Change in ejaculation - indication of cancer?

I was diagnosed with PC on 2 Oct 2010 and had a Da Vinci prostatectomy on 16 Dec 2010. I had no obvious symptoms of cancer before a PSA test (June 2010) started the process. However, looking back I do remember that I had a slight change in my ejaculation which I now wonder if this was an indication of cancer. When ejaculating the semen did not shoot as strongly as it used to and would leak out for some time afterwards. I searched the internet to see if this was something I should be concerned about but found nothing.

Me too, but I figured it was age.

Me too. I noticed the orgasm started before the semen came out. I have often wondered about this. Thanks for posting.

notsostiff:

i had my last "regular" sex the night before my open RP op in 2008, it was just as much, forceful, regular as it can be. Can't say that I have heard quite what you described, but I certainly believe you. I have never read how that could be directly related to cancer or a pre-diagnosis, but you never know. Good luck.

David in SC

Sunbird said...
about two years prior to my diagnosis, the consistency of my semen changed from liquid to a gel. There was also less of it too. I believe it was an early indicator of Pca.

Now you mention it I also noticed that my semen changed from a white fluid to a less than white gel structure. It seems too easy to put these things down to just age. If we were more informed and aware of these subtle changes then maybe it would be an earlier indicator of potential cancer and allow it to be found and treated earlier. If these were early signs of cancer then I could have been treated maybe two years earlier and maybe saved more nerves or had the option of brachytherapy.

From the various responses to my initial post it seems that there could be something in this. Anyway, in hindsight I wish I had followed my intuition and gone to the doctor straight away. We need to be more aware and follow-up on the subtle changes to our bodies and not just assume that it is down to old age.

I am 45 now at about age 40 I noticed the change in semen to consitancy of tapioca pudding on and off for 6 months. then it cleared up and never returned at same time frame my PSA was taken for first time and was 2.0....sex just prior to surgery last year everything was normal still.....So I would say yes that is probably an early sign seeing how many of us in here have similar stories despite of age!

I still think it was aging. At least I have never heard or read that this was a sign of PC. Obviously, that would be VERY useful information and worthy of follow-up.

Incidentally, I had a couple of instances of bright red blood in my semen. I was sent to a urologist and he said it was no big deal. There a a lot of little vessels there and they break easily as you get older. He said it would just darken in future ejaculations and would go away after 15-20 ejaculations. That's what happened. I also did plenty of research on that and although it COULD be a sign of PC the readings I perused were very encouraging, basically saying this is ALMOST always a non-issue (now blood in the urine or feces is much more serious).

I guess I could look back and say that was also a sign of PC.

Mel

I also noticed a change in semen a couple of years before the diagnosis, and also a difficulty in reaching a climax. This is why I went to the doctor in the first place. Even though there is no research to back it up, I believe that this had to do with the cancer.

I too saw a change in semen consistency but mine was very watery and there were times when the ejaculate went retrograde.  I mentioned this to my urologist a year before biopsy and he justed shrugged it off as a "change."  My free PSA was 9 just prior to biopsy.  I bet the consistency had something to do with the very low free score.  It's an interesting thing to see so many comparing notes and realizing there is a trend amongst us. 

This is all strictly anecdotal. We need to recruit non-PCA men ages 50-70 and ask similar questions!

Mel

Yeah, most likely age related.
Go check out any other cancer forum, or any type of forum for that matter, and ask men from their late 30's to late 40's to reply, and you'll probably get the same answers.
You can also google, and you'll see that these sorts of changes are pretty normal with age.

I don't think we can put this down to just age. Age in itself is meaningless. A change in bodily function is the reason. What we are discussing is whether this is caused by PCA or something else. In my case 70% of the prostate was cancerous and so I find it hard to believe that the gland which produces the semen was unaffected by that amount of cancer. In my view there is a strong causal link.

I am 69, PSA 7.6 and have had two biopsies both of which were negative. I have been on Zoloft and lorazepam for about five years and am aware of sexual side effects with those meds. Recently experiencing loss of libido and ED. Most recently, semen volume is low and off color ( looks almost rusty). Have not yet reported this to my Urologist but will today. Also having my testosterone level checked. While I believe all age related these changes have me a little concerned. Have an older brother (82) who had rather severe BPH but not PC.