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Posted 3/22/2018 4:52 AM (GMT 0)
Hey all, new to the forum.

Let me explain my situation...

I'm 42 and I had been dealing with the urinary symptoms described of PCa, UTI, BPH and Prostatitis for around 2 years.

I'm a diabetic and I chalked it up to it being the urination symptoms I'd read up on, plus I was started on a medication know to increase urination to expell excess sugar. Plus I factored in my age and was sure that was why. Plus being on BP meds, I chalked that up to my ED that had slowly been diminishing since I was 38.

So reading up one night, I saw I matched every symptom for PCa and I have been terrified. My Cardiologist gave me a glowing report in her office about how my heart's doing well, BP is down and she noticed I was more somber and asked what was up. I confided I had the above issues. She wasn't alarmed but she said "Let's start ruling things out."

She gave me a fasting PSA and made my appointment for my Urology visit next week.

PSA came back the next day and it was a 0.82. I wasn't aware of things I was supposed to do, and... self-relieved the night before. I also know I'm on a couple meds I know can artificially lower a PSA so I have been a nervous wreck.

I don't know what the purpose of this post is, other than to vent, I guess.

I'm sure some (all of you) have been here. I wish'd I'd have been more proactive when symptoms started.
Posted 3/22/2018 5:16 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to HW.

You do have some medical issues. PC is not one of them. That's a very low PSA (even after accounting for the action of other meds) and your symptoms can be explained by BPH, and everything else you mentioned.

In its early stages PC has no symptoms, and a low PSA. Also PSA isn't a test for cancer, it's a test for prostate activity. The only way to know if you have PC is to do a biopsy, which is only done after all other causes are ruled out.

Seeing a URO is the right next step. A URO can help treat your symptoms and find the real cause for the problems you're having. I'd be very surprised to learn that you have anything scary.

Get to the URO who will like do some more blood work, a urine test, a DRE (digital rectal exam) and other fun stuff. Then you'll likely get some other meds, advice, and such. Checking for PC is very low on the list.

Hang in there,
Andrew
Posted 3/22/2018 5:23 AM (GMT 0)
Wow. Thanks for the warm welcoming and kind words. I can already tell this is going to be a great place. smile
Posted 3/22/2018 5:24 AM (GMT 0)
Gator76--
Your low PSA, symptoms, and age, taken together, do not suggest prostate cancer as the likely diagnosis. So please relax. There's a proper time for exhaustive research, and this is not it. It's just adding unnecessarily to your stress levels as you turn up worse and worse diseases that your symptoms conceivably could match. (I know this because every time I get an infected cut I imagine I have necrotizing fasciitis. I haven't been right yet.) Just go to the urologist and let him or her sort it out.
Posted 3/22/2018 6:05 AM (GMT 0)
PC is usually asymptomatic in early stages, so whatever symptoms you think you have wouldn't happen yet. At your age and at that PSA, the MSK protocol would be to not test PSA again for another 10 years.

"For men 45-49: If the PSA level is less than 1 ng / mL, men should see their doctor for another PSA test between the ages of 51 and 55."
/www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/types/prostate/screening/screening-guidelines-prostate
Posted 3/22/2018 11:04 AM (GMT 0)
Gator, as a husband who has a wife with type 2 and she just suffered a heart attack because of diabetes and a grandfather of a 17 granddaughter with type 1 since she has been 4 your only concern at this time is your diabetes not pca. With that being said Living with diabetes whether young or old or type 1 or type 2 SUCKS! So my hat is off to you in your battle with diabetes!!! I personally believe that they could find a cure for it but there is so much money being made off from diabetes I don't know when you will see it and it's only gonna get better for the drug companies as the health of the nation declines from a very bad diet!! Just had to rant a little I hate diabetes more than my PCA! I see what it is doing to my granddaughter already at such a young age!! I had a Uncle who lost his battle with diabetes in his 40's after losing both legs and finally his life. Wishing you the best in your battle with diabetes!

Larry
Posted 3/22/2018 12:56 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome! Nothing to add - what those guys said!
Posted 3/22/2018 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear about all your issues. Glad you're seeing a uro, but the chances of you having PCa are very, very low. Good luck to you and do report back after your appointment.
Posted 3/22/2018 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
Everyone needs a good vent.

Good luck man. I really don't believe you've got prostate cancer. My 2 cents

Post Edited (island time) : 3/22/2018 11:11:49 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/22/2018 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
Gator 76

Go back to living life and enjoy!!

Bob
Posted 3/23/2018 6:43 AM (GMT 0)

Tall Allen said...
so whatever symptoms you think you have wouldn't happen yet. At your age and at that PSA, the MSK protocol would be to not test PSA again for another 10 years.

Frequent voiding with an occasionally weak stream, strong urges with little amount, ED, dribbling and now pressure / pain in the pelvis when I void or try to self-relieve. The pelvic pain has also hovered around my left hip.

Hence why I'm seeing a Urologist as the Urinary & ED symptoms have been around for almost two years now.
Posted 3/23/2018 7:32 AM (GMT 0)

Gator76 said...

Tall Allen said...
so whatever symptoms you think you have wouldn't happen yet. At your age and at that PSA, the MSK protocol would be to not test PSA again for another 10 years.

Frequent voiding with an occasionally weak stream, strong urges with little amount, ED, dribbling and now pressure / pain in the pelvis when I void or try to self-relieve. The pelvic pain has also hovered around my left hip.

Hence why I'm seeing a Urologist as the Urinary & ED symptoms have been around for almost two years now.

The point is that those symptoms also fit benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a more common condition than prostate cancer (PCa). Given your relatively young age and your low PSA, BPH is much more likely to be the culprit.
There is a type of PCa, small-cell carcinoma (SCC), that presents with low PSA and is aggressive. But it is quite rare, accounting for under 2 percent of all PCa. If you’re really set on worrying yourself to death, that’s the one I’d focus on. But even if it’s SCC, there’s nothing you can do about it now except see a urologist. It’s up to you how you want spend your life between now and the doctor’s appointment, worrying needlessly or getting on with your life.
Posted 3/23/2018 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
The advice you've been given so far is solid. I suspect that you'll come away from the Uro with BPH, possibly weight impact / issues, but unlikely PCa. See the doc, get checked out, then go back to living.

I was forced by my company to do a year-long class for potential diabetics based on symptoms created by my PCa treatments, and I see a lot of what I studied in your comments.

BTW - fasting does not impact a PSA test as far as I know, and sexual activity in the hours before a PSA drives it up rather than down.
Posted 3/24/2018 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
You be good at this point. Just see the Uro and take it from there.

Roger
Posted 3/27/2018 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
Getting closer to my appointment.

I want you all to know I appreciate your input more than you know.
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