Prostate problems

[Bramble]

Gentlemen, please excuse me butting in on a mans health issue, my husband has the same problem. Sadly, we had to return back to the UK for family reasons and our GP here referred hubby to Addenbrookes Hospital for a HoLep procedure to zap his enlarged prostate away. He has an appointment to see Mr Tev Aho, a Consultant Urologist on Monday next week for this latest laser treatment, is this the laser treatment you are referring to Miloman? I don't know if is this is available as yet in Cyprus but may be worth asking at the General as it's less invasive that a TURPS, less bleeding and the recovery time is much quicker. If you are not at all squeamish and want to know more about this, there are video clips of the HoLep procedure on YouTube.

[outasite]

OMG, it's bad enough going to the dentist for a routine check-up and scrape. Let alone to the hospital for someone to poke their rubber-gloved finger up your rectum and feel around...

I thought they had little cameras and x-rays for this kind of investigative stuff nowadays?

Ouch! AL

Al,
It's not so bad. I must admit I was a tad concerned when he held onto my shoulders, though..

[Devil]

When it comes to cancer, there is no such thing as cured for life, I am shocked that any doctor would say that to a patient, it's ridiculous and irresponsible.

Not only the Director/Surgeon of the Hospital told me. When I went for my first PSA test 6 months after the operation I was also told By The urologist here that it was the same as having the Prostate removed and that I was CURED. I am lucky that mine was caught in the very very early stages.

[Devil]

When it comes to cancer, there is no such thing as cured for life, I am shocked that any doctor would say that to a patient, it's ridiculous and irresponsible.

Not only the Director/Surgeon of the Hospital told me. When I went for my first PSA test 6 months after the operation I was also told By The urologist here that it was the same as having the Prostate removed and that I was CURED. I am lucky that mine was caught in the very very early stages.

Maybe Greek hospitals say that but it ain't necessarily so. I suggest you read https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3502731/ and especially section 5. Quite apart from the tiny risk of just one cancerous cell having been missed and lying dormant for years, there is a risk, equally tiny, of a new adenoma developing. In my case, the prostate seemed disease-free for 15+ years. By your definition, I appeared to be 'cured' during this time. I wasn't. The lucky ones die of other causes 20, 30, 40 or more years later without any increase of PSA or other effeccts, but they were not cured. May you be one of the lucky ones.

[galexinda]

Very interesting article from the UK mentioning some of the various methods that have already been discussed here such as the da Vinci Xi surgical robot and brachytherapy:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/artic ... z4oyEZxFPa

[Devil]

Excellent report and another person CURED by Brachytherapy, as he was caught very ealrly and was contained in the Prostate gland.

Sorry! If you place more faith in the Daily Wail than the US National Center for Biotechnology Information, that's your problem.

[PaphosAL]

This is rather embarrasing, but true...

I haven't experienced an erection nor ejaculation for a number of years now, and I'll be 70 at the end of this month. Bowel and bladder functions both appear to be working fine, but I (foolishly) drink and smoke too much still.

Should I ask my GP for a Prostate test at our local hospital, do you think, based on what I've stated here?

Cheers- AL

[trevnhil]

You could do with a blood test to show your PSA levels..

[galexinda]

If you take the time to read this article you will see that Brachytherapy controls prostate cancer, it does not cure it. Hopefully this will be of interest to people interested in learning more about the disease and various treatments available.
https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-i ... chytherapy

In this article it states: 'Radiation from the seeds destroys cancer cells in the prostate'.

I would have thought that hormone therapy is better described as controlling prostate cancer.

'Prostate cancer depends on testosterone to grow. Hormone therapy blocks or lowers the amount of testosterone in the body'. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-c ... ne-therapy

[JimX]

Blood testing PSA should be done yearly, I also recently had a digital test, not pleasant and not foolproof, the only real way is a biopsy test, again uncomfortable, it may or may not find any problems...

[trevnhil]

I have PSA blood test a few time a year, and have to get the results of my last one today. So yes if you are showing any signs of prostrate problems, then go and get yourself checked out.
Certainly the biopsy is not nice but if it is deemed necessary, have the procedure done..