Prostrate Cancer.

[David Graham Brown]

Last September I was playing football with my grandson,and hurt my knee. I didn’t bother the doctors because the knee gradually returned to near normal, but still quite painful at times. It was such a time I winced, and my wife “advised “ me to see the doctor,which I duly attended, knee examination, all OK, I asked for a PSA (having seen the information at Pride Park) check which he duly gave me the paperwork. The test came back 7.1, I’m over 70 so 6.5 is regarded as normal. I was dispatched to the Derby Royal, had the anal examination, ( for the first time) small lump found. In five weeks I’ve had a MRI scan,my prostrate biopsy done, and a QT scan,and I’m now on a hormone treatment plan. It appears they’ve caught the tumour early, and the prognosis is good, they say it will be eliminated. You do lose your dignity at times, but not going through that door and having the exam you could lose a lot more.

A shout out to the doctors and nurses at the Derby Royal, they have been absolutely terrific, informative, and very understanding, and caring.
 

Edited March 7, 2023 by David Graham Brown

[i-Ram]

54 minutes ago, David Graham Brown said:

Last September I was playing football with my grandson,and hurt my knee. I didn’t bother the doctors because the knee gradually returned to near normal, but still quite painful at times. It was such a time I winced, and my wife “advised “ me to see the doctor,which I duly attended, knee examination, all OK, I asked for a PSA (having seen the information at Pride Park) check which he duly gave me the paperwork. The test came back 7.1, I’m over 70 so 6.5 is regarded as normal. I was dispatched to the Derby Royal, had the anal examination, ( for the first time) small lump found. In five weeks I’ve had a MRI scan,my prostrate biopsy done, and a QT scan,and I’m now on a hormone treatment plan. It appears they’ve caught the tumour early, and the prognosis is good, they say it will be eliminated. You do lose your dignity at times, but not going through that door and having the exam you could lose a lot more.

A shout out to the doctors and nurses at the Derby Royal, they have been absolutely terrific, informative, and very understanding, and caring.
 

So pleased the prognosis is so positive DGB. Hope all goes well in the years ahead.

Do you get to the Urology department at the DRI via the main entrance, or is there a private back door option available?

[David Graham Brown]

4 minutes ago, i-Ram said:

So pleased the prognosis is so positive DGB. Hope all goes well in the years ahead.

Do you get to the Urology department at the DRI via the main entrance, or is there a private back door option available?

I attended the Kings Fund, the separate building to the right of the main building. A private back door option? Have I missed out, yet again?

 

[i-Ram]

Just now, David Graham Brown said:

I attended the Kings Fund, the separate building to the right of the main building. A private back door option? Have I missed out, yet again?

I think you only missed out on my joke about rear entrance arrangements.

I have had a few prostate examinations myself. I was once called back by the Uroligist which was a concern, but he quickly put me at ease as he as he only wanted to get his wristwatch back.

[David Graham Brown]

No I didn’t miss out on your joke, I’m ashamed of my poor response! 
I did however make sure the doctors hands weren’t on my shoulders during the examination.

[i-Ram]

1 minute ago, David Graham Brown said:

No I didn’t miss out on your joke, I’m ashamed of my poor response! 
I did however make sure the doctors hands weren’t on my shoulders during the examination.

No, round the waist is fine ?

[David Graham Brown]

2 minutes ago, i-Ram said:

No, round the waist is fine ?

Hilarious! I-Ram. We can laugh, joke, and occasionally wince, but we’ve had the exam, my original post was of course to urge others to have the examination. 

[hydraulic ram]

 If you have problems peeing - get tested! Don't think your condition will just go away.

 It's not always cancer, but you need to know early. 

 After getting a series of high PSA readings at the age of 60(ish), going through several digital exams (ooh, Matron!), too many blood tests to count, three biopsies, (not too bad actually), three or four camera exams (fascinating) and two MRI's,(boring and deafening) I'm lucky enough to only have benign prostate enlargement - but I know if it was cancer I will well cared for and usually you die with it, not from it.

 I'm currently on Finasteride/Tamsulosin treatment and it's helping for now. I had an operation, (Rezum), a few years ago to help reduce the prostate but I'll probably need another, (HOLEP), in the future. I try to be an ambassador for my friends and colleagues who are worried/embarrassed about getting treatment as it can be a worrying process - so if anyone is worried I can honestly say, it's not a real problem getting tested and, if needed, treatment. 

 It's important to get looked at as, if the numbers are high, you will have options. Ignore your condition, and the options go away.

 Believe me, the NHS has some pretty amazing and caring people ready to help you. 

[David Graham Brown]

Correct, I had no symptoms whatsoever, full flow, no discomfort. I was more than apprehensive when the nurse explained the biopsy procedure, but it was uncomfortable, but never painful. 
Yes, I agree the doctors and nurses are amazing. 
Pride Pharmacy in the hospital however, queued for two hours, 16 people in front of me, the pharmacist confirmed they had my medication, I was told to take a seat, and was called an hour later! Good job we traveled by bus otherwise my parking charges would have been substantial.

 

[SirBrian]

Having had bowl and prostrate scares and having the camera checks every year for 3 years cut down to every 2 years now not at all, just a blood test every 12 months for the prostrate, and told to monitor myself if i see any sign of blood contact the Doctor. They took a polop which was growing inside of me over 4cm long, you have no idea they are growing inside your body for there is no pain.

Check your pee any sign of blood however slight contact your doctor.

Check your poo any sign of blood however slight contact your doctor.

[bimmerman]

58 minutes ago, hydraulic ram said:

Believe me, the NHS has some pretty amazing and caring people ready to help you

Spot on

[Gaspode]

27 minutes ago, David Graham Brown said:

Correct, I had no symptoms whatsoever, full flow, no discomfort. I was more than apprehensive when the nurse explained the biopsy procedure, but it was uncomfortable, but never painful. 
Yes, I agree the doctors and nurses are amazing. 
Pride Pharmacy in the hospital however, queued for two hours, 16 people in front of me, the pharmacist confirmed they had my medication, I was told to take a seat, and was called an hour later! Good job we traveled by bus otherwise my parking charges would have been substantial.

 

That pharmacy is a disgrace - not only outpatients waiting for hours, but members of staff (including nurses) that are trying to get people discharged from the hospital - no wonder there are complaints of no beds when they simply can't get people out of the door - and the worst thing is that if you're given a prescription by a doctor/consultant at the hospital, you HAVE to use the on-site pharmacy - you're not allowed to take the prescription to your local chemist. I once waited neatly 2 hours for Codeine - hardly a specialist drug....

Edited March 7, 2023 by Gaspode

[Old Spalding Ram]

14 minutes ago, David Graham Brown said:

Correct, I had no symptoms whatsoever, full flow, no discomfort. I was more than apprehensive when the nurse explained the biopsy procedure, but it was uncomfortable, but never painful. 
Yes, I agree the doctors and nurses are amazing. 
Pride Pharmacy in the hospital however, queued for two hours, 16 people in front of me, the pharmacist confirmed they had my medication, I was told to take a seat, and was called an hour later! Good job we traveled by bus otherwise my parking charges would have been substantial.

 

I had no symptoms, had a blood test for something else, visit to hospital, had a marvellous dedicated nurse, “ we can beat this Mr R”, biopsy, brachytherapy which are radioactive beads the size of a grain of rice injected into ……………..anyway, was treated on a Monday morning out Tuesday morning, loads of hospital support, six monthly blood tests and Nurse Rached reckons I’ve beat the bugger!

Good luck DGB………………..to everyone else, get tested, when diagnosed early completely treatable.

 

 

 

[Ram-Alf]

18 minutes ago, Old Spalding Ram said:

I had no symptoms, had a blood test for something else, visit to hospital, had a marvellous dedicated nurse, “ we can beat this Mr R”, biopsy, brachytherapy which are radioactive beads the size of a grain of rice injected into ……………..anyway, was treated on a Monday morning out Tuesday morning, loads of hospital support, six monthly blood tests and Nurse Rached reckons I’ve beat the bugger!

Good luck DGB………………..to everyone else, get tested, when diagnosed early completely treatable.

 

 

 

Medication time ?

[rsmini]

Just had the pleasure of a colonoscopy.. it’s very interesting watching your insides on a big screen for an hour whilst a camera is moved around your insides. It’s all worth it though and hopefully gives peace of mind 

if you see anything that gives you concerns about your body please go and see your GP 

[David Graham Brown]

56 minutes ago, Old Spalding Ram said:

I had no symptoms, had a blood test for something else, visit to hospital, had a marvellous dedicated nurse, “ we can beat this Mr R”, biopsy, brachytherapy which are radioactive beads the size of a grain of rice injected into ……………..anyway, was treated on a Monday morning out Tuesday morning, loads of hospital support, six monthly blood tests and Nurse Rached reckons I’ve beat the bugger!

Good luck DGB………………..to everyone else, get tested, when diagnosed early completely treatable.

 

 

 

Hear! Hear! Well said. Thank you!

[hydraulic ram]

53 minutes ago, Gaspode said:

That pharmacy is a disgrace - not only outpatients waiting for hours, but members of staff (including nurses) that are trying to get people discharged from the hospital - no wonder there are complaints of no beds when they simply can't get people out of the door - and the worst thing is that if you're given a prescription by a doctor/consultant at the hospital, you HAVE to use the on-site pharmacy - you're not allowed to take the prescription to your local chemist. I once waited neatly 2 hours for Codeine - hardly a specialist drug....

 Been to Chesterfield and Rovverum hospital pharmacies for a mixture of things, let's say this is is not a unique situation to Derby. Sometimes it's simply the prescription is stuck waiting in the system, sometimes they just don't have the hands to get the job done, sometimes Lord only knows because I don't. Not an easy job I know, but sometimes they really test the patience of their patients!

 (That being said I was at Thornbury, which is a private hospital, and waited 3 - 4 hours for a box of Co-Codamol and bottle of Lactulose from their on-site pharmacist - I would have been quicker driving home and calling in Boots in Chesterfield.?)

[Jimbo Ram]

Bit needle phobic….likely to be prostrate after some of those ?

[Ewe Ram]

Those who are under 55 may be happy to know they have decommissioned the automatic invitations to the unpleasant colonoscopies. 
They are very good as a tool for early detection, but ultimately too expensive I suppose. 
Everyone will now only get the stool tests through the post, but every 2 years. 
Gentlemen, never ignore anything that’s happening out of the ordinary, we may give you a hard time but we love you really and want you to be around as long as possible. 

[Mucker1884]

2 hours ago, Gaspode said:

That pharmacy is a disgrace - not only outpatients waiting for hours, but members of staff (including nurses) that are trying to get people discharged from the hospital - no wonder there are complaints of no beds when they simply can't get people out of the door - and the worst thing is that if you're given a prescription by a doctor/consultant at the hospital, you HAVE to use the on-site pharmacy - you're not allowed to take the prescription to your local chemist. I once waited neatly 2 hours for Codeine - hardly a specialist drug....

Father in Law ("I'll be 93 in May, Y'know"!) has been waiting in the discharge lounge (Derby Royal) since 11am this morning.  Still waiting for his meds from the pharmacy.  Last time... about 12 months ago... he was in "The discharge lounge" for 5 days!  I kid you not!

 

 

 

2 hours ago, rsmini said:

Just had the pleasure of a colonoscopy.. it’s very interesting watching your insides on a big screen for an hour whilst a camera is moved around your insides. It’s all worth it though and hopefully gives peace of mind 

if you see anything that gives you concerns about your body please go and see your GP 

I had a laser up my one-eyed snake(!).  All camera'd up, and sent in to blast those pesky kidney stones.  It was like watching an intergalactic Star Wars big finale, on multi screen!   ?

Fascinating!