The truth about prostate cancer

[Coolmaker]

Let me start with this, I do not want anyone feeling sorry for me. However, after getting this dreaded disease, I feel that telling the story might help someone else from going through all the stuff I have had to endure.

 

My old family doctor had to do blood test every year on me due to a hypo thryoid. I asked him every year if we were running all the blood tests we needed to. His answer was always yes.

 

About 3 years ago, I started to pass blood and clots when I urinated. Oops, something is bad wrong. Off to the urologist, well it turns out I have stage 5 prostate cancer, that is the worst one and means it is in the bones now. The urologist ran a PSA test on me, it was 220, normal is between 1 and 4. He asked why I had never had a PSA test, told him my old doctor never did it apparently. His answer to me was that doctor gave me a "death sentence". PSA continued to climb to 500+, started a new medicine (only 3-4 years old) 4 months ago PSA is now down to 180 and I am doing Okay, much less pain. This is not a cure, it slows the growth down to a crawl and shrinks the tumors. Bad part is it is $5000.00 a month and it is in pill form. This is my next to the last chance to having a normal life for awhile. Last chance is "gene therapy" at a cost of $120,000.00. I damn sure cannot afford that, and not sure I want it anyway. Hell, it might make me grow boobs.... LOL

 

Now guys, the thing I want to impress on you is that this could have been handled easily, no loss of sexuality or anything if it had been caught early by blood tests or examination. I know, no one wants the dreaded finger exam, but let me tell you, I surely would have gone through that rather than what I am going through now. And hell no, you are not gay for having finger in your butt.

 

I have a son that is 35, my urologist is already starting to do blood tests on him. No man 40 or over should be walking around without having the test/ exam done. For your own sake and peace of mind, if you have never been tested, PLEASE have it done. Only by it going so far, is when they cannot fix it easily.

 

We are all subject to this mess. I tell all my friends to go and take care of it. Easy test, exam, then you can rest easy. Should be done every 4-5 years unless you have cancer in your family background, then more often. I know we all think nothing is ever going to happen to us, yeah the great male macho. But, let me tell you it damn sure can. I have always been the picture of health until this.

 

Again please be tested, do it for your family. They would not like to see you go through it, trust me, it puts allot of burden on them too.

 

If I can get only one of you to be tested, catch it early, fix it easily, then I have done my job by passing this information on. Many of us never think about it.

 

Take care of yourself, remember, "you only have one of you".......

[RyanbabZ71]

Thank you for sharing!

 

Like I stated in my pm earlier today a co-worker of mine had a similar situation a few yrs ago. It was caught to late. One thing he pressed upon me was to promise I would start getting checked out when I turned 40.

 

Personally I never go to a doctor unless I have to (had to this year because I tore my ACL and needed surgery). I just turned 33 a few wks ago. I think I will take advantage of my "free" preventative health screenings.

 

I hope that you sharing your story touches others and helps someone in some way!

 

 

Ryan

 

 

[HEMICAT]

Thanks Coolmaker, I will remember this warning. Best wishes.

[wurgs]

Best of luck to ya buddy. Will keep you in my prayers

[Ianf]

Coolmaker, I really feel for you and hope your prognosis improves to the point where you can again enjoy life to the fullest. I had a bout with the same issue as you, but, thye got it early enough to correct it before it became a larger issue. They removed 2/3s of my prostate and I am only having to have it watched yearly now. My urologist tells me that most men will develop this to a certain extent and he agrees that the anal exam and a periodic PSA test are extremely important to ensure that it is caught earlier rather than later. I have many friends that have been through this from both the early and later stages and I can assure you all that the early detection is the only way to go as the latter is surely life threatening and a very miserable time.

 

You would think that with all the money that is spent on research and investigations that most men would get this message and act upon it. If you get it later in life, it will not kill you, but, you will be impaired beyond your wildest dreams needlessly.

 

My heart goes out to you and your family in these stressful times and wish you all the best. Remember to appreciate each day as it comes and try to see only the good things that happen and share them with everyone you meet.

[99silveradoz71]

Thanks for sharing and you're in my prayers. It gets way too easy to just go through the days and only get checked out when you're not feeling well. Stories like these make you think and evaluate things.