Prostate again.
I make no apologies for bringing up the subject of Prostate Cancer again. Since it is the biggest killer among men, comparable to Breast Cancer in women, the more we are aware of it and how it can be diagnosed and treated the better we will be at looking out for the signs and getting treatment earlier.
I applaud the way that it is being brought out in the open now after so many years of hearing about it but not knowing what to look for or knowing if there is a chance of survival if you got it.
In an article in the Daily Mail recently a well known male singer talked about the way he had to deal with it and after his operative surgery, how he is now getting on with life again.
The signs are slightly varied in some cases but one of these is difficulty in urinating. Wanting to go to the toilet but not being able to empty the bladder fully and hence wanting to go again after a very short time. Going to the toilet can be uncomfortable and even between visits there can be discomfort..
If this is apparent in your circumstances, it is imperative that you go to your doctor immediately and he will refer you for blood tests. If these results confirm that the PSA levels are raised there may be a chance that you could have Prostate Cancer and then you will be referred for a biopsy. If this proves to be positive you will require surgery and recovery will depend upon the stage at which the cancer is and whether it is contained within the gland.
Treatment options are; Cryosurgery, where the cancer is frozen; Radiotherapy, this is using radiation x-rays; Brachytherapy; using radioactive seeds implanted in the prostate.
There are also two surgical techniques that completely remove the prostate gland, one being traditional surgery or open surgery where an incision is made into the abdomen and then there is a new keyhole surgery where 4, 1cm incisions are made in the abdomen and a camera is introduced through one of these incisions relaying pictures to a monitor that magnifies the images about 200 times. The gland is removed by instruments introduced through the other holes and is placed in a polythene bag whilst still in the abdomen and prior to it being extracted through one of the holes.
The latter of these treatments seems to be the way forward but urologists trained in this method are in short supply at this moment. Advantages are; less chance of infection, patients recover in third of the time compared to open surgery. There is less bleeding, less chance of being incontinent or impotent.
After the operation and when they come to, most patients have an ache similar to having done too many sit-ups. Most patients can drink after 6 hours and eat after 12 hours. They are mostly walking next day and erections return after the nerves have recovered although they are sterile, this is because the prostrate plays such a vital role in the production of semen. After 1 month most patients are back to normal compared with 3 months for open surgery.
After surgery patients will have to have PSA tests every two/three months for a year and then yearly for 5 years.
If you require any further information you can go to www.prostatecancercentre.co.uk or for support for those having had prostate cancer. www.prostate-project.org.uk