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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate Cancer / January 2006Anyone in UK?
I'm in Yorkshire, my husband hasn't been diagnosed yet but is nervous. I want to reassure him but from looking at web sites I've got the impression that the processes described on this ng differ from what happens in UK - or it just might because of different terminologies. So I'd like to know what experiences people have had at this side of the pond. He'll be going for blood test results in a few days. TIA Mary This newsgroup is occasionally visited by UK denisons, but maybe not often enough to have read this post. Those that I know of are: gareth.jefferson@virgin.net Gareth Jefferson heelas@hotmail.com heelas@hotmail.com jack@mathieson69.freeserve.co.uk J.Graham johnpreston_welwood@lineone.net John Preston leigh1773@tiscali.co.uk Keith les.bradbury@tiscali.co.uk Les Bradbury ipsleyrow-news@yahoo.co.uk Mike mikeg@swanbrook.demon.co.uk Mike G rk012d1307@blueyonder.co.uk RAYMOND KING tim@ntlw.com tim tg@corp-part.com Tony You may want try them using their email addresses (some may be ficticious or vacant)  SignaturePSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05, 5/05, 10/05 PSA .07 .05 .06 .05 .08 Non Illegitimi Carborundum > I'm in Yorkshire, my husband hasn't been diagnosed yet but is nervous. I > want to reassure him but from looking at web sites I've got the impression [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Mary Hello Steve, see insertions... > This newsgroup is occasionally visited by UK denisons, but maybe not often > enough to have read this post. Those that I know of are: > > gareth.jefferson@virgin.net Gareth Jefferson Gareth was posting with gareth.jefferson@dsl.pipex.com in October He was posting about possibly going for HIFU in Japan or France > heelas@hotmail.com Robert *note name > jack@mathieson69.freeserve.co.uk J.Graham > johnpreston_welwood@lineone.net John Preston Carolyn Preston" <carolyn.preston@ntlworld.com> Posted in november to Lori (&Curt) - I think Heather pinged her - things not going well either. > leigh1773@tiscali.co.uk Keith > les.bradbury@tiscali.co.uk Les Bradbury Les' web page http://www.prostate-cancer-radiotherapy.org.uk/ Under his story section, he has a graph of his PSA's and an alternate email address, if the above doesn't work. Les and heelas (Robert) were around in August and Sept. > ipsleyrow-news@yahoo.co.uk Mike > mikeg@swanbrook.demon.co.uk Mike G > rk012d1307@blueyonder.co.uk RAYMOND KING > tim@ntlw.com tim > tg@corp-part.com Tony "Magna" <magna149@hotmail.com> is from UK Tim and Magna were just here on the 20th, Tim's looks bogus Tony's looks bogus > You may want try them using their email addresses (some may be ficticious or > vacant) [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > > > Mary Some of the others, either had high grade or posted longer ago. If you're emailing, try Les, Gareth, Magma and heelas (Robert) If it's just a screening, Mary, post the PSA number. I think it's used as a baseline, until next check, unless it's unusually high. If he's had a DRE and suspicion, he'll likely have core biopsies. Then he wants to have the information from the pathology report. Basics here http://www.phoenix5.org/menuprostate.html Depending on the pathology , he could have scans . More here http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/Mosby_factsheets/prostate_cancer.html or http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=2657 or http://www.cancerbacup.org.uk/Cancertype/Prostate that last one has a helpline #, at the top.-s pecialist cancer nurses provide high-quality, up-to-date cancer information, practical advice and support. Good luck. Hopefully, he's all clear. J > Gareth was posting with gareth.jefferson@dsl.pipex.com in October > He was posting about possibly going for HIFU in Japan or France That sounds like a form of oriental verse ... > <snip> > Some of the others, either had high grade or posted longer ago. > If you're emailing, try Les, Gareth, Magma and heelas (Robert) I shall. > If it's just a screening, Mary, post the PSA number. I think it's used as > a > baseline, until next check, unless it's unusually high. er ? > If he's had a DRE and suspicion, he'll likely have core biopsies. He's going to have a core biopsy. > Then he wants to have the information from the pathology report. > Basics here http://www.phoenix5.org/menuprostate.html I'll have a look at that, thank you. > Depending on the pathology , he could have scans . > More here [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > cancer > information, practical advice and support. They were my first port of call before I found this ng. CancerBacup is my favourite site, they've been very helpful before. But my concern is that things might not be the same in UK as they are in USA - I think that's where you are from what you've said on the bc ng. Oh I know that prostate malfunctions of all kinds won't be different in themselves but approaches to the treatments and dialogues with medics will, I'm sure be different. That's why I'd like to discuss it with someone from here. I know that what the American bc survivors talk about is still largely gibberish to me, after nearly eight years. I'm not daft either :-) > Good luck. Hopefully, he's all clear. Well, we'll have to wait and see. Even if it isn't malignant it seems that there are unpleasant processes to deal with it. And in the meantime I've been bleeding for a few days and my research nurse isn't back at work until 4 January :-) Serves me right for not reporting it earlier. Like most people I'm good at urging others not to delay ... but I feel happier having taken the first step to control. Thanks again, I'll hang around. I appreciate your input. Mary > J > "J" <studras@anon.inv> wrote >> >> Gareth was posting with gareth.jefferson@dsl.pipex.com in October He was >> posting about possibly going for HIFU in Japan or France > > That sounds like a form of oriental verse ... > Inaudible screech cancer cells popping like corn I sure hope this works <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> <meta content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1" http-equiv="Content-Type"> </head> <body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000"> <blockquote cite="midpan.2005.12.30.21.29.06.413345@verizon.net.prophet" type="cite"> <pre wrap="">On Fri, 30 Dec 2005, Mary Fisher wrote: "J" <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:studras@anon.inv"><studras@anon.inv></a> wrote </pre> <blockquote type="cite"> <blockquote type="cite"> <pre wrap="">Gareth was posting with <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:gareth.jefferson@dsl.pipex.com">gareth.jefferson@dsl.pipex.com</a> in October He was posting about possibly going for HIFU in Japan or France </pre> </blockquote> <pre wrap="">That sounds like a form of oriental verse ... > </pre> </blockquote> <pre wrap=""><!---->Inaudible screech cancer cells popping like corn I sure hope this works </pre> </blockquote> <b>Pfffbltt!</b><br> <br> Brunner, you owe me a keyboard!<br> <br> Regards,<br> <br> Steve J<br> <br> "Well, I've wrestled with reality for thirty-five years, Doctor, and I'm happy to state I finally won out over it."<br> -- James Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd in "Harvey"<br> <br> <br> </body> </html> > On Fri, 30 Dec 2005, Mary Fisher wrote: > "J" <studras@anon.inv> wrote [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Brunner, you owe me a keyboard! Make that two. Mary > Regards, > > Steve J > "Steve Jordan" <mycroftscj1@cox.net> wrote in message > > On Fri, 30 Dec 2005, Mary Fisher wrote: [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Make that two. :) I think you'll like this group, Mary. It's quiet right now, but it'll keep you busy trying to stay caught up. I come over here for a break and because there's mostly a great bunch of guys. :) I'm from Canada. Heather is as well. She's usually around, probably busy with hubby and holidays. Females post as well. There's probably more female lurkers. It's like peeking into the boys room at school. :) It's refreshing to read a male only perspective and many have such a great sense of humour. >> "Steve Jordan" <mycroftscj1@cox.net> wrote in message >> > On Fri, 30 Dec 2005, Mary Fisher wrote: [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > It's refreshing to read a male only perspective and many have such a great > sense of humour. In my experience that applies to all genuine help and support groups. I was surprised to find so few women appearing on the screen. I've said for years that I suffer from prostate problems, OK it's my husband's prostate but it's caused no end of disturbance to my sleep as well as his. Still, in the years of (five) babies he did more than his share of being roused, clamping them onto me, changing nappies and putting them down again because in those days I simply couldn't always wake up even to howls and wails. I'm not complaining! But my point is that prostate problems can be just as much a problem to wives as well as to men :-) Now that my husband's condition is apparently worsening I want to know as much as possible and hope to learn from folk here - no matter where they are. But the vagaries of the British National Health System do make for different approaches to any condition, as well as different terminologies and even names of medication - I learned that from the bc group. So 'local' links are useful for interpretation. We don't yet know the diagnosis for Spouse, when we do I'll post - and hope to learn more about it from direct experiences. That will augment what we learn from medical teams, websites and other sources. I'm looking forward to it. Mary > But my point is that prostate problems can be just as much a problem to > wives as well as to men :-) Well, then you will REALLY like this group. Most of us men long ago conceded that we have the easy part. >> But my point is that prostate problems can be just as much a problem to >> wives as well as to men :-) > > Well, then you will REALLY like this group. Most of us men long ago > conceded that we have the easy part. I'm not sure if that's ironic ... I hope I didn't give offence. It's so easy to do, unintentionally. There's always one who seems to do it all the time. And it's always me :-( I apologise forthe past and for the future ... if I didn't give offencethat's great! I wish everyone a happy new year and that we'll be saying the same 365 days from here. Mary I recognized, assumed or even considered no offense. I merely agree 100% with you. SignaturePSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05, 5/05, 10/05 PSA .07 .05 .06 .05 .08 Non Illegitimi Carborundum >>> But my point is that prostate problems can be just as much a problem to >>> wives as well as to men :-) [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Mary >I recognized, assumed or even considered no offense. I merely agree 100% >with you. [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] >> >> Mary >I recognized, assumed or even considered no offense. I merely agree 100% >with you. That's made my day :-) Thanks, Now off to plumb. M >>>> But my point is that prostate problems can be just as much a problem to >>>> wives as well as to men :-) [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >> >> Mary > There's always one who seems to do it all the time. > > And it's always me :-( Not always, dear... To understand, just read the group for a while. We now have a thread by an idiot suggesting he can chant our cancer away for our buying his time via an eBay auction. Evidence that he actually does the chanting for us for our money is a bit unclear, whether we get our money back, or make him chant everything backwards, if the cancer doesn't disappear, is also unclear. A while ago some gal was preaching "drink your own urine for health" in this group as a prostate cancer cure. OK, we're taking that poster's word for it that the poster was a female human. You, Mary, are far far far from the edge of this group! > Now that my husband's condition is apparently worsening In what way? Pain, swelling, dribbling, urinary blockage, incontinence ? > I want to know as > much as possible and hope to learn from folk here - no matter where they > are. But the vagaries of the British National Health System do make for > different approaches to any condition, as well as different terminologies > and even names of medication - I learned that from the bc group. So 'local' > links are useful for interpretation. Well mary, Yes, there are difficulties with medications names. We're lucky on a.s.c. Steph was born and trained in UK and Mike R is australian and recognizes and uses some of the same names, so we can usually sort those out. As far as PCA goes, hopefully the contacts we gave you, will get here (or to you) before such is required. If not, we'll work it out. one of the varagies of prostate cancer is that a person consults a urologist, gets a surgical opinion, consults a radiation oncologist; hears radiation options. Perhaps someone here would explain "nerve sparing". One of the vagaries, that I've noticed with some from UK on a.s.c. is that "consultants" are mentioned. I've yet to clear up who and what they are. 1) are they self-proclaimed experts who have collected all treating options and give advice? OR are they certified and paid for by the NHS ? 2) Do they work for hospitals who tend to lean towards one treatment vs another? 3) or is that just a Brit term for "specialist"? hmmm.. I wonder if this web page answers and it's # 3? http://www.nhsia.nhs.uk/cancer/pages/dataset/scope_3.asp J >> Now that my husband's condition is apparently worsening > > In what way? Pain, swelling, dribbling, urinary blockage, incontinence ? In what way? Despair, giving up, loss of belief in love and life? >>> Now that my husband's condition is apparently worsening >> >> In what way? Pain, swelling, dribbling, urinary blockage, incontinence ? > > In what way? Despair, giving up, loss of belief in love and life? Oh gosh no! I wouldn't allow that :-) I'll reply to the other posts later, we're in the throes of plumbing right now ... real plumbing, that is, with copper pipes, compression joints, leaking valves ... oh damn! It's all too much like Real Life :-) Mary > "Brian" wrote >> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > now ... real plumbing, that is, with copper pipes, compression joints, > leaking valves ... oh damn! It's all too much like Real Life :-) His plumbing is as real as the houses' plumbing... ...OK, put down that trap-snake, he doesn't want the surgery! (how to put "sweat" in "sweat solder" without solder!) >> I'll reply to the other posts later, we're in the throes of plumbing >> right >> now ... real plumbing, that is, with copper pipes, compression joints, >> leaking valves ... oh damn! It's all too much like Real Life :-) > > His plumbing is as real as the houses' plumbing... I know - as is mine! Just more complicated. And we can do house plumbing ouselves, DIY human surgery is a bit different :-) > ...OK, put down that trap-snake, he doesn't want the surgery! No idea what a trap-snake is. > (how to put "sweat" in "sweat solder" without solder!) He doesn't use solder much these days, the old craft of sweating has all but died - H&S and all that - and lead pipes are illegal anyway. It should properly be called 'cupring' rather than 'plumbing' but there you go! Plus ca change ... Lunchtime. In the caravan, it's the only place we have a clear table. If I can find the bread bin. And where's the fridge? Mary >>> I'll reply to the other posts later, we're in the throes of plumbing >>> right [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > No idea what a trap-snake is. It's a long metal cable with a handle on one end and a grinding-cutting bit on the other end, use in sinks when they stop draining. "This will help you pee!" (no kidding, the thought scares it out of me!) The bend in the sink drain pipe is the "trap", it traps the sewer-odor-tainted air in the pipes below the trap from coming up the sink drain. >> (how to put "sweat" in "sweat solder" without solder!) > > He doesn't use solder much these days, the old craft of sweating has all > but died - H&S and all that - and lead pipes are illegal anyway. It > should properly be called 'cupring' rather than 'plumbing' but there you > go! Plus ca change ... Copper pipes and joints get soldered together with the heat of a torch. The trick is to heat the copper above the melting point of the solder, which then flows into the joint space between pipe and joint. This is called "sweat soldering". Coming at my nethers with a butane torch would get me sweating. >>>> I'll reply to the other posts later, we're in the throes of plumbing >>>> right [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > It's a long metal cable with a handle on one end and a grinding-cutting > bit on the other end, use in sinks when they stop draining. Oh, that's happened to us rarely, when it does we free the nut at the bottom of the S bend (the trap) to drain it then screw it back on. I've never heard of a device such as the one you described - except for larger drains. There's a company called DynoRod which uses some such, I believe, but we maintain our own services. > "This will > help you pee!" (no kidding, the thought scares it out of me!) The bend in [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Copper pipes and joints get soldered together with the heat of a torch. Yes, but only a thin smear of lead free solder is used. We call the torch a blow lamp (or a blow torch), usually. Compression joints are more widely used these days, they have several advantages. > The trick is to heat the copper above the melting point of the solder, > which then flows into the joint space between pipe and joint. This is > called "sweat soldering". It seems to be the usual confusion between our different usages of English ... :-) > Coming at my nethers with a butane torch would > get me sweating. Yes, it would be a trifle warm ... ! I was once offered cauterisation for a tiny lesion in my rectum. I declined. Mary "Mary Fisher" wrote> > prostate problems can be just as much a problem to wives as well as to > men :-) That's why my announcement for any PC talks I give invite "any person who loves any man", 'cause it's often the PC patient's loved ones who drive him off the couch and to the doctor to get checked. Both in my organized PC discussions and in my impromptu PC bull sessions, I get more participation from women than from men. I.P. > "Mary Fisher" wrote> >> prostate problems can be just as much a problem to wives as well as to [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > loves any man", 'cause it's often the PC patient's loved ones who drive > him off the couch and to the doctor to get checked. We do tend to nag ... > Both in my organized PC discussions and in my impromptu PC bull sessions, > I get more participation from women than from men. We do tend to talk a lot ... ... and ask ... What's a 'bull' session? Can't be about bovine servicing, can it? Mary > I.P. > Females post as well. There's probably more female lurkers. It's like > peeking > into the boys room at school. :) I knew it!!!! I wonder if Mrs. Foxx is still alive so I can show her. > "J" <studras@anon.inv> wrote in message > > > Females post as well. There's probably more female lurkers. It's like > > peeking into the boys room at school. :) > > I knew it!!!! I wonder if Mrs. Foxx is still alive so I can show her. I admit it. I'm Mrs. Foxx and I was peeking... J >> On Fri, 30 Dec 2005, Mary Fisher wrote: "J" <studras@anon.inv> wrote >> Gareth was posting with gareth.jefferson@dsl.pipex.com in October He [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Make that two. Fixing computers I never tried to break them blame stupid haiku a computer breaks someone turned on the power Windows is like that. Hormone therapy External beam, Seeds. Prostate cancer sux! > "J" <studras@anon.inv> wrote in message > <snip> [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > I'm sure be different. That's why I'd like to discuss it with someone from > here. Hopefully some of the UK'ers you emailed will reply to you by email or on newsgroup. > I know that what the American bc survivors talk about is still largely > gibberish to me, after nearly eight years. I'm not daft either :-) Maybe some of them are. :) > Well, we'll have to wait and see. Even if it isn't malignant it seems that > there are unpleasant processes to deal with it. Well, I don't read every post, but for the most part, they seem to tolerate the biopsies well. A bit of soreness for a while. > And in the meantime I've been bleeding for a few days and my research nurse > isn't back at work until 4 January :-) Serves me right for not reporting it > earlier. Like most people I'm good at urging others not to delay ... but I > feel happier having taken the first step to control. Sorry to hear you're having troubles but glad you're looking into it. You seem "beyond" those years... I think once you understand the basics and some of the acronyms, it won't be too hard to follow along. Actually it's much easier here. As far as I know, there's only 2 types of prostate cancer and one is rare. The treartments are similar to bc. Surgery, radiation therapy, brachytherapy (seeds) and hormone treatment. One additional (choice) for older males who may choose quality of life and "watchful waiting", if their PSA is slowly creeping (not doubling) and their Gleason (a grading system) score is low. http://www.phoenix5.org/menuprostate.html The Gleason grading system [see diagram] assigns a grade to each of the two largest areas of cancer in the tissue samples. The two grades are then added together to produce a Gleason score. Another difference is that chemotherapy is usually only given after hormone therapy fails. As far as I know HIFU and cryotherapy are experimental. Heather posted that a private clinic in Toronto charges $17,000. (Cdn) for cryotherapy. I know (of) one man who tired cryotherapy (UK'er) and it failed. Apparently his cancer has spread. Those two may be available in clinical tirals in yours or my country. This is from a previous post :A "high" PSA test result could quite likely be the result of BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia; it just grew), prostatitis, infection, ejaculation within 24-48 hours prior to the blood draw, bike riding, a DRE, anything that stresses the gland. /quote. I believe some question the bike riding as being a cause of elevated PSA, others agree. Maybe it depends on size, location and type of bike seat or whether the chain falls off? I sure hurt myself as a kid, when that happened riding a men's bike. :) :( So before going for a PSA check, avoid those or any activity that might "stress" the prostate gland. Oh and the biopsy as well can cause a bit of a jump, so they usually don't redo a PSA for some time after a biopsy (is my non-expert understanding). Hoping all goes well with the biopsy and nothing too serious about you either. I'll be reading and popping in if you look too lonely here (not many replies), after the hols. J PS Watch for corrections to my post, I usually don't get too involved here - gets me in trouble. :) >> "J" <studras@anon.inv> wrote in message >> <snip> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Hopefully some of the UK'ers you emailed will reply to you by email or on > newsgroup. Sadly my ISP has a problem and we're not able to get mail at the moment. Some of us are getting fed up, there have been too many problems in the last couple of weeks - but that's another story :-( So to anyone who HAS mailed and is wondering why they haven't had the courtesy of a reply I say that we've been assured that mail is stacking up and will eventually flood in, I'll read and reply appropriately then. >> I know that what the American bc survivors talk about is still largely >> gibberish to me, after nearly eight years. I'm not daft either :-) > > Maybe some of them are. :) Well ... you said that, not me :-) >> Well, we'll have to wait and see. Even if it isn't malignant it seems >> that [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > biopsies well. > A bit of soreness for a while. When Spouse had a prostate biopsy some years ago he passed out but he has an unusual and so far un-named neurological problem in his lower half which made him react unusually. He's been assured that this time he can have it done with a ga. > I think once you understand the basics and some of the acronyms, it won't > be > too hard to follow along. Actually it's much easier here. As far as I > know, > there's only 2 types of prostate cancer and one is rare. Aren't the other prostate conditions discussed here? > The treartments are similar to bc. Surgery, radiation therapy, > brachytherapy > (seeds) ? > and hormone treatment. One additional (choice) for older males who may > choose quality of life and "watchful waiting", if their PSA is slowly > creeping > (not doubling) and their Gleason (a grading system) score is low. > http://www.phoenix5.org/menuprostate.html I'll look, thank you. although he's not all that old - 66. > The Gleason grading system [see diagram] assigns a grade to each of the > two > largest areas of cancer in the tissue samples. The two grades are then > added > together to produce a Gleason score. Oh. I think :-) > Another difference is that chemotherapy is usually only given after > hormone [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > cancer has spread. > Those two may be available in clinical tirals in yours or my country. I've told him to ask about trials. > This is from a previous post > :A "high" PSA test result could quite likely be the result of BPH (benign > prostatic hyperplasia; it just grew), prostatitis, infection, ejaculation > within 24-48 hours prior to the blood draw, bike riding, a DRE, anything > that > stresses the gland. /quote. Oo-er ... > I believe some question the bike riding as being a cause of elevated PSA, > others agree. > Maybe it depends on size, location and type of bike seat or whether the > chain > falls off? > I sure hurt myself as a kid, when that happened riding a men's bike. :) :( We used to be racing cyclists but haven't ridden for a few years. I've never heard that one! Cycling was supposed to affect his fertility but the only thing which did that was a vasectomy :-) > So before going for a PSA check, avoid those or any activity that might > "stress" the prostate gland. OK. > Hoping all goes well with the biopsy and nothing too serious about you > either. > I'll be reading and popping in if you look too lonely here (not many > replies), > after the hols. Thanks. > J > PS Watch for corrections to my post, I usually don't get too involved > here - > gets me in trouble. :) LOL! I've been there, many many times :-) Mary > Sadly my ISP has a problem > Aren't the other prostate conditions discussed here? Generally, only so far as they affect or mimic cancer symptoms (e.g. BHP can elevate PSA, and elevated PSA is a cancer indicator, but BHP is a non-cancer prostate condition) >> The treatments are similar to bc. Surgery, radiation therapy, >> brachytherapy (seeds) > > ? ? indeed! I've never heard of brachytherapy (seeds) employed for BC (then again I haven't had BC yet). Brachytherapy means short or brief treatment. It involves "seeds". Seed are two type: 1: titanium pills containing radioactive isotopes which are inserted from the perenium into the prostate and left there permanently; the seed itself has a half-life of 60 days +/1 so after a year they're basically inert (this is getting spanked with a nuclear porcupine). This protocol is "LDR" (Low Dose Radiation) 2: the needles used in '1' above don't leave behind a pill, rather, a plastic catheter is inserted into the wound channel and a *very* hot radiation seed gets inserted for a short time (10 minutes) a few times over a few days. This is an atomic branding iron on the tumor. After the treatments, the catheters are removed and the wounds heal. This is HDR (High Dose Radiation) and leaves nothing in the body (ldr seeds are left permanently). > Oh. > > I think :-) The lowest Gleason score is 0, the next lowest is 6 (since grades 1 & 2 are reported as 3), the highest is 10 meaning all cancer cells studied were very different from normal prostate tissues, therefore their genes are likely very messed up, meaning their response to any treatments is unpredictable. >> Another difference is that chemotherapy is usually only given after >> hormone therapy fails. scratch "hormone" read "preceding"; AIUI if the initial treatment fails, then other salvage treatments come into play; if all has failed then chemo comes into play. Both primary and salvage treatments may or may not include hormones. Hormone treatment may accompany chemo. >> As far as I know HIFU and cryotherapy are experimental. cryotherapy is a failed experiment, from all data I've seen. > OK. 3 days avoidance should suffice, no need to be monk/nun >> Sadly my ISP has a problem > [quoted text clipped - 50 lines] > >> OK. All that is very interesting, thank you. > 3 days avoidance should suffice, no need to be monk/nun ? Mary >> 3 days avoidance should suffice, no need to be monk/nun > > ? > > Mary The context was avoiding actions that 'disturb' the prostate just before a blood draw for a PSA test, changing the level of PSA. Sexual activity is on the list of "things that disturb the PSA level in the blood", so my comment was that 3 days abstinence should suffice, no need for either of you to join any Orders in order to leave the gland alone long enough for the PSA test to be an accurate indicator of the normal and usual level of PSA in his blood. >>> 3 days avoidance should suffice, no need to be monk/nun >> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > the PSA test to be an accurate indicator of the normal and usual level of > PSA in his blood. Oh. thanks, I think. THREE DAYS??? I assume that doesn't include nights ... Mary > "Brian" <brian.brunner@verizon.net.prophet> wrote in message > > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > I assume that doesn't include nights ... That good eh? <smile> J >> "Brian" <brian.brunner@verizon.net.prophet> wrote in message >> > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > That good eh? <smile> So far. Mary > J >> The context was avoiding actions that 'disturb' the prostate just before >> a blood draw for a PSA test, changing the level of PSA. Sexual activity [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > I assume that doesn't include nights ... 24 + 24 + 24 = 72 hours in which Mr Willey is relieved of duty entertaining the troops, and is to hold and pass water upon command and nothing else. He's not to stand at attention, nobody is to subject him to such discipline as to cause him to barf, AT PARADE REST for 72 hours. You two are cordially invited to make up for it after the blood draw, but, please, not in the medical office. Older folks will insist on whatever your having, and that would take some explaining. >>> The context was avoiding actions that 'disturb' the prostate just before >>> a blood draw for a PSA test, changing the level of PSA. Sexual activity [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > nothing else. He's not to stand at attention, nobody is to subject him to > such discipline as to cause him to barf, AT PARADE REST for 72 hours. <sigh> > You two are cordially invited to make up for it after the blood draw, but, > please, not in the medical office. Older folks will insist on whatever > your having, and that would take some explaining. er - I thought we WERE the older folks. Mary > J wrote: > >> The treatments are similar to bc. Surgery, radiation therapy, [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > again I haven't had BC yet). > [...] aka internal radiation aka mommosite aka balloon At least one had it, others have mentioned looking into it. http://www.woodlandsonline.com/anps/anitem.cfm?AnnID=1315 http://www.mmhs.com/content/mammosite.asp Brachytherapy for breast cancer was first performed in 1991 It's not mentioned on the BC Cancer website. That tells me something since it's been availabe since 1991. > >> Another difference is that chemotherapy is usually only given after > >> hormone therapy fails. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > cryotherapy is a failed experiment, from all data I've seen. agreed. See what this says about HIFU please I can't open Adobe files unless I know the size or # of pages first. (dialup/low resources) http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/HPI/CancerManagementGuidelines/Genitourinary/Prostate/ HIFU.htm J > "J" <studras@anon.inv> wrote in message > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > When Spouse had a prostate biopsy some years ago he passed out with or without a local? If with local, which? > but he has an > unusual and so far un-named neurological problem in his lower half which > made him react unusually. In what way? That's a worry... It's of interest because of what happened to my Dad and information I"ve collected, over the years. > He's been assured that this time he can have it done with a ga. >> "J" <studras@anon.inv> wrote in message >> [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > with or without a local? If with local, which? Without. He was toldthat it could be a 'little uncomfortable'. We've learned to interpret this as "could be excrutiating" >> but he has an >> unusual and so far un-named neurological problem in his lower half which >> made him react unusually. > > In what way? His reaction? He was in so much pain that he lost consciousness.He's a tough man and usually can cope with acute pain which would worry most people. The following day one of the nurses commented that he 'had a funny turn'. I can't do with euphemisms :-( He had almost as bad a reaction with lumbar punctures too. All these were fruitless attempts to try to find/eliminate causes for his condition. Eventually he had massive intravenous steroids which had miraculous results but he still has chronic residual symptoms and pain for which he takes analgesics as a form of pain management. He used to use a TeNS machine too but hasn't felt the need for that for a couple of years. At first he was admitted to the osteo ward but scans and x-rays found no cause for his parasthesia so he was moved to the neurological ward where every attempt was made to diagnose his condition. We're not complaining about that. We live with the remaining discomforts, in fact if they suddenly disappeared he'd be worried ... while he hurts he lives :-) > That's a worry... > It's of interest because of what happened to my Dad and information I"ve > collected, over the years. What about your Dad? Mary And I thought I spent too much time here! Do you sleep? > Hello Steve, see insertions... > [quoted text clipped - 79 lines] > Good luck. Hopefully, he's all clear. > J > And I thought I spent too much time here! Do you sleep? Only when I'm alone :) J >> And I thought I spent too much time here! Do you sleep? > > Only when I'm alone :) Difficult, isn't it? We need our sleep and yet ... Mary > J > This newsgroup is occasionally visited by UK denisons, but maybe not often > enough to have read this post. Those that I know of are: [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > You may want try them using their email addresses (some may be ficticious > or vacant) Thank you, Mary > I'm in Yorkshire, my husband hasn't been diagnosed yet but is nervous. I > want to reassure him but from looking at web sites I've got the impression [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > pond. He'll be going for blood test results in a few days. > UsToo! International is a PCa support group with many chapters worldwide, including seven in the UK. See: http://www.ustoo.com/chapter_nearyou.asp I hope that this is all superfluous and the test results are good news. Regards, Steve J > UsToo! International is a PCa support group with many chapters worldwide, > including seven in the UK. > > See: http://www.ustoo.com/chapter_nearyou.asp Thank you, the closest branch is quite a way from us (in English terms!) but I've saved the url and shall keep consulting it. > I hope that this is all superfluous and the test results are good news. Of course. But it doesn't do any harm to be pepared - and anyway it's all very interesting. Mary |
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