HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

symptoms prior to diagnosis

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 5/4/2008 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
In an effort to help men, I am curious as to everyones symptoms prior to diagnosis. If we can educate more men we can save more lives. I hope this thread gets good response.

My symptoms were slow in getting the stream of urine started, a weak stream, and low energy.

peace to all

Dale

Posted 5/4/2008 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
Like you I had similar symptons although my energy level seemed to be okay. My PSA climbed steadily over a period of about three years. The Dr. first prescribed Cardura, then I had two biopsies six months apart to confirm the cancer. If I had it to do over, I would have paid more attention to those symptons and had the biopsy sooner.
Posted 5/4/2008 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
My father had zero symptoms. No ED, no urine issues. He was/is in GREAT shape and eats great. I would have put money that his biopsy would have come back negative. The only risk factor was that my grandfather had prostate cancer. I think he was diagnosed in his late 70's and had the seeds. My grandfather passed away from other causes.
My brother will be 32 this year. Do you think given our family history, that 40 is too late for a first PSA? It seems like there are SOOO many 40 years olds with PCa on this forum. Scary.
Posted 5/4/2008 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi livinadream,

This could be a useful topic. The only symptom I had was a weak stream. Dr wanted to prescribe some 'flowmax', but I insisted on a PSA check (the first one I've ever had). The result was a PSA of 7.9. Biopsy and RRP followed.

Wishing all my friends here at this forum many years of good health.

Magaboo

Posted 5/4/2008 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
My PSA was always high but not high enough for the Dr to be overly concerned.  I've always had some form of Prostatitus so I was used to the low energy level and pain in the groin.  Then the stream started getting weak and then weaker, the Dr suggested a trip to the Urologist a a biop revealed the cancer. mad
Posted 5/4/2008 5:05 PM (GMT 0)

Morning,

My husband probably had symptoms for months but did not let anyone know the extent of them. He had burning when urinating, pain in the pelvis, fatigue, and bone chills. He also had a lot of pressure in his pelvis--now we know that was probably due to the size of the prostate tumor.

God Bless Everyone!

Posted 5/4/2008 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hi ziggy9,

You're absolutely right. If I had any brains, I would have had my PSA tested much sooner. Here in Canada, at this time, we have to pay for our PSA tests our self's (about $30.00), so I never had it done :-(. If only foresight was half as good as hindsight :-). Take note you young guys!!

All the best to you all.

Magaboo

Posted 5/4/2008 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
Not sure if this was related to my cancer, but I had a bad case of prostatitis shortly before being diagnosed.  Had burning sensation when I urinated and drops of blood at end of urine stream.

Cleared up that problem with a few days or antibiotics and everything felt perfectly fine from that point forward.

PSA test a few weeks later was high and so the journey began.....

Posted 5/4/2008 6:21 PM (GMT 0)

Doting Daughter said...
My brother will be 32 this year. Do you think given our family history, that 40 is too late for a first PSA? It seems like there are SOOO many 40 years olds with PCa on this forum. Scary.

Doting Daughter-Some urology experts recommend a first PSA for all men, regardless of history, at age 40.  If it's low, retest every 5 years until 50, then every year.   If it's up, track every year.

Posted 5/4/2008 6:58 PM (GMT 0)
No Symptoms. Just a physical and some light ED, and a high PSA.

Doting Daughter,
40 is the right age to start annual testing for your brother, and in my opinion, anyone else. Not on common practice, not standard protocol, Not even for in the family cases...Look at my numbers and age, any doctors that choose to argue with me will lose. It's an inexpensive test, and I don't believe the arguments that it will lead to too many unecessary biopsies or treatments. Not testing leads to too many advanced cases. (Tony's opinion again, but hey I'm right, they're wrong). :-) . I see a lot of guys in their 40's here with advanced cases, and barely ever hear of guys with high PSA's that were not cancer. I am from Vegas and I bet not one of these 40+ year old guys would argue with me on this.

Tony
Posted 5/4/2008 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
I had no symptoms except a slow stream that I thought was due to old age. However, I had PSA tests annually for 21 years before being dxed. This was started by my family doc when my dad died from PCa at age 81. (The old man gave me life and probably saved my life.)

Some people have said that PSA testing at a young age (40) would result in many more cancer diagnoses and cause many more treatments to be performed before they were really necessary. This, it is said, is because PCa is so slow growing and need not be treated at that early stage. They quote studies to back their claim.

IMHO this is a totally riduculous stand. Just look at the number of young guys here on this forum that have stage 3 or 4 cancer which, if not treated early, would have killed them. And think of all those still out there that don't know what's happening inside of themselves.

Get tested!! Got cancer?? Get rid of it!!

Jim
Posted 5/4/2008 7:44 PM (GMT 0)
thanks to all the responses on this thread, it is obvious that there are no clear cut symptoms to PC, so I agree that men should get tested by age 40. I wish I had had my psa tested one year earlier, not sure it would have changed anything, but you never know. As it stands I am one of the under 50 stage 4 survivors, and plan to survive for many years to come. Lets keep spreading the word and bring this and all cancers to the forefront so they can be discussed.
Thanks to HW for providing this wonderful forum and to all the men and women that participate. Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.

peace and love to all
dale
Posted 5/4/2008 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
My symtems were probably like a lot of men.  Weak urine flow, frequent nite time going, urgency and ED that got progressively worse.  I had these symtems off and on for 12 years before cancer found.  As previously state I had 2 neg biopsies prior.  In looking back I should have insisted on a bio in 2004.  Numerous DRE failed to note a nodue until last week.  I believe we must make men more aware of what and when to do things.

Richard

Posted 5/4/2008 10:00 PM (GMT 0)

PSA testing has probably saved my life. I had absolutely no symptoms. DRE showed nothing abnormal -- it was my doctor's suggestion that I have PSA tests as part of routine other blood tests.  The last test showed a rising PSA (5.7) -- he ordered a biopsy, which showed aggressive cancer (Gleason 4+5=9), and that led to RRP.

Even if you have to pay for the PSA test, $30 is a small price for peace of mind. If you start PSA tests in your 30's, you won't need them very often, and they will serve as a useful baseline for later tests.

Posted 5/4/2008 10:13 PM (GMT 0)
NO symtoms whatsoever. Just found with a blood test at checkup at 51. I actually told him to make sure they did it but the doc had already planned on it.
Posted 5/4/2008 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
No symptoms whatsoever
Posted 5/4/2008 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
Weaker urine stream, but i simply chalked this up to middle age. Some slight ED - viagra made things feel like I was 19 again. But, most of my friends complain of the same thing - even my family doctor who is three years younger than i am! again, chalked it up to advancing middle age and stress.

BTW - how does PCa create ED? Could someone explain the process?
Paul
Posted 5/4/2008 10:47 PM (GMT 0)

I had no symptoms and no family history either.  Take care

Mika

Posted 5/4/2008 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
No symptoms,no family history of any type of C, but perhaps slight ED (like friends of similar age) which I put down to stressful hectic life style.

BTW - how does PCa create ED? Could someone explain the process?
Paul

Good question. Would like to know the answer. Apparently the nerves that control erection are outside the prostate and has no link to the nerves inside the prostate?. (That is the reason why medics say that perineural invasion- inside prostate- per pathology report has no significance on recurrence of cancer after surgery ? )
Posted 5/4/2008 11:41 PM (GMT 0)
Not much at all in the way of symptoms. I used to drink quite a bit of tea (about 8-9 cups) and some coffee (maybe 3-4) a day. When I stopped this any late night urinating virtually stopped. Looking back now I feel there may also have been a decrease in the quantity of semen but as this happened over a period, at the time it passed largely unnoticed. PSA tested yearly from about 57.................this blood test is provided free by the public health system in Australia...........negative DRE and with a final PSA of 3.9 (up from 2.9 over 2 years) both GP and urologist did not really push a biopsy, simply mentioning it in passing. I still do not know what made me take the biopsy path at that time. Turned out after biopsy and RPP I had a gleason 8 involving quite a bit of the prostate but located mainly at the front of the gland away from the rectum (I assume this is why nothing was felt on DRE). No family history of any sort of cancer..........go figure.
Bill
Posted 5/4/2008 11:49 PM (GMT 0)
I know that PCa likes to hang out in nerves -- hence the very common perineural invasion inside the prostate. I can imagine that if it escapes from the prostate capsule, it would also take a liking to the erection controlling nerves attached to the prostate. Then, it could cause ED.

But this would be for escaped cancers. For early stage cancer confined to the prostate, it seems to me there should be no extra ED due to the PCa.

Posted 5/5/2008 12:15 AM (GMT 0)
I had had BPE and difficulty urinating for years, gradually getting worse.  ED problems started about 6 months before.  Doc and wife speculates that was from the 110 gm prostate and the stretching of the nerves as it gradually enlarged.  Other than that, there were no physical symptoms.  I don't think there is any for early detected, still intact cancer.  Like others I wonder what or how any cancer would affect ED before hand, especially early stage.  I know I wasn't as educated or interested in my health in that area til after the fact, even writing off the progessing ED problems as age and blood pressure caused. 

James C.

Posted 5/5/2008 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Dale:   No symptoms for me either -- at least they weren't significant according to my urologist.   One thing I remember was having a funny feeling once-in-a-while after a B.M., where I'd stand up and it felt like ejaculate was coming out.   This happened on rare occasions over the previous 10 years or so.   " Normal ," said my Uro.   Then, one night about two years prior to my Dx, I'd consumed a bit too much vino and woke up on my couch (a leather couch, thank God) with wet pants.   This had never happened before and I had fallen asleep bombed many times before in my adult years with no bedwetting, leakage issues whatsoever.   I should have run to my doctor’s office that following day. So, aside from what's mentioned above, I was asymptomatic prior to my first PSA test and diagnosis.   Great flow, no ED issues etc. Good luck with your research.  I think they should start doing these PSA tests on guys in their 30s!   They encourage all kinds of diagnostics for people but seem to postpone the PSA till 50 and older.   It's ridiculous.
Posted 5/5/2008 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
This is amazing how many men had no symptoms prior to diagnosis. That goes to show the importance of early testing. I pray that this thread is a sign to all to keep reaching out and keep speaking out so this silent killer can be contained. We have been chosen to be the messengers, and we can do it. Thanks thus far for all the responses.

peace to you
Dale
Posted 5/5/2008 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
I had BPH (enlarged prostate) for more than a decade. I had been on Flomax for at least five years. As a result of that, I a weak urine stream. My PSA jumped back and forth but was never higher than 5.5 until the last one was 6.5. I had a biopsy about five years ago and it came back negative. I was expecting the one in January to be negative as well but was shocked when it came back positive. My father had prostate cancer.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12