I’m 59 smoked from age 12 until 2001 in good health except for lower back
problems last 10 years had a history of kidney stones (3) over the last 40
years. The last one 2 years ago needed to be removed by ultrasound. They
also found a mucus tumor, which they removed in the bladder it was tested to
be okay.

4 years ago I was told I had enlarged prostate. Since Nov. 2005 been doing
more work around the house to get my weight down from 200. In Feb started
losing weight.

Had a physical done in Feb. and my PSA was slightly elevated 4.5 Doc said
not to worry.

Last Sunday I was picking up two large rocks in the yard then monday morning
woke up to lower back pain took 2 Aleve’s then painted a shed. About 4 hours
later I need to take a leak. It was like the old days good flow except it
was cola color from the start to the end.

I didn’t feel like I passed a stone no blood clots. Half hr later I need to
go again this time yellow urine with a thin streak of red blood towards the
end. Since last Monday I haven’t seen any more blood. I called the Doctor
office.

They told me to go to the ER. I told the Doc what happen.

He did a rectal exam said that was okay. Did a blood test and urine test.

Then a CT with contrast and a chest x-ray with dye.

He came in the room told me he thinks I have advance prostate cancer and it
spread to my bladder as they saw a lesion via the CT report.

He then asked if I had an urologist I said no. So he called one that was on
duty and made appointment for 9am the next day. I had to give more urine and
the Doc asked me questions. He then asked if I passed a stone. I just said I
don’t know. He wants to look inside my track and will be back from his
vacation on May 25th. then do it.

I have lost more weight in the pass week before the blood loss I was 179 now
174-maybe nerves. All I think about is the ER doctors report to me. So my
question is

Is this ER doctor really able to tell if I have cancer by a CT?

I should have asked the Urologist but didn’t.Waiting is killing me.



 Thanks

Jeff

Jeff,
I know that you are worried. I am not a doctor but I have had some serious
health problems so I know a little about what you are going through. The
only
thing you can do is to wait for the urologist to conduct more tests to
determine the source of the problem. It's my guess that the ER doctor was
making a guess based upon the results of the CT scan. As far as I know,
it's impossible to determine whether or not a person has or does not have
cancer based upon the results of a CT scan. The best thing that you should
do is to just wait until
the urologist returns from the vacation and to make a list of the
questions that you have and make sure the urologist answers those
questions. My niece has a tumor in her breast. She asked the doctor
whether or not she had breast cancer. The doctor told her that it was
impossible to determine whether or not she had breast cancer based on the
scan. He said the only way to know whether she did or did not have cancer
was to to a biopsy. Do you see my point?
Jason

On May 7, Jeff wrote:

(snip)

What size (grams, cc's)? This is important because the
generally-accepted upper limit of normal PSA is 2.5 ng/mL. The outdated
standard was 4.0. For a medic (what, exactly, is his specialty?) to say
in February of 2006 in the USA that 4.5 is "slightly elevated" is simply
wrong and suggests that this medic is not familiar with PCa (prostate
cancer) standards of diagnosis (dx).

However, an enlarged prostate will express more PSA than a normal-size
one. Moreover, an elevated PSA could be caused by other factors such as
infection or prostatitis, or stressing the prostate by recent sexual
activity, a DRE (digital rectal examination), even bicycle riding within
a few days prior to the blood draw.

Did the medic prescribe a course of an antibiotic such as Cipro to
combat possible infection, then a repeat PSA test in about a month? I'll
bet he didn't.

(snip)

I believe that the short answer is a categorical NO. But I'm no medic.

The most common means of detecting PCa is via a biopsy.

Where is it written that Jeff must wait in an agony of suspense until
the uro returns from vacation? Consult another. Ask about his experience
with PCa.

Get all records. All. So they can be shown to the medic. Keep the
records in a file. They are priceless. A patient has a right to obtain
copies of all medical records.

Jeff's job is to empower himself so he can intelligently participate in
the process. An excellent start is the objective and authoritative
website of the Prostate Cancer Research Institute. Basics are found at:
http://prostate-cancer.org/education/education.html#basics_of_pc

Good luck. Please advise how it goes.

Regards,

Steve J

"What are the facts? Again and again and again -- what are the facts?
Shun wishful thinking, ignore divine revelation, forget 'what the stars
foretell,' avoid opinion, care not what the neighbors think, never mind
the unguessable 'verdict of history' -- what are the facts, and to how
many decimal places? You pilot always into an unknown future; facts are
your single clue. Get the facts!"
--Lazarus Long