HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Scared and starting this journey

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/3/2017 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
I am an active guy of 48 without any history of majorly health issues (some recurring gastro issues that others in my family have).

I went in for my annual exam. During my DRE Doc said he was concerned about prostate asymmetry and referred to me to a urologist. Well, that spiked my worry. Doc sent me for blood work and added a PSA screening (I've never had that before).

Flash forward to a couple days after the blood work and Doc leaves me a message saying "you really need to see a urologist" (I had already scheduled an appointment). I leave my Doc a message and he calls back and wants to be sure I scheduled appointment- I had. I asked what my PSA was (I had already starting doing some reading so wanted to know).

Doc says "18."

And then the panic really starts. The next day I am with urologist who also is concerned on hearing PSA. On his DRE he doesn't seem to feel what my first Doc was feeling. He does an ultrasound and says "a normal, small looking prostate." (Of course I had read that ultrasound can't pick up much PC).

I do remember and tell urologist that the day afternoon my DRE with my first Doc I had experienced unusual ejaculate (kind of lumpy, a bit yellow, and some that looked thick like spaghetti- apologies for sharing the detail).

So I'm on a 2 week course of Cipro and then another PSA- and of course pending that, biopsy.

This might not be the right place to ask this question- but how do you deal with the anxiety of all this? I'm working at staying active and positive ... but this is challenging. I have found the incredible stories on here really empowering- and I guess I'm just hoping for any words that might help.

Thank you.

Post Edited (NYguy) : 11/4/2017 9:24:36 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 11/3/2017 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to HW.

First, PC is the last thing on the list to worry about. DREs are a bit subjective and it's possible two different docs can have two different opinions. Also PSA is not a test for cancer. It's more of an engine check light - shows something is wrong, but not what exactly.

Elevated PSA is for many reasons. Infection or prostatitis can cause high PSA which is why the doc is trying you on Cipro. A PSA retest would likely ordered after you finish that. If it's still high, the biopsy time. If it's dropped then likely you have prostatitis which is annoying.

How to stop the worry: Yeah, we've all been there and it's not easy. Things you can do:
1. Learn about prostatitis, PC, and prostates in general. The more you know, the better.
2. Distract your mind - see a movie, read a book, go out with friends, etc.
3. Practice mindfulness

and understand that while you need to get more tests and have a bit of treatment - there are so many things you don't know at the moment and speculating about "what ifs" isn't productive. Likely none of what you fear will happen and things will go a completely different direction.

Easier said than done.

Hang in there and let us know what the PSA is after you finish the cipro.
Andrew
Posted 11/3/2017 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you, InTheShop. I really appreciate your supportive, quick and grounding reply.
Posted 11/3/2017 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome, NYGuy, from one ny guy to another.
I would not be at all shocked if it was prostatitis, an annoying but benign inflammation of the prostate. The wierdness of your semen is not something i've heard of (which means nothing, i'm not a doctor) its not a typical symptom of Prostate Cancer.

You're gonna have to put one foot in front of another until you get the next PSA test done. Waiting is often the hardest part of this.

I could tell you to try to relax, and not worry till you know there is something to worry about, but that would be ridiculous, as everyone here knows.

Andrew is right, get educated about prostate cancer. It will help you realize, that its highly unlikely that you will die from it. The vast majority of PC patients don't.

Good luck, keep us posted. Lots of very smart educated non doctors here whove been through it.
Posted 11/3/2017 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi NYguy and welcome. Hopefully your stay with us will be brief! But we are here for you in any case so please feel free to ask any and all questions.

Sounds like the course of Cipro is the right approach. It's most likely an infection rather than cancer. Make sure no bike riding or sexual activities for a couple of days before your next PSA test so you get a good reading.

As for the anxiety, everyone has it from one degree to another. Some here practice "Mindfulness" and that seems to help them a lot. The other thing that may help is the knowledge that even if you do have cancer it is likely slow growing and likely curable. Hopefully the PSA will drop and you'll be on a track to cure prostatitis rather than worrying about the cancer thing.

Jim
Posted 11/3/2017 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
you're already dealing with it (posting here is one example of how)

life can be a group effort

you'll be fine
Posted 11/3/2017 6:33 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you everyone for the kind and supportive words- I am so glad I found this incredible community. I am looking in to mindfulness now- thank you for that! I will continue to read and PC. I really appreciate everything more than I can say.
Posted 11/3/2017 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
Check out the sticky threads at the top of the forum. Lots of good info there.

Andrew
Posted 11/4/2017 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
Let me add my welcome here, but also my hopes that you're just passing through here and not a permanent part of our community. Like everyone else, I'll add my thoughts that an infection is the most common cause of the high PSA. Hopefully, the cipro will do the trick, although know that sometimes they don't respond to antibiotics.

All that said, glad you're having it checked out and I hope that our collective hunches turn out to be correct!
Posted 11/4/2017 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
Ask for a PHI test this next time. PHI includes psa, free psa, and a biomarker for cancer activity. It is more accurate than psa alone, and less affected by prostatitis.
Posted 11/4/2017 6:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hello, and worry is part of the journey for most. For me, the worry is about projecting some horrible future. So my goal is to stay in today as best I can. I try to use these two questions when worried: " what do I know versus what do I think?" It is my thinking that makes up stuff. I know I have a pas level, I know the URO has said X, and I know I have another exam, period! Stay in the know and keep asking questions.
I wish you peace today! Denis
Posted 11/4/2017 12:44 PM (GMT 0)
All of here have been down that road and we understand the emotions involved - it is a most difficult part of the journey. PSA is not a cancer test per say so chances are great you have something else going on with your prostate.
Posted 11/4/2017 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
NYguy: You have found a place that can be very helpful and supportive as I have found out. I certainly hope you learn a lot and that most never applies to you.Concerning "mindfulness".....perhaps the best place to start with that is with Breath Meditation which is designed to focus the mind on a single point thus removing the "ebb and flow" of mind traffic. The pre-eminent Breath Meditators are the Theravadan Buddhists. No need to follow any religious teachings they just teach meditation. Try this one Dhammatalks.org then click on "guided meditations". It is a good starting point.

May all beings be well.

Roger
Posted 11/4/2017 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the board NYguy. Unfortunately the circumstances brought you here, but the good news is you will find a lot of good things will come from it. One of the best things to come from your experiences is that while the issue of PC might not be in your cards, you will become more knowledgeable about PC than most of the men in your inner circle. Hopefully, PC won't be an issue for you but the knowledge is invaluable and the more men know about it, the better.

I'm 6 wks into my journey and given my situation, the knowledge I've gained about PC has made this trip easier and more manageable for me. I had some pretty big emotion swings in the beginning and I think a lot of that had to do with the fact I'd never had any surgery before. Drawing on the experiences and advice of others here made it easier. No question is too small or insignificant! Ask away!
Posted 11/4/2017 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for all the helpful words (especially about mindfulness). I'm really working on staying present- and it is so great to be learning from everyone here. This is truly an amazing resource and while the circumstance she that brought me here are not great, I am very happy to have found everyone. Thank you!
Posted 11/5/2017 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
Managing the anxiety felt like a full time job for me at time. I hate uncertainty but learned through this experience that life is full of unavoidable uncertainty. The forum helped me tremendously. The knowledge shared with me on this forum during my process was reassuring.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply