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Posted 6/12/2015 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
My diagnosis for PCa happened at the end of April this year after 3 years of rising PSA and after the second biopsy that I had had.
During January this year I completed a 7 night trek in Tasmania carrying around 23 to 25kg on my back with my 2 sons and 5 other people. I found this really tough. Tough terrain, 10 to 12 hours walking/climbing/wading in mud with lots of elevation rises and falls! Sleeping in a two person tent every night, and providing everything from my pack in a true wilderness area. The track is called the South Coast Track. I had thought I was fit and did not think I would struggle as much as I did. It was physically the most demanding thing I have ever done. Thank goodness my 2 sons were there to push/help me along.

My question is- Does PCa affect fitness and overall health before the point of diagnosis and treatment if there seems to be no symptoms obvious. I understand that different levels of PCa would certainly orientate the answer of this question.

I guess what I am basically asking in a round about sort of way, is with my stats, would my fitness have been affected by the undiagnosed cancer, or is it just that I was not fit enough enough in the first place. I have made an assumption that it may be a combination of the two, but would like some wiser people to put their opinions forward.

It is something I have questioned myself since my diagnosis and reflection of the trek.

Hope this post makes sense!

Cheers
Greg
Posted 6/12/2015 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
Maybe, but most likely not. It's more to do with that age thing (you said 52 in an earlier post).

All I can say is: well done on the trek. That's a great experience and you got it done. You should be very proud of completing it - even with your sons' help.

Still, just before I was diagnosed I did feel generally, "unwell." It's possible your body is diverting some of it's energy to the PC, but frankly, I wouldn't think about it too much. I'd be reflecting on the fact you did something many wouldn't even try.

Good on you,
Andrew
Posted 6/12/2015 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Andrew, I certainly feel it is an accomplishment, and made even more special to do it with my sons. BTW, 55 yrs at the time.
I did read an article once regarding a Doctor who was a bike rider, doing a big climb one day and feeling physically exhausted and not right. He had a full medical and found ( eventually) PCa and put his exhaustion down to that.
It is the only thing I have read stating that though.
Cheers
Greg
Posted 6/12/2015 3:29 AM (GMT 0)
You might have your testosterone level checked. It seems many men who have PC also seem to have lower than normal "T" levels. This might explain some the difficulty on the trek....Needless to say, now is not the time to experiment with "T" supplementation..
Posted 6/12/2015 3:44 AM (GMT 0)
I have a tendency to agree with Andrew. Cancer consumes a lot of energy and could have played a role in how you felt during your trek.
Posted 6/12/2015 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
Greg, I am 55 too and wouldn't even dare to undertake a hike like that. It is possible that PC can have the effect you describe, but there are so many other things that can do it as well. I know my generally feeling of "unwell" motivated me to the doctor for a check up, but PC was the last thing on my mind. I really thought that my blood pressure meds needed to be adjusted as I had recently started a higher stress job.

It's so difficult to know for sure.

Andrew
Posted 6/12/2015 11:49 AM (GMT 0)
Interesting post. I was dx at 57 and I had attributed my lower T (hovering around 200) and age to be the cause of my lack of energy, sense of being tired all the time. Since my RP one year ago, my T level has climbed back up to mid-400's. I'm still tired but I wonder if my body was keeping the T level lower because of the cancer. Fairwind's comment about PC patients having lower T levels made me wonder.
Posted 6/12/2015 3:04 PM (GMT 0)
If your tumor was the size of a plum instead of a quinoa grain, it could have affected your physical stamina by impressing and interfering with the function of other organs.

With PC, men typically won't begin to feel physical affects until after systematic spread and metastatic invasion/interference of advanced cases. You don't have an advanced case.

Post Edited (JackH) : 6/12/2015 10:25:04 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/12/2015 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
G'day Greg, I know the track and its difficult terrain. I walked from Cockle Creek to South Cape Bay and back, took 6 hrs and was knackering. If you did the whole trek with 20+kg that was huge, well done!
Pre diagnosis I was feeling very fit, infact I'd just sailed across the Pacific, California to Queensland. On return, a general checkup found raised PSA and eventually PCa confirmed...huge shock!
Posted 6/12/2015 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Aussie,
We flew into Melalueca from Hobart to start the track from that end and spent the last night in Cockle Creek. Absolutely beautiful and remote. No huts, no signs , a few open pit toilets and a number of very disconsolate Europeans who were finding the track to difficult. A few turned back before the 1000 metre climb (in 5km) then back down to sea level through trenches and mud. Left at 8am that day and got into the next camp site at 9pm that night with one stop of about 30 minutes. Huge!
One of my walk mates was 62 and another had turned 60 ( his idea to do the track), another 55 then my 2 sons and the 60 year olds 2 sons.
The track really does deteriorate from South Cape bay onwards if you are coming from Cockle Creek.
Not beating my drum, but I consider myself fit. Still play basketball, squash, touch footie and go to the gym 3 times a week, and have been that way my whole life. Have done a number of Olympic length triathlons, but the trek still rates as the toughest thing I have ever done, hence my question.
Cheers
Greg
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