Worried About Prostate Cancer

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

bu2 - 27 Sep 2004 04:35 GMT

I am getting treated at a urology clinic attached to a major North American
hospital. The problem is supposed to be chronic prostatitis. My prostate is
only a little enlarged. I do have pressures and some pain in the area and
problems with urination. Recently I have been given massive dosages of
antibiotics i.e. a cocktail which included almost a month of 500 mg dosages
of Levaquin. I had side effects and that treatment has been stopped at least
temporarily.

Currently I am on a Vioxx (a pain killer) and Flomax (it was Xatrall
before). Also massage of the prostate which showed presence of some pus. I
understand I had traces of blood in my urine for years. Also some of the
problems mentioned above for many years.

My fear is that I may have an undiscovered cancer of the prostate and that
massage may cause it to spread. I was told there is no evidence I have
cancer. PSA in the past and last year's transrectal ultra sound of the
prostate were okay. I am to have another transrectal ultra sound shortly. I
am also worried that I may have calculi in my prostate and that massage may
do damage for the obvious reason. I had kidney stones and lost my gall
bladder 5 years ago due to 200 or 300 little stones in it.

So far no bacteria in the prostate have been found. I am going to refuse any
further massages until we have established I do not have cancer or calculi.
I realize I may just be paranoid but I am worse off now than I was a 2
months ago when we started with tests and treatments.

The point is I do have problems with urination, pain in the prostate area,
blood traces in the urine (according to some tests) and now I am told pus in
the prostate liquid obtained through the massage. These as far as I know are
symptoms of the prostate cancer.

Forgive the length of the message and feel free to advise.

Reply to this Message

Leonard Evens - 27 Sep 2004 15:38 GMT

> I am getting treated at a urology clinic attached to a major North American
> hospital. The problem is supposed to be chronic prostatitis. My prostate is
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>
> Forgive the length of the message and feel free to advise.

Prostate cancer doens't usually begin with symptoms like what you
describe. Prostatitis seems the most likely cause, and it is not
always caused by bacterial infection. But, it is my impression that the
only way to be reasonably confident you don't have prostate cancer is to
have a biopsy done. An ultrasound won't necessarily see a small cancer.
For example, my cancer didn't show up on the ultrasound done when the
biopsy was done. Perhaps your doctors have reasons to believe a biopsy
is not necessary. But if you are not sure of their judgement, you
should get another opinion from an independent qualified urologist.

In any case, neither I nor anyone else who is likely to respond, is a
physician. You really need qualified medical advice in such a matter.
Don't rely on what you find on the internet.

Good luck.

Reply to this Message

bu2 - 27 Sep 2004 16:00 GMT

Thanks, Leonard. Your advice is appreciated. It is helpful to hear about
fellow sufferers and their experiences.

I already decided to seek a second opinion but the problem is how to hold
off the current team from continuing any radical treatment without actually
dumping them or insulting them.

I do think they are really trying to help me. I had this problem for many
years
and now for the first time there is someone who wants to help. Still, there
is a
a possibility they are barking up the wrong tree. If that is the case I may
be
paying a high price for it.

In the past I had several problems which were difficult to diagnose as I
seem
to be a bit of a "freak" when it comes to symptoms of any kind.

You wrote: "Prostate cancer doesn't usually begin with symptoms like what
you
describe." Which symptoms in particular should one look for? Don't worry,
although I am paranoid about this I am not going to claim I have those
symptoms
if I don't. :-))

>> I am getting treated at a urology clinic attached to a major North
>> American hospital. The problem is supposed to be chronic prostatitis. My
[quoted text clipped - 45 lines]
>
> Good luck.

Reply to this Message

Leonard Evens - 27 Sep 2004 21:23 GMT

> Thanks, Leonard. Your advice is appreciated. It is helpful to hear about
> fellow sufferers and their experiences.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> although I am paranoid about this I am not going to claim I have those
> symptoms

I am hardly and expert, but I can tell you what I think I've learned
from my reading on the subject. Early prostate cancer doesn't usually
have any symptoms that the patient would notice. It is when it has
gotten quite large that it may obstruct the urethra and cause problems
urinating. At that point, it is very likely the cancer has spread
beyond the prostate and produced other symptoms. I can't imagine that
your doctors wouldn't have found it if you had advanced metastatic
prostate cancer.

Early prostate cancer is usually detected either through PSA testing or
because the doctor feels something unusual on digital rectal
examination. A definitive diagnosis is usually made by examining cores
taken in a biopsy. Still, most biopsies don't show cancer, so even if
further testing is necessary, prostate cancer is far from a certainty.

I think that what is true in your case is that your symptoms are not
likely to be caused by prostate cancer, but you could have it, as could
any man of a certain age. It is up to the urologist to decide if a
biopsy is merited, and I am in no position to second guess your doctors.
Still, I think my urologist might do a biopsy in a case like yours
just to eliminate the possibility of prostate cancer.

> if I don't. :-))
>
[quoted text clipped - 47 lines]
>>
>>Good luck.

Reply to this Message

jhhtexas@ieee.org - 30 Sep 2004 21:49 GMT

I also agree that early prostate cancer does not cause any of the
symptoms you seem to have. First symptons of prostate cancer are
difficult urination due to a tumor impacting the urethea or joint pain
from a metatasized cancer. A biopsly is the only sure diagnosis.

Reply to this Message

bu2 - 01 Oct 2004 15:01 GMT

Thank you for your comment.

I do not claim I have a cancer I simply worry if I do. The
reasons for my worry apart from the obvious are:

1. At the prostate clinic I received a few prostate massages which
improved nothing but caused pain and possibly damaged
something as I now have a new problem with ejaculation.

For people with cancer or calculi in their prostate the massage
is contra-indicated.

Cancer could break and spread elsewhere and calculi could
damage something.

2. I underwent a heavy antibiotic, and other drugs, treatment for a
couple of months. My condition and symptoms worsened.

If the condition were prostate cancer than I don't think antibiotics
would help.

The decion makers assumed I had a chronic prostatitis, many years
old, and that it was on bacterial basis - although no such bacteria were
ever found.

I know that some people may have a prostate cancer and have no
symptoms. However, some of the symptoms of prostate cancer are:
(see WebMD site):
- presence of blood in the urine
- difficulty with urination
- problems with sexual functions
- pains and pressures in the pelvic area
- pus in the prostate liquid

(all of those I have)

in other words similar to prostatitis.

I thought they would first find out for sure, to the extent that it is
possible, what the problem is instead of going into treatments.

Now it has all been changed. It turned out I am very sensitive to
the Quinolone based drugs (Levaquin - Levofloxacin) which did me
no good and I have all kinds of side effects. I may have had a reaction
to Flomax as well. I was taking Vioxx too which has now been taken
off the shelves.

Right now the same doctor is waiting for the results of some tests
including a transrectal ultra sound. He asked me to take only herbal
remedies such as Prosta-Ease and Prostaphil-2 as well as Uva Ursi
tea, Kefir (Russian style yougurt), some pure cranberry juice but no
drugs, no massage.

>I also agree that early prostate cancer does not cause any of the
> symptoms you seem to have. First symptons of prostate cancer are
> difficult urination due to a tumor impacting the urethea or joint pain
> from a metatasized cancer. A biopsly is the only sure diagnosis.

Reply to this Message

Leonard Evens - 02 Oct 2004 04:19 GMT

> Thank you for your comment.
>
> I do not claim I have a cancer I simply worry if I do.

Most men don't ever develop a clinical case of prostate cancer. In
fact, over a life time, in the US, only about one in six will. So there
is no point in worrying about something that most likely won't happen.
You will have time enough to worry if it does happen.

The

> reasons for my worry apart from the obvious are:
>
> 1. At the prostate clinic I received a few prostate massages which
> improved nothing but caused pain and possibly damaged
> something as I now have a new problem with ejaculation.

If the massage didn't help, then don't do it. I've never heard of
prostate massage being used to treat prostatitis or other such
conditions, but I'm not a urologist.

> For people with cancer or calculi in their prostate the massage
> is contra-indicated.
>
> Cancer could break and spread elsewhere and calculi could
> damage something.

I'm not sure massage would cause a cancer, particularly a small one, to
spread. Doctors believe that cancer can escape from the prostate at any
time and does so, but unless the cancer cells have developed the ability
to live outside their home turf, it doesn't matter. It is a change in
the characteristics of the cancer cells, not their migration from the
prostate that is important. But since massage hasn't helped with your
problems, there would be no point in doing it.

Are you sure you are getting advice from a qualified urologist?

> 2. I underwent a heavy antibiotic, and other drugs, treatment for a
> couple of months. My condition and symptoms worsened.

You probably have prostatitis, but not every form of prostatitis
responds to antibiotics.

> If the condition were prostate cancer than I don't think antibiotics
> would help.

As I just noted, antibiotics in many cases won't help if you have
prostatitis. So the failure of the antibiotics does not mean that you
have cancer.

> The decion makers assumed I had a chronic prostatitis, many years
> old, and that it was on bacterial basis - although no such bacteria were
> ever found.

Again, that is apparently not unusual. But let me remind you again
that I'm not a urologist nore even a physician.

> I know that some people may have a prostate cancer and have no
> symptoms. However, some of the symptoms of prostate cancer are:
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> - pains and pressures in the pelvic area
> - pus in the prostate liquid

I know that they list those symptoms, but they are very misleading.
Those are the symptoms of advanced prostate cancer. It is very unlikely
that if you have advanced prostate cancer, and you have even vaguely
competent doctors, that they have missed it. You really have to trust
your doctors on this rather than looking up symptoms on websites and
trying to interpret them by yourself. If you have doubts about your
doctors, get second or even third opinions.

> (all of those I have)
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> to Flomax as well. I was taking Vioxx too which has now been taken
> off the shelves.

There are many alternatives to Vioxx. The older drugs like naproxen
work well to control inflammation. I've taken it to control disc
disorders in my back for many years.

> Right now the same doctor is waiting for the results of some tests
> including a transrectal ultra sound. He asked me to take only herbal
> remedies such as Prosta-Ease and Prostaphil-2 as well as Uva Ursi
> tea, Kefir (Russian style yougurt), some pure cranberry juice but no
> drugs, no massage.

Sounds good to me. You might ask him why he doesn't think a biopsy is
in order at this time. I presume he will have a good answer.

>>I also agree that early prostate cancer does not cause any of the
>>symptoms you seem to have. First symptons of prostate cancer are
>>difficult urination due to a tumor impacting the urethea or joint pain
>>from a metatasized cancer. A biopsly is the only sure diagnosis.

Reply to this Message