Prostate Cancer

[Roger+Out]

Just been diagnosed with this little blighter! The next move is an MRI scan followed by a meeting to agree what treatment is the best for me.
I'd be very interested to know if anyone out there has had to deal with this and how it effected their running. My specialist is happy for me to carry on as normal for the moment but I wonder how long it will take me to get back to normal after treatment.
Any experience on any type of treatment would be very much appreciated.

Thanks.

[mr brightside]

Can you share with us what symptoms led to the diagnosis?

[Amex]

Hi Roger and o
My wife was confirmed with breast cancer a year ago the day before the anni waltz, many tears were shed by all its a very difficult time for you and your family, as they have to pick up the pieces of your moods anger and fear be strong my thoughts are with you, if ever you want a chat, beer shout, I get about the country a lot so can come to you.
Re running you just do what you feel you can, my wife from day one said I will no matter what be strong and carry on running, the day after her last radiotherapy treatment we set off to cycle the c2c, her running kept her strong physically and mentally, you may have this shit diagnosis, but you and your family can beat it.
Be strong xx
Steve

[Kumquat]

Hi,

My Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year. Although he's not a runner he's very spritely for his age. His cancer was localised to the prostate and all 10 of the biopsies were positive. After the initial shock his health was good, he was prescribed zoladex implant, renewed every 3 months and started a course of radiotherapy (RT)over a couple of months. The one big side affect of RT was loose bowel movements, which affected him towards the end of the treatment and for a month or two after.
His latest PSA was practically 0 (was 9) and he's back to his normal self and at the age of 78 thats no mean feat
Best of luck and give it hell, if you need to know anything specific happy to ask him
Jon

[that_fjell_guy]

Amex. Thats a great offer of support there. Most comendable. Good luck Roger+O, this is not something I've had to deal with but I'm sure there'll be plenty of support (...Like Amex!!) and you'll all come through it.

[Roger+Out]

Thanks for the information and the support guys - very much appreciated. (First time I've been emotional since my dog died!)

Amex - particular thanks - I don't know you but I follow your posts and I realise you've had a particularly tough time yourself, starting with your fracture at 3 Shires. I'm aiming to be at Anni. Waltz next Saturday so please seek me out if you're there - I'm easy to spot - old guy, grey hair, taller than everybody else!

Mr. B. It was all a bit strange really as I didn't have any desperate symptoms. I went to have an MOT at my doctors and mentioned to her that I was having to get up in the night to have a pee. The number of times varied considerably, sometimes once sometimes 5, usually 3/4. I'm coming up 68 and I know there is nothing unusual about that for men of my age and was expecting her to prescribe something to help. That's exactly what she thought as well (after an examination) but thought it would be on the safe side to have a PSA test (a specific prostate test) That come back showing a slightly raised level - 8 as opposed to a norm of 4 (I'm told very high is 100+) so the specialist thought a biopsy best as being the only way to be sure. That came back showing 50% of the samples as positive with a score of 3 on each side (the lowest it can be as they don't use 1 and 2 as they are too near normal)

So, as I say, there was nothing to indicate there was anything seriously wrong - I was traing hard, establishing a fairly good level of fitness and was looking forward to Causey Pike and Coledale. Didn't do either in the end but am back into training and looking forward to the Anni Waltz next week. Hence my post on here - am I deluding myself into thinking I can carry on as before or can I expect my body to react and stop me doing what we all love to do - run those fells!!

[Gambatte]

I'm having a prostate "check" tomorrow with the specialist. I asked for it because it's been a while that, at times, I can urinate extremely slowly.
Both the GP and the specialist say the symptoms are most likely consequences of the prostate getting bigger, which is a normal process with ageing (I'm 46) and does not indicate cancer. But hey since we are here, why not getting it checked...

BTW prostate is THE most common type of cancer (maybe also the most cancer death, not sure) and unlike some others is very easy to diagnose (you need the expert to check for it, you don't just "see it") and to treat, if taken early.

I expect it will be VERY UNPLEASANT. Basically, a stranger inserting a finger into your backside and playing a little inside. The one thing that makes me cheer is that it is still probably not as bad as that telling my 10yr old daugther her Dad got prostate cancer LATE and did not check it earlier because of fear....

Anyone has got stories to share?

[Llani Boy]

I'm 61 and have had it checked twice now. The first time I found it Uncomfortable and Embarrassing and the second time just Embarrassing.
I think the first time, the fact I was just so tense in anticipation of pain is what made it uncomfortable.There was no pain.

My advice would be to RELAX and BREATHE!

Hope all goes well.

[noel]

No stories at first hand. I used to work for a company that did medical training devices. One the things they'd done in the past was a little cube with a hole in the bottom of it, and depending on which way round you held the cube the little squidgy bit you could feel inside the cube with your finger was a good approximation of what doctors should expect to feel when examining a normal or enlarged prostate.

I think prostate cancer is very common but doesn't kill as many men as lung cancer. This is partly because it's slower growing. Many men die with it but not from it. Here's a crazy statistic: more than 70 percent of men over the age of 80 have some quantity of cancer cells in their prostate!

https://www.aging.com/prostate-cance...eir%20prostate.