Lots of good advice, so many thanks again. Have decided to see both an oncologist and 2nd urologist for their advice. I hadn't thought of an oncologist before - was brainwashed into thinking it was a...
Thanks for all the replies. Lots of helpful advice. I honestly don't believe now I'm really "G6 (3+3)" as the post surgery hist report indicates. Prior biopsies say 3+4 so being a cynic, my bet is on...
Hi all. My psa seems to be on the rise after having prostate removed in 2017. In 12 months it's gone from 0.02 to 0.48 and a further small increase in the last month to 0.059. My urologist has...
I had 1st astrazenica shot 2 days ago. No major side effects, touch wood. A lot of aches though, and aches I had before seem magnified. A little "fluey" as well with not much energy. Walking around...
Vivagreen, as Tudpock says, prognosis is great either way. If you choose surgery, make sure the surgeon has good experience. ie. You're not the 2nd one he's done :) If you choose radiation, make sure...
Vivagreen, surgery or radiation is a difficult choice ... both have side effects. There's no one right decision. Remember radiation can have side effects too - they just tend to show up later....
Getting an mri is a good idea. I was on the borderline psa for a time, so got a prostate mri because of family history. It came back indicating lesions and then I went to a biopsy etc. So the mri can...
I think the trick with the kegels is not to hold your breath. You breath as normal as you 'hold' the muscles. I do the first five 'holds' for 5 seconds each, then gradually extend it out to 10 or...
Unless you have a great resistance to pain and heal extremely fast, forget about working for at least 2 weeks. I had an open hernia repair with a mesh put in and I found the pain level post-op way...
Hi theswan. You mentioned earlier problems with being catherized. You have my great sympathy - can be terrible painful. Check with your doc on how catherisation will affect you on the surgery. You'll...
I'm sort of neutral on it. I take a curcumin supplement, but for joint inflammation/aches. It seems to have helped for that, but for my PC no idea. I actually thought about dropping it at one stage -...
A small psa reading that persists following surgery can be due to: 1. prostate tissue left behind as you say, but also ... 2. extra prostatic sources (other areas of the body can produce small...
Akai, I would straight out ask the surgeon what his experience was and what he expected the outcome to be. Don't be shy about asking these questions. Maybe see a second surgeon who does the op. Most...
Akai, I had mine done in Australia. If you're in this part of the world, let me know and I'll pass on the details. First thing is, do it !!! It's changed my life. I was manually dilating every 2nd...
I know what you mean - I'd feel better for sure thinking I had a *chance* of some immunity. I'm glad you tested negative for the covid as well. Enjoy your trip !...
urethroplasty surgery is a very good option. It's supposed to be the 'gold' standard for fixing strictures. I had it done myself for a stricture at the end of my waterworks 2 yrs or so ago. My...
I hope the result goes well. NY may be out if you test positive for the covid test (not the antibody test). Wouldn't you have to stay home and quarantine to protect others ?...
Bagman, I think it's kind of good news in that you quickly get to see what's happening. Blood in urine seems to occur sometimes after radiation as some blood vessels in that area may have been...
The China bashing in this thread with regards covid is more about xenophobia or racism. Yes, they are an authoritarian regime, but equally yes their response to covid has worked to a point. Now,...
Personally, I think the lower rate in S. Korea is because they tested more, were more successful in social distancing, and hospitals coped. Any country that doesn't do this this will probably follow...
80% of people display few symptoms. 15% develop symptoms more severe, 5% develop critical symptoms. Because of the limited testing going on, many will be in hospital diagnosed with 'flu',...
The 500,000 already with it, sounds about right. I've read that once community transmission is happening, it implies a certain % of the general population must have it. I also worry about the number...
I'm at a loss why there is very little testing going on in the US compared to other countries....
The universal advice is that this virus is a multiple of times more lethal than the flu. You said yesterday it'd all blow over in a month. You still really believe that ?...
I think there is more truth in the German math than that of the Chinese regime....
You're quoting the "best" statistic. In Italy the mortality rate is around 6%. In most countries it exceeds the 1% figure you're quoting. I don't wish to be alarmist, but also I think...
You're not reading the numbers correctly, JNF. 0.1% mortality rate for the seasonal flu versus 1.1% isn't close. The ordinary flu rate is 10 times less. Plus in other countries the covid mortality...
Most travel insurance now excludes coverage for coronavirus. That's my main fear. When I took it out it was included, but now they say no. Something for folks to think about before taking holidays...
It amazes me how some people are still in denial about how bad covid can impact....
Mine came out at 2 weeks as well. That was the policy of my urologist, though I think it's pretty standard practice for open surgeries. They also didn't discharge us from the hospital until the...
Hey, 81GyGuy. I enjoy most of your threads, but remember we're not all American here :)...
All of the patients in the study had extraprostatic extension. Wouldn't that be the bigger factor than their psa of 0.02 ?? With no extension, healthy psa producing tissue would be a possibility. At...
Yes. This forum doesn't talk about it much, but radiation side effects gets a lot of mention on other prostate cancer forums. More than once I've seen a poster there say 'the gift that keeps on...
How many years you have left statistically sometimes decides what they recommend. My own urologist thought surgery gave you a statistically better long term survival rate (after 15+yrs) so he...
I don't care what others think. Knowing whether I'm 0.035 instead of 0.03 is important to me. 0.05 will likely be my trigger point for radiation and that 0.005 on an ultrasensitive test, while...
Now, I'm worried. I hadn't heard of this before. I take a herbal pill that includes cucomin as an anti-inflammatory for joint pain. On the bottle it says each capsule, curcomin c3 complex 200mg from...
RP was in Dec 2017 Last 2 psa readings were 6 months apart. Before that they were 3 monthly, except for the 1st. I can't remember when that was done, but I think it was about 6-8 weeks after the op....
My psa has been at 0.03 or so for the last 18 months. The last couple of readings were done at 6 month intervals. I see my urologist next week and I'm curious as well to find out what this means. ie...
I'd suggest an mri as well. They're very informative. Then if something is questionable get a guided biopsy to confirm or rule out....
I wonder if others can help me here. I don't understand why John's urologist is doing the scans after the surgery (and didn't do them before) ? Mine were all done after the biopsy but before my...
I chose surgery as well. Surgery and radiation both have side effects. Take care in doing your research before you choose and only go with what YOU are happy with. Radiation gets sold by some on this...
Holidayhil, I was told not to stop and start pee flows for exercise. Maybe a few times to make sure I had the right muscles, but only that. ie do exercises elsewhere. Maybe my guy is mistaken but I'd...
Your urologist will do a DRE. There's no preparation. He puts on the gloves, lubes and it's over in < 30 secs. I've had 2. It's not painful, but it is uncomfortable - how much depends how aggressive...
Only a guess, but it sounds like Arrow had some form of TURP surgery where part/all prostate is removed for other prostate issues (not cancer). That would explain why no cancer on the pathology....
The more times you've been under a general anaesthetic, the more it hits you I suspect. I've been under about 4 times in the past 3-4yrs. First time, I recovered very fast. Though, as trailguy...
I've never been charged for a PSA test (Australia). You are allowed one, maybe 2 a year free. More often each year it will depend on what your GP figures your risk factor is (family history, whether...
Some people stop taking medications because the side effects prove to be intolerable - for body or quality of life. Doctors are often reluctant to admit that what they prescribe can be worse for some...
Your uro slipped up there. He must'nt have been aware that lab's testing only went to 0.06....
Sounds like their retest only measured down to "0.06" if they came back with "<0.06", otherwise they'd report the lower measurement. Doesn't sound an ultrasensitive test to me. I'd suggest phoning...
Craig, it can bounce around and that's why you need the 2nd test to see if there's a trend. As well, I'd recommend getting the next test done at the same lab at your last one. Measurements *can* vary...