I received the news today.....prostate cancer

So the last couple of weeks I have been going to the Dr more than I have been my entire life for some various symptoms that have developed over the last couple of months. Last week the Dr narrowed down the symptoms and performed a biopsy and I learned the results today.

What is odd is I am 40 years old, just turned 40 in March to be exact and if it wouldn't have been for one of the symptoms pointing to a possible prostate issue the Dr would have probably never thought to have the lab check my PSA while doing my blood work since PC is virtually unheard of in a person my age. My doctor said that I had the "good kind" of cancer (WTH??? Is there a good kind to have??) since it is a Low Grade cancer and very slow growing. The Dr said the survival rate for the kind I have is about 97% and the way I look at it that's more than the rate of survival for some of the work and activities I have done in my life, so it's no big change there.

Part of the reason for me starting this thread is to say to all the men on ATS at my age GET THE SCREENING DONE!!!!!! If I had waited 5 years until the "normal" age to start screening the results could have been much different.

Another reason I started this thread is that I find it very coincidental that six months ago Saturday my ex wife and mother of my children was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. She never smoked and rarely drank, jogged at least a mile every day, ate healthy her entire life and avoided large amounts of red meat and dairy products and strived to stay in great physical health.

I have also stayed in good shape, exercising everyday, eating lots of fish and fruit and vegetables, though I am a beef addict too, take my vitamin and mineral supplements everyday and being vigilant of my health. Perhaps I'm reading too much into it but I just find the timing of the 2 diagnoses to be very coincidental. During my career as a commercial diver I have dove nuclear reactor cooling tubes for inspections as well as some dives that required chemsuits because of certain chemicals in or near the water and I always knew there was a chance of me developing some illness from it.

So I just wanted to stress the importance of early screening for men my age and get some member input on the timing of both of us being diagnosed with a form of cancer at almost the same time in our lives.

Curious what symptoms you were experiencing prior to being diagnosed? (briefly). Also are you religious?

Glad that you have the 'good' cancer. I'm sure you will be just fine in no time. Thank you for informing our men here to be vigilent and get that screening done.

reply to post by Nucleardiver


Dear Nucleradiver,

If I may, I wish to send my prayers and thoughts for you and your ex as you face these issues.

Thanks for the heads up
Sorry to hear your news but somehow I get the feeling you're gonna be fine.
Keep us posted
I'm off to book my appointment

Cody

reply to post by cass1dy09


I have always been a very hyper person for lack of better words, I have always worked 12+ hours a day then come home and work at home 3 or 4 hours, would only sleep about 4-5 hours a night and had tons of stamina and endurance. Starting about 3 months ago I noticed a big decline in my energy and over the last month have practically nose dived, went to sleeping 9 or more hours a night and would still get drained during the day to the point that I would have to sit down and rest. I used to run or jog a couple of miles at least 3 times a week running up the buttes here like they weren't even there and now I can walk the 1/2 mile to the end of our driveway and back again and am exhausted.

I also started having trouble urinating, especially in the mornings and would notice I would go way more often during the day than normal. It's kind of embarrassing as a man at my age but I started having problems pitching a tent, if you catch my drift. I was also having a gnawing pain in my lower right abdomen but brushed it off since I despise going near a Dr. At first I put it all off as turning 40 and my body changing along with a lot of pressure and hours at work (my job in the oil fields can be quite stressful sometimes) plus trying to do too many projects here at the home. However after the symptoms became almost debilitating and with my wife nagging me to get my stubborn a$$ to the Dr I decided it might be a good idea so I did.

My Dr checked my testosterone last week and the results came back that it was at 205 when it should be in the 700 range which he said is the reason for the severe lack of energy. He also did a complete CDC, Liver, and Kidney function as well as check my blood sugar with the fasting test and all came back excellent with the exception of my PSA which was 7.5, it should be around 2 for a 40 year old man. I will have to start testosterone therapy this week and he said it will improve but take a couple of months. So combined with my low testosterone and my extremely elevated PSA the Dr did more tests including a biopsy.

He said the testosterone problems are due to the enlarged prostate and distress of the PC so it's nothing to worry about. I told him as long as I don't start having the urge to have Pampered Chef and Tupperware parties I'll be okay with it.

As far as my religion I am to an extent. It's really odd you ask because I just found this thread tonight and posted in it: www.abovetopsecret.com...

reply to post by Nucleardiver


So sorry to hear that news. From what I have heard, you usually will die of something else long before PC gets you. My wife worked for the dick doctor for years and my Dad has had PC for about 7 years now. If found early, it's fairly normal. (though 40 is too damn young as I am 44)

reply to post by Nucleardiver


Well now you're scaring us those all look like relate able symptoms people could face on a daily basis.

Also have you seen this.


Edit: I realize it's different cancer's.

I really hope the best for you, i have found out my uncle has got P.C. and will be having his prostate removed which i imagine really sucks
Your post has convinced me to get screened for it.

I hate to hear that, but then again, I was expecting the worse when I clicked your thread title. It seems odd that you and your wife have some kind of cancer, but are healthy people. Do you have any history of cancer in your family?

¨¨ate healthy¨¨

gmo fruit and veg causes cáncer

Thoughts and prayers going out to you and yours. When it rains it pours... at least it seems that way most of the time. Thank you for bringing this to the attention of the men here though. As a female, we have had issues in our family where we need to get mammograms and other testing done before 40 as well. A lot of folks never dream of testing before the designated "time", and some doctors really try not to do it either whether it is because insurance doesn't want to cover it or they just don't think about it either... who knows?

More of us would do better if we took the lead role in our health care instead of always being a passenger. And as silly as "good cancer" sounds (it is absurd sounding isn't it?) , it does seem like it was caught early enough to not be a real threat. Not fun... but not a death sentence either even though I am sure it kind of feels like it at this point. Again, thoughts and prayers going your way.

Stay strong!

Originally posted by network dude
reply to post by Nucleardiver

 

So sorry to hear that news. From what I have heard, you usually will die of something else long before PC gets you. My wife worked for the dick doctor for years and my Dad has had PC for about 7 years now. If found early, it's fairly normal. (though 40 is too damn young as I am 44)

I'm not worried about the chances of this doing me in, I've done enough crazy crap in my life and been through enough that this doesn't worry me. The odds are higher of a rig catching fire and getting me or my chute not opening next time I go jump than they are of this taking me out. It is kind of depressing to know that I'm going through this about 20 years before I should though.

I hate to hear that, but then again, I was expecting the worse when I clicked your thread title. It seems odd that you and your wife have some kind of cancer, but are healthy people. Do you have any history of cancer in your family?

No cancer in my family with the exception of Mesothelioma that my uncle has, but his is work related. Heart disease is the kicker in my family but looks like I dodged that bullet, cholesterol is low as is blood pressure. I have 4 older brothers though and 3 of them have had high blood pressure since their early 30's and 2 have had heart attacks.


Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the comments. I'm sure I'll get through it, I just want to get the word out there for men to get screened. You never know what's going on inside your body, I've always lived on the edge, chased the big adrenaline rush and pretty much lived as if I were invincible and always taking chances. It won't change that but it did make me realize how you can feel just fine for a long time then find out that all along you've had something going wrong that you were unaware of.

reply to post by Nucleardiver

Good to hear its not the bad kind of cancer and all the best and prayers to your ex and childrens mother.

Cancer runs in my family, my mother had to have her hip and leg removed some 20 years ago to a rare form of bone cancer, her mother died of cancer well before her time my Grandad died of bladder cancer and my dad was told he had terminal cancer and given at least 12 months 4 years ago (stubborn) though he is on his death bed as I type with only days maybe left with only movement in his left arm.

What you have described above could have been describing myself, I`d been experiencing that for a couple of years and was going down hill fast and my energy levels got to the stage last year of hardly coping with the smallest of tasks and had gotten very depressed (anti-depressants prescribed which I think did more havoc than good along with chronic diarrhea for months which was very draining),at the height of this it was impossible to sleep at all due to the frequency of needing or feeling the need to urinate, that and my Mrs getting upset and worried forced my hand to go to a GP which is something I avoid like the plague as like yourself, I`m 50 now and have always been very fit also.

The GP did a urine test where blood was detected and treated as a urine infection (which hasn`t gone away) though the frequency and need to urinate has dropped to an easy manageable level and a source of the blood wasn`t found with the specialists and Cystoscopy, Kidney Ultrasound result seemed ok, my testosterone was high and the PSA excellent at 1.2, a prostate exam that he said was enlarged and a lump on one side was found, so then off for the biopsy ,14 samples taken all came back clear.

Then I get visible blood in my stools which cleared after about a week, but the Doc said its off for a colonoscopy, also came back clear. All these things were a nightmare to me and all the different concoction of pills I believe were affecting me to the point of not knowing what were my health issues and the side affects caused by the pills.

So week in week out going on for months seeing the GP after all that with regular urine tests sent to the lab, blood still detected, he said that the only thing to do is to go through and do it all again Ahhhh!

That`s when I quit, I resigned to liking it to an irritating noise under the hood of your car that for the life me I can`t find the source of and end up saying "blow it" I`ll wait till it falls off and I`ll know exactly what it is/was. So I expect one day to be walking down the road and a vital organ will fall out and I`ll be like "ahah! that's what it was" then take it to the Doc.

A couple of months after I stopped going back to the Doc I wasn`t nearly as bad as when I went in the first place, so that had to be some improvement and decided to experiment a bit, added a lot more fruit and veggies to my diet, each morning for my energy levels I drink a glass of high protein muscle gain, but only a fraction they recommend to bulk up, (this has helped on big strenuous days with a clear noticeable difference)

Antidepressants are a mongrel imo for me and have tried a few times just to stop taking one tablet a day and only end up severely dizzy with the slightest of head movement which isn`t safe for work or driving etc, I`m weening myself off them and have almost stopped completely and replaced by eating a couple of bananas then boil the skin for ten minutes pour into a cup and drink when cool which is rich in serotonin though tastes like a cup of dirt, this has helped big time, I`m thinking clearer now than I have for a long time and I haven`t been drinking it very long.(couple of weeks)
I`m not saying anyone else should stop with their prescribed medication, I am saying this has helped me more than prescribed medication.

Also this could/should be of some interest to American males on this topic (a small article and thread I posted a few months back)

Australian prostate cancer treatment praised by visiting American Professor James Eastham

All the best and hope you keep us posted with your condition and treatment in the future.

To hear 'Cancer' sends a lightening bolt of cold fear straight to the soul. (I have heard that twice for me ... and once for my husband). The good news is that this kind of cancer is almost always curable in the USA. The cure rates here are very good. The journey to a cure will probably be uncomfortable but it most likely will happen for you. I'll be thinking good thoughts for you.

reply to post by Nucleardiver
Hang tight sugar! Both my father and my step-father are prostate cancer survivors. Both of them are still as ornery as ever. There are many worse types of cancers out there so be thankful for the little things as the odds for surviving prostate cancer compared to other types are outstanding.

reply to post by Nucleardiver


Prayers up for your continued treatment and recovery. I lost both my Grandparents to Cancer and it has run through other members of my family. Luckily and thank you Lord Jesus it has missed me so far.

Start eating foods high in zinc like pumpkin seeds. Also Bee pollen has been shown to have great benefits concernig prostate health. Best of luck to you.

Originally posted by Nucleardiver
reply to post by cass1dy09

 

As far as my religion I am to an extent. It's really odd you ask...

edit on 25-6-2013 by Nucleardiver because: (no reason given)

edit on 25-6-2013 by Nucleardiver because: (no reason given)

yeah, no kidding...what in the world does that have to do with the price of fish?