Prostate cancer

**Eliminator** · 28-10-2014, 07:08 AM

Prostate cancer was always something that I was having to get checked for. (Father died of prostate cancer) After the last PSA test (Blood test) and then a biopsy, I was diagnosed with Stage 2 prostate cancer. They say it will be easiest at this time to just operate and take all the cancer out. Fingers crossed.

For those of you who don't know, there are a couple of ways the docs measure the severity of this cancer. Mine was measured in the 4 level method and so my cancer has not gone to the outside of my prostate. Levels 1 and 2, the cancer itself can be removed from the inside of the prostate without need for chemo.

IF you want more info go here:

Survival rates for prostate cancer

Prostate Cancer Center: Treatments, Symptoms, Detection, Stages, Diagnosis, and Tests

I go in for my surgery on Dec.11 and will have it done on Dec. 15 and keep everyone informed on costs and stuff if any of you want to know.

I wish all of you to stay healthy and have a long life.

Cheers,

Eli

**kingwilly** · 28-10-2014, 07:09 AM

All the best.

**BaitongBoy** · 28-10-2014, 07:18 AM

Good luck with it...Friend next door had it...Was recommended some natural remedy...laetrile...B-17 vitamin from apricot seeds...

Return visit to doc after purchasing some in Mexico and using for 6 months, doc was amazed...Completely clear...

**bankao dreamer** · 28-10-2014, 07:23 AM

All the best Eli hope all goes well

**Fozzy** · 28-10-2014, 07:34 AM

Like with any cancer it's all about catching it early. If you're of an age then you really need to get those checks done regularly, too many blokes put them off. And we should all be checking our love spuds in the shower at least once a week.

**bowie** · 28-10-2014, 07:35 AM

Eliminator;

Bad news, my condolences and well wishes.

On the pro side it seems you have a fairly early diagnose and the survival rates are a lot better than I would have expected.

Do us a favor and kick cancers ass and keep us informed. Stay strong.

**Little Chuchok** · 28-10-2014, 07:37 AM

All my best wishes for you Eli.

I hope it goes well.

**terry57** · 28-10-2014, 07:37 AM

My friend has just had the operation done in Perth using a new method. Apparently all done by computer guidance which eliminates the chance of human error.

Cost 30K

15K picked up by health care and 15K picked up workers comp.

Firefighters now covered for prostate cancer.

**Latindancer** · 28-10-2014, 07:48 AM

Must have been a bit of a jolt to get that news. But as the average of all stages is such a good survival rate, it looks pretty optimistic for you.

What about the unspoken which we all fear though ? Erectile nerves which may be damaged by the op ?

I remember reading an article a while back in which doctors said that generally, vitamin or mineral supplements did not affect the outcome after cancer ops. But then they went on to say "but actually, Selenium DOES affect the outcome...slightly". I myself take it regularly. Every bit of technical advantage makes a difference.

Good luck, dude.

**pseudolus** · 28-10-2014, 08:17 AM

Good luck mate - stay strong.

**cptw** · 28-10-2014, 10:27 AM

Eliminator,

I'm very sorry to hear or the diagnosis and glad you caught it early. Looks like you've done some research and I do not know where you are located, but hope you have investigated all of the options available to you. Forgive me if what follows is unwanted advice and old news to you.

I do not pretend to be an expert - just another man recently diagnosed and it sounds like with a case a bit further along. After my biopsy I was scheduled for surgery and told that there were no other good choices by my urologist (the chair of a major cancer center in the US).

I've since learned otherwise.

Urologists are surgeons - and too often believe that radical prostatectomy is the best or only choice. The hammer sees everything as the nail, sometimes even with the best intentions.

Surgery can be a good choice, but far too many are ordered. For some, depending on the particular stats and mindset, the option of waiting (active surveillance) is the best. If we live long enough, most of us will have some level of prostate cancer. It is not one disease, and for many it is slow and can be managed without radical therapies. Make sure you are not getting unneeded treatment, but do so prudently and with vigilance.

This surgery is serious, one of the most difficult, and the side effects certain initially, and far too often permanent (though usually to a lesser degree). I'm not saying it is wrong for you, but hope you have examined other options and spoken to other specialists. The radiation treatments offered today, available even in Thailand, were not around 10 years ago. They can be every bit as effective and with the right clinic, almost always have a better side effect profile. There are other options still.

I hope you have found the very best surgeon you can. He or she should have years of experience. At least hundreds or better yet over a thousand surgeries using the method that will be employed during yours. There are no machines that remove human error or compensate for inexperience. I've read the same is true no matter what method of treatment you choose, get the best clinician and the best clinic available. Ask hard questions, do your research, do not stop with the direction you get from the first doctor you see. You can trust, but verify.

The advantage you have with prostate cancer is some time to
research, to make up your mind. It is generally slow growing and unless you have an aggressive case (Gleason 8 or better or very a high PSA) with stage two you can take months to figure out what is right for you. With the right scores/cancer volume you may not have to do anything -at least not for years.

I hope this isn't taken the wrong way, but I am in exactly the same spot and am facing the same choices with a worse percentage chance at a cure. You cannot undo the surgery, and none of the treatments are pretty or without risk.

Sorry if this is out of place especially from a member with a piss poor record of posting. Because of my circumstances I'm a bit passionate about it and hope that you and the others here who will encounter this do so with eyes wide open and go for the best choice available. God bless and good luck.

**Davis Knowlton** · 28-10-2014, 11:02 AM

Eli, Very sorry to hear this, but glad you caught it early. I don't know enough about it to offer comments, but I will say that my BIL had it about eight years ago - caught it early, and chemotherapy knocked it out. He's been clean eight years now. Didn't even lose his hair or puke a lot due to the chemo.

As a rule with serious illnesses, and as you know, the more "educated" opinions you get "from doctors" the better you can decide which treatment route to follow.

Good luck!

**kmart** · 28-10-2014, 11:12 AM

All the best of luck Eliminator.
Something that we all need to be checking, 50 yo seems to be the watershed for prostate glands.
My Grandad on my Mum's side of the family died of it, and my Dad has had it (very low count) for nearly 8 years now, but with no real detriment to his general health. So it's something that I need to be vigilant for as well..

One of my best mates in Thailand died of a very aggressive form of prostate cancer some 8-9 years ago. He opted for an Apricot seed herbal "cure" when he should have had surgery. So everyone is different.

Good luck mate, and please update this thread after your surgery and let everyone know how you're doing.

**Davis Knowlton** · 28-10-2014, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by kmart

One of my best mates in Thailand died of a very aggressive form of prostate cancer some 8-9 years ago. He opted for an Apricot seed herbal "cure" when he should have had surgery. So everyone is different.

One of my best friends, also in Thailand, went the herbal route. It went into remission for quite some time, then came raging back and quickly finished the job.

Herbal medicines are great for certain things, but I wouldn't use them to try to defeat cancer myself.

**beerlaodrinker** · 28-10-2014, 11:29 AM

Good luck mate

**PeeCoffee** · 28-10-2014, 11:34 AM

Best wishes Eli as you'll be back strong as ever riding the roads on your Kawasaki bathed in sunshine !

(Again cprw words were well intended).

Stay strong each and every one of you.
Make each and every day YOUR day.

**Loy Toy** · 28-10-2014, 11:40 AM

Best of luck my friend.

You shared your concerns with me privately a few weeks ago and your positive outlook will go a long way to beating this.

Cudos for starting this thread and I hope your honesty, openness and strength will assist others.

**Dillinger** · 28-10-2014, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by kmart

Something that we all need to be checking,

looking into it... apparently not, unless you are black or have it run in your family.

Testing men for prostate cancer 'causes harm - and may not save lives', experts warn
Current test involves analysing prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
This is protein produced by prostate - higher levels make cancer more likely
Blood test results in up to 20% men being wrongly told they have disease
Half are over-diagnosed and given unpleasant or damaging treatment for slow-growing tumours that wouldn't have caused problem in their lifetime

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/ar...ave-lives.html

All the best with the treatment Eli

**Mr Earl** · 28-10-2014, 01:13 PM

Bad news, but sounds like you caught it fairly early.
As Dillinger be careful knife happy doctors they often the ones who kill you not the disease.
There are alternatives to chemo and the knife. Get as much info as you can.
I know what I'd do if I got that kind of eye opening news.
Take care and good luck with it.

**tonnab1** · 28-10-2014, 01:47 PM

All the best for you, Eli

**Ratchaburi** · 28-10-2014, 03:03 PM

Sorry to here about the P/C I hope all turns out well for you Eli all the best mate.

**Troy** · 28-10-2014, 03:23 PM

My Dad was diagnosed with prostrate cancer about 10 years ago. As a rule he never goes to the Doc and normally has to be dragged there, screaming and kicking, so it was not that early a stage when he was diagnosed. He went the Chemotherapy path and is still alive to tell the tale.

Dad isn't the strongest of guys physically but, like his mum, has immense strength mentally. Not a murmur of discontent about his treatment and never a moment's thought of it killing him. I think it was a year before he was finally cleared and another 5 years before they stopped bothering him with check-ups.

I should add that he was diagnosed about a year after having a triple by-pass.

Hope all goes well for you and you stay positive, whatever is thrown at you.

**ltnt** · 28-10-2014, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by Dillinger

Quote: Testing men for prostate cancer 'causes harm - and may not save lives', experts warn Current test involves analysing prostate-specific antigen (PSA) This is protein produced by prostate - higher levels make cancer more likely Blood test results in up to 20% men being wrongly told they have disease Half are over-diagnosed and given unpleasant or damaging treatment for slow-growing tumours that wouldn't have caused problem in their lifetime

Not a hard and fast rule no doubt Dillinger, but worth serious thought. I wonder how many diagnosed were actually prostrate cancer positive. I was going in for the usual annual check up a while ago. I don't know why, but I thought it was time for one since I had not seen the inside of a hospital in 15 years or so. Back comes the results, of course the PSA is alright, but the Thai doctor wants to confirm its correctness and asks me to return in 3 months for another check.

Oh,oh! Whats wrong? Panic attacks! I go in for another testing/physical, PSA is a little higher, so reads the print out. What does this mean? Dr. Thai shrugs his head, lets do it again and monitor it. MY alarm bell goes off!

He's ripping me off! Come backs for 4,000 baht a whack. I return once again, after three months wait. PSA a little lower, Thai Doc. come back again....Fuck you!

I haven't been back in 5 years. I'm not saying don't get a check up or believe a doctors experienced guess, but I for one have had the run of a lifetime with doctor's over the years.

I am hoping for the best outcome Elimenator and wish you a complete speedy recovery.

**S Landreth** · 28-10-2014, 06:50 PM

Good luck with the surgery in December and hope you’ll continue giving us updates on your exams years after.

This should be an informative thread and hope it will encourage others to go out and get tested and seek licensed professional medical help if there ever is a problem. It will also be nice to read a record from the beginning (detection) and the healing process years after the surgery from a cancer survivor.

**Eliminator** · 28-10-2014, 07:18 PM

Thank you to all for the well wishes and I will look further into all info given. It's very nice to have friends to help you out. I will keep everyone informed of what's going on.

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