I'm going back to my bed I still feel dreadful.

[dozy]

Oh dear , if it doesn’t rain it pisses down , yes get back to bed, hope your luck changes and soon

[dozy]

Hospital for blood test , after multiple attempts at both arms , hands couldn’t get any blood , said your dehydrated , sent away & go back Friday to try again , she maybe right as had this a few times of late whilst trying to do blood / sugars , can’t get blood , see what Friday brings

[lancpudn]

Oh dear , if it doesn’t rain it pisses down , yes get back to bed, hope your luck changes and soon

Yeah you're not kidding, Both of us still feel absolute dreadful & still coughing our guts up to the point where we've both now got a mouthful of mouth ulcers & even the skin on our lips is peeling off!!!! we still haven't ventured out since Xmas day. This Strep virus seems to have effected half the town from the phone calls we've had. Anyhow two more amoxicillin antibiotic tablets left to take & that's the course done, Should be OK for starting the treatment on the 17th January.

[lancpudn]

Started my daily month long radiotherapy treatment at Christies Salford today & the external beam radio therapy machine looks like something straight off the set of Star Trek
Never felt owt whilst it did it's thing for 15 minutes I've got a mishmash of appointment times from early morning, mid day & late times on my schedule this time. I thought I'd done with rush hour traffic conditions when I retired, Still only a month of it.

[dozy]

Started my daily month long radiotherapy treatment at Christies Salford today & the external beam radio therapy machine looks like something straight off the set of Star Trek
Never felt owt whilst it did it's thing for 15 minutes I've got a mishmash of appointment times from early morning, mid day & late times on my schedule this time. I thought I'd done with rush hour traffic conditions when I retired, Still only a month of it.

Glad your getting sorted , never seen anything like that , so you lie on it then it goes over you , similar to mri scanner ? Just done psa blood test , hopefully lower than last time

[lancpudn]

Started my daily month long radiotherapy treatment at Christies Salford today & the external beam radio therapy machine looks like something straight off the set of Star Trek
Never felt owt whilst it did it's thing for 15 minutes I've got a mishmash of appointment times from early morning, mid day & late times on my schedule this time. I thought I'd done with rush hour traffic conditions when I retired, Still only a month of it.

Glad your getting sorted , never seen anything like that , so you lie on it then it goes over you , similar to mri scanner ? Just done psa blood test , hopefully lower than last time

Tis a strange machine for sure, Not had any side effects as of yet in fact I've never felt a thing whilst it's been doing it's thing, They gave me a list of foods to avoid & told me to watch what I eat i.e. no onions,peas,cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli or pretty much all vegetables, pulses or beer/fizzy drinks that will give you gas.
Had to laugh yesterday! the floor of the toilets was sticky underfoot from people doing these micro enemas & it dripping on the floor, It's a clear liquid & as soon as you break the tip off the nozzle it starts to come out, My shoes were sticking to the floor lol. Good luck keeping that inside you for more than 15 minutes, They wont let you on the machine until 30 minutes after you did your enema to let it work.

Good luck with the PSA blood results, I dare say I'll be in for a lot of those when I've completed this month long course.

[lancpudn]

I'm into the second week of four on this radiotherapy treatment at Christies Salford, Although you feel nothing whilst the machine does it's thing there are after effects which have now started to show!
A feeling of discomfort down there & I'm back to struggling to pee worse than ever, Trying to empty my bladder has never been as bad or painful.

I'm going to the toilet over eight times per night & still struggling to empty my bladder. They said this would happen & if I cant empty my bladder at all they gave me an emergency number to call them, I suppose it's going to get worse before it starts to get better with them bombarding my prostate with on this machine. A TURP procedure was mentioned & looking it up online I hope I don't have to go through with that https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/transuret ... tate-turp/

[dozy]

I'm into the second week of four on this radiotherapy treatment at Christies Salford, Although you feel nothing whilst the machine does it's thing there are after effects which have now started to show!
A feeling of discomfort down there & I'm back to struggling to pee worse than ever, Trying to empty my bladder has never been as bad or painful.

I'm going to the toilet over eight times per night & still struggling to empty my bladder. They said this would happen & if I cant empty my bladder at all they gave me an emergency number to call them, I suppose it's going to get worse before it starts to get better with them bombarding my prostate with on this machine. A TURP procedure was mentioned & looking it up online I hope I don't have to go through with that https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/transuret ... tate-turp/

Keep going lancupn ( though it’s easy for me to say as I’d had enough after 2 nd biopsy ) , I spend night after night sleeping on bathroom floor , and never had pain like it peeing
It will all be worth it in the end , I’m sure

[lancpudn]

I'm into the second week of four on this radiotherapy treatment at Christies Salford, Although you feel nothing whilst the machine does it's thing there are after effects which have now started to show!
A feeling of discomfort down there & I'm back to struggling to pee worse than ever, Trying to empty my bladder has never been as bad or painful.

I'm going to the toilet over eight times per night & still struggling to empty my bladder. They said this would happen & if I cant empty my bladder at all they gave me an emergency number to call them, I suppose it's going to get worse before it starts to get better with them bombarding my prostate with on this machine. A TURP procedure was mentioned & looking it up online I hope I don't have to go through with that https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/transuret ... tate-turp/

Keep going lancupn ( though it’s easy for me to say as I’d had enough after 2 nd biopsy ) , I spend night after night sleeping on bathroom floor , and never had pain like it peeing
It will all be worth it in the end , I’m sure

Cheers dozy, I didn't think it would get this bad to be honest, Just grin & bare it I suppose. They change the appointment times quite a bit & I've had a few 08:30 appointments which comes as a shock to the system with commuter traffic, I thought I'd finished with that rush hour traffic malarkey years ago when I retired. They've changed some other appointments for next week to 4:00pm which will put me in the evening rush hour traffic I don't miss driving in rush hour one little bit but with the NHS/Ambulance strikes they said I need to be flexible to help out the PTS (patient transport services) who have to wait hours for their ride home. Fair enough.

[lancpudn]

This radiotherapy is playing havoc with my toilet needs, I'm still really struggling to empty my bladder & now I'm constipated, It's a miserable time at present.