Prostate cancer

[eaststandlevel3]

Unfortunately it’s very common over 50, the tests were painful however all clear fortunately. They also found I had low testosterone with the bloods. Fortunately on medication for both and feel a lot younger ! My advice is get checked out early and it’s one of the most treatable cancers and people live for years with the cancer stay strong and get checked early gents

 

[MCFC_ Phil]

Ask GP mate, recommended over 60 I believe. I had symptoms but luckily mine just enlarged and take medication

Yeah I was offered medication but decided against it as don't like taking stuff unless really needed. Has it made any difference to your symptoms? I've all of the above and have quite an urgency to go, but sill can manage.

 

[ob]

Yeah I was offered medication but decided against it as don't like taking stuff unless really needed. Has it made any difference to your symptoms? I've all of the above and have quite an urgency to go, but sill can manage.

Don't get up as often during night and although few symptoms not as bad as they were. Urgent need to go main one at moment. Big thing I've done is cut down on caffeine

 

[bluemanchester]

Ask GP mate, recommended over 60 I believe. I had symptoms but luckily mine just enlarged and take medication

Thats interesting I didn’t know there was medication for an enlarged prostate. If you dont mind me asking why were you prescribed medication as I have an enlarged one and I have never been offered medication. Thanks in advance.

 

[MCFC_ Phil]

Don't get up as often during night and although few symptoms not as bad as they were. Urgent need to go main one at moment. Big thing I've done is cut down on caffeine

Oh yeah told the same about caffeine, totally cut it out, no difference though. What medication did they give you?

 

[MCFC_ Phil]

And any side effects from medication?

 

[Manc baggie]

And any side effects from medication?

Apologies for the long post.
It’s worth reading up on the available meds & the likely side effects. I was shocked when I got my first prescription & read the accompanying leaflet. The side effects can be very significant & are surprisingly common. I was prescribed Finasteride by my GP which had no noticeable positive effect on my prostate problems, but had significant unpleasant side effects & I had to stop taking it.
It‘s a little difficult to effectively describe, but the main issue was that it inhibited my mental ability to function day to day, I was completely unable to focus & concentrate, my home life & work suffered very badly, my libido completely disappeared, my ability to remember anything was effected, I became completely disinterested in anything & whilst I was aware of this odd mental condition I was in, I just didn’t feel anything, not unhappy, not happy, not frustrated, nothing. It was like I had been switched off & I knew it was completely horrible, but honestly felt nothing.
I didn’t realise how badly effected I was until I stopped taking it & it was like a filter had been lifted from my life.
I was given another medication to try, sorry, forget the name, but it had similar effects on me as well as doing a good job shrinking my penis & being more aware of the effects from the first meds, I was able to recognise what was happening to me before it got too late & I stopped taking the meds. I literally couldn’t function whilst I was taking the meds & it took a while for the meds to fully clear my system.
My father died from prostate cancer aged 79 & I have been very persistant with my GP for regular psa tests which have always been in the normal range. I am 57 this year & have had prostate issues for the last 8 years.
My GP has referred me to see a urologist & I have been waiting a little over 12 months to see a consultant at Stepping Hill.
Its a shame that there is no consistent screening for prostate cancer & a readily available, better test than the psa test, which is unreliable.

 

[Dirty Harry]

Apologies for the long post.
It’s worth reading up on the available meds & the likely side effects. I was shocked when I got my first prescription & read the accompanying leaflet. The side effects can be very significant & are surprisingly common. I was prescribed Finasteride by my GP which had no noticeable positive effect on my prostate problems, but had significant unpleasant side effects & I had to stop taking it.
It‘s a little difficult to effectively describe, but the main issue was that it inhibited my mental ability to function day to day, I was completely unable to focus & concentrate, my home life & work suffered very badly, my libido completely disappeared, my ability to remember anything was effected, I became completely disinterested in anything & whilst I was aware of this odd mental condition I was in, I just didn’t feel anything, not unhappy, not happy, not frustrated, nothing. It was like I had been switched off & I knew it was completely horrible, but honestly felt nothing.
I didn’t realise how badly effected I was until I stopped taking it & it was like a filter had been lifted from my life.
I was given another medication to try, sorry, forget the name, but it had similar effects on me as well as doing a good job shrinking my penis & being more aware of the effects from the first meds, I was able to recognise what was happening to me before it got too late & I stopped taking the meds. I literally couldn’t function whilst I was taking the meds & it took a while for the meds to fully clear my system.
My father died from prostate cancer aged 79 & I have been very persistant with my GP for regular psa tests which have always been in the normal range. I am 57 this year & have had prostate issues for the last 8 years.
My GP has referred me to see a urologist & I have been waiting a little over 12 months to see a consultant at Stepping Hill.
Its a shame that there is no consistent screening for prostate cancer & a readily available, better test than the psa test, which is unreliable.

What dosage were you on mate ?

Maybe sounds like you’ve been one of the unfortunate ones who just don’t get along with the drug mate, I used ‘Finasteride’ for 20 years (not for BPH) and the only significant side effects I found was that I gained fat easier, and it was harder to get off, as it inhibits type II 5α-reductase and blocks T’s conversion to DHT (which is linked to fat gain etc) I wasn’t totally surprised (plus have a few acquaintances who work in the field), changed to ‘Dutasteride’ (inhibits type I and type II) a couple of years ago and pretty much the same fat gain sides, be interested to see what the other drug they prescribed was if you ever get chance mate.

Did they know you were on Finasteride mate and did they know to take that into account when evaluating your PSA scores ?
As I mentioned earlier, not everybody does in the initial stages, they were happy to send me home having a supposed ‘within range’ score until I asked if they’d taken mine into account, they hadn’t, and after further investigation I now have have checks twice a year, as you likely know, time is of the essence with this fucker, and far more so when Fina/Dutasteride are involved.

Ps best wishes when you do finally get to see the urologist.

 

[Cassandra]

I was given Tamsulosin and Finasteride. Never liked the look of the Finasteride, though it is also used to promote hair growth! Started the Tamsulosin first, it relaxes smooth muscle and certainly helped urine flow, was still getting up a few times at night though. Finasteride didn’t seem to help and I stopped it after about two years as I was getting similar side effects to those listed above. A later digital rectal examination of the prostate suggested that the prostate had shrunk but that was also when they suspected cancer. Due another psa check next week.

 

[Dirty Harry]

I was given Tamsulosin and Finasteride. Never liked the look of the Finasteride, though it is also used to promote hair growth! Started the Tamsulosin first, it relaxes smooth muscle and certainly helped urine flow, was still getting up a few times at night though. Finasteride didn’t seem to help and I stopped it after about two years as I was getting similar side effects to those listed above. A later digital rectal examination of the prostate suggested that the prostate had shrunk but that was also when they suspected cancer. Due another psa check next week.

Were you on the 5mg dosage for Finasteride Cassandra ?