after prostate cancer operation

Miken

Just Joined
Mar 24, 2018
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anyone had the prostate operation? after my op i am finding it impossible to find a comfortable seat, i have a garage full of "comfortable" seats which are anything but! nothing seems to work ! anyone got any ideas?
 
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Kudoscycles

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Apr 15, 2011
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There is lots of publicity at the moment that us older guys should all have a PSA test. I made an appointment with my doctor to have the bloods taken,the nurse refused until I had a consultation with my doctor.
He talked me out of the test,he explained that of the positive results,75% are false positive and then invasive and unpleasant further checks to confirm whether cancer or not,
He listed the symptoms of prostate cancer and if I had none of those symptoms then the test could cause a lot of anxiety for nothing.
This is not explained by the TV celebrities who are campaigning for all of us to have this test,
I hope I don’t regret my decision.
KudosDave
 

Woosh

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May 19, 2012
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wait a month or two before getting back on the saddle.
 
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Kudoscycles

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Apr 15, 2011
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you should get the test. Don't wait for symptoms to appear.
The problem is that the test is very unreliable,many negative results are wrong and of the 100% testing positive,75% are false positive,that is not a good ratio and the test has to be done yearly.
We need a better test to make it effective.
KudosDave
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,152
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He talked me out of the test,he explained that of the positive results,75% are false positive and then invasive and unpleasant further checks to confirm whether cancer or not,
He listed the symptoms of prostate cancer and if I had none of those symptoms then the test could cause a lot of anxiety for nothing.
This is not explained by the TV celebrities who are campaigning for all of us to have this test,
I hope I don’t regret my decision.
KudosDave
You've got a sensible doctor and I very much doubt you'll regret your decision. Not only is the PSA test very unreliable, it sometimes leads to unnecessary biopsies which themselves can cause pain, incontinence problems and even cancer in a few cases.

If you haven't got the symptoms of prostate cancer, steer well clear of a PSA test.

I did have a symptom very early at just 49, but knowing that and a second symptom appearing later could just as easily be those of the more benign form of prostate cancer I took no further action. Now, 33 years later the prostate continues to be enlarged, I use tamsulosin to assist urination and it creates no problems. Doctors say of this much more common benign form, "men die with it, not of it", as I no doubt will eventually.
.
 

Kudoscycles

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Apr 15, 2011
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Woosh....if you Google ‘what’s wrong with the PSA test’ it gives all the downsides of the PSA test and it’s follow ups,
I fact I am regretting my decision to put myself through a plus 65 ‘well man’ MOT,it detected only that I need to lose some weight and my cholesterol is 5.2 (the limit is 5.0),the doctor immediately said statins,no attempt to change lifestyle to edge it down a bit. The Statins caused some considerable muscle pain and other not pleasant side effects,it also caused me considerable difficulties with travel insurance.
I am of the opinion that statins are a drug company/government con,there are 12 million of us on them in the U.K. and the world market is 720 billion US dollar,many medical specialists are very anti statins. There was a Norwegian survey of 60,000 that said that statins only reduced risk of cardiac problems by 1 in 200,but they increased the risk of diabetes by 30%.
My latest doctor has taken me off statins,saying lifestyle changes and exercise is so much more effective and no side effects.
Our GP’s are government influenced (NICE) these days and there recommendations are not necessarily in the best interests of the patient.
KudosDave
 

Woosh

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May 19, 2012
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Southend on Sea
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The problem is that the test is very unreliable,many negative results are wrong and of the 100% testing positive,75% are false positive,that is not a good ratio and the test has to be done yearly.
We need a better test to make it effective.
KudosDave
I agree that the test is unreliable but you get put on active surveillance if it is higher than 4 and any sudden increase will ring alarm bell.
 

Woosh

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May 19, 2012
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There was a Norwegian survey of 60,000 that said that statins only reduced risk of cardiac problems by 1 in 200,but they increased the risk of diabetes by 30%.
I am aware of that too,I suffer from type2 diabetes and on medication for diabetes, statins and high blood pressure medication for the last 12 years.
I manage to keep my weight and blood sugar down by working in the workshop in the afternoons. I blame the desktop job that I've done all my life.
 
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Benjahmin

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 10, 2014
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There was a recent radio4 program about the PSA test, ensuing biopsies and treatment. The conclusion, from the doctors and experts involved, was that we are over treating and causing unnecessary anxiety in men. They did talk about a non-invasive scan (MRI I think) that was far better at detecting tumour mass than a biopsy. The descriptions of the physical biopsy procedure and it's random nature ( only able to access a percentage of the prostrate) were, frankly, a bloody nightmare. This then, might, show the presence of a tumour which has a high chance of being benign, having suffered all the discomfort of the procedure.

I too am very wary of 'prescription happy doctors'. My attitude is that I want a diagnosis to help further research into whatever ails me. If prescribed drugs I always research the side effects and, so far, have a 100% rejection rate. I have been prescribed statins and didn't even fill out the prescription. Changed my diet instead. Doctors seem to look at and treat symptoms only, not the underlying cause. As an example, a couple of years ago I was diagnosed with tension headaches. The doc prescribed paracetamol, an ibuprofen type and another something or other to of set the side effects of the ibuprofen. This, presumably was meant for the rest of my life as there was no mention or investigation into what may be causing the tension in the first place. Looking into the side possible/probable side effects of said concoctions (not to mention the unknown reactions of the cocktail),led me to reject this, to me, lazy approach.
Instead I found a very good sports masseur and had a course of 4 or 5 visits. He found all sorts of knots in my right leg, lower back, left shoulder, hence left side tension headaches. Hey presto, headaches reduced by about 80% and no drugs used.

I want a source of educated information not a drug company advocate.
 

Ducknald Don

Pedelecer
Sep 2, 2017
97
38
Oxfordshire
It's a difficult choice, both of my grandfathers died from prostate cancer, one at 52 years old and my dad has it as well. I still haven't made my mind up whether to have the PSA test or just wait for symptoms.

In the mean time I read recently that having a regular tug on the old fella lowers the risk :)
 

Woosh

Trade Member
May 19, 2012
20,323
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Southend on Sea
wooshbikes.co.uk
It's a difficult choice, both of my grandfathers died from prostate cancer, one at 52 years old and my dad has it as well. I still haven't made my mind up whether to have the PSA test or just wait for symptoms.

In the mean time I read recently that having a regular tug on the old fella lowers the risk :)
don't wait for the symptoms, do the tests and keep an eye on your PSA level at least once or twice a year.
The risk is not in the prostate itself, which can easily be reduced or removed. Prostate cancer is although slow growing, tends to be located on the capsule. If the cancer breaks out of the capsule and spreads to the bowels, it may become untreatable and kill you.
 

the_killjoy

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 26, 2008
822
226
There was a recent radio4 program about the PSA test, ensuing biopsies and treatment. The conclusion, from the doctors and experts involved, was that we are over treating and causing unnecessary anxiety in men. They did talk about a non-invasive scan (MRI I think) that was far better at detecting tumour mass than a biopsy. The descriptions of the physical biopsy procedure and it's random nature ( only able to access a percentage of the prostrate) were, frankly, a bloody nightmare. This then, might, show the presence of a tumour which has a high chance of being benign, having suffered all the discomfort of the procedure.

I too am very wary of 'prescription happy doctors'. My attitude is that I want a diagnosis to help further research into whatever ails me. If prescribed drugs I always research the side effects and, so far, have a 100% rejection rate. I have been prescribed statins and didn't even fill out the prescription. Changed my diet instead. Doctors seem to look at and treat symptoms only, not the underlying cause. As an example, a couple of years ago I was diagnosed with tension headaches. The doc prescribed paracetamol, an ibuprofen type and another something or other to of set the side effects of the ibuprofen. This, presumably was meant for the rest of my life as there was no mention or investigation into what may be causing the tension in the first place. Looking into the side possible/probable side effects of said concoctions (not to mention the unknown reactions of the cocktail),led me to reject this, to me, lazy approach.
Instead I found a very good sports masseur and had a course of 4 or 5 visits. He found all sorts of knots in my right leg, lower back, left shoulder, hence left side tension headaches. Hey presto, headaches reduced by about 80% and no drugs used.

I want a source of educated information not a drug company advocate.
It reminds me of when I used to get terrible migraines at weekends, it turned out it was a withdrawal from the 10 cups of tea I was drinking a day at work during the week.
 

Kudoscycles

Official Trade Member
Apr 15, 2011
5,566
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www.kudoscycles.com
It reminds me of when I used to get terrible migraines at weekends, it turned out it was a withdrawal from the 10 cups of tea I was drinking a day at work during the week.
My wife suffered from headaches every day,she was put on blood pressure lowering medication and at the same time eliminated caffeine from her diet,mainly now drinking caffeine free tea,the headaches have disappeared.
She doesn’t know which worked the best but is happy to be headache free,
KudosDave
 

oldtom

Esteemed Pedelecer
I can't advise with regard to the PSA test but due to a bunch of other conditions, I have an annual blood test which last time round indicated a spike in one of the readings and read high again a month later, causing me to be referred to a consultant.

To cut the story short, a biopsy revealed quite a lot of cancer and I am currently undergoing treatment - the only good news being that a scan revealed no sign that the cancer had spread beyond the prostate.

Although I had no idea previously, I found out a few weeks ago that one of my brothers was diagnosed with the condition 2 years ago but declined any treatment - he died in hospital on Friday 23rd where he had been in decline for several weeks.

I was advised to inform my sons, all middle aged, of the increased risk factor for them which, when I inquired of the multi-discipline team looking after my care, is reckoned to double the chances of contracting prostate cancer compared to men with no known genetic predisposition.

It's a tough choice Dave Elderfield!

Tom
 
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Deleted member 4366

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Doctors seem to look at and treat symptoms only, not the underlying cause.
That's very true. We, as engineers, always look for underlying causes to problems, but doctors don't work like that. What's worse is that because they don't know the cause, the treatment for the symptoms is very much trial and error, and they rely on the human body being able to fix most things itself in a relatively short time.
 
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Wicky

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 12, 2014
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My Dad ignored signs of problems with his prostate and avoided his GP - just took Alka Seltzer (?1?!) Within a year the cancer had spread all the way through to his bones, his weight was just a few stones (he was over 6 ft tall) light enough that I could carry him from his bed to the bath. After some time in hospice he was able to return home with help of Macmillan nurses before he passed away.

A few years later worked on a Urology ward and worked with team helping care for gents inc. prostate problems - thankfully the majority passed though our care for TURP and other prostate related procedures etc going on for many more years of good & happy health.
 

Miken

Just Joined
Mar 24, 2018
2
0
thanks, have tried similar seats with no luck, it is 3 years since my op but still painfull!! looks like i will have to try and make one to my own spec!!
 

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