Prostate Cancer Support Group
Prostate cancer is a disease in which cancer develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Cancer occurs when cells of the prostate mutate and begin to multiply out of control. These cells may spread (metastasize) from the prostate to other parts of the body, especially the bones and lymph nodes. Prostate cancer may cause pain, difficulty in...
Since my recent post made it through, I'll repost the "missing" post., . "LOST IN CYBERSPACE LOL!
Hello everyone,
My name is Jim Evridge. If you click on my name or picture to the left, it will take you to where I am today.
I was Dx'd with BPH approximately 20 years ago. My PCP at the tine saw something on a CT Scan of my Pelvic area, for something else, and told me to go see a Urologist for a DRE. At the time, I had no idea what a DRE was. Today I do, and find it very uncomfortable, embarrassing, and humiliating! There has to be a better, easier, and less invasive way to do this exam. For that reason, every year since, I have not had the DRE exam done! But I have a feeling I will eventually have to due to a worsening "drainage problem that is, in itself, embarrassing, and uncomfortable as well, wet pants.
I believe it to be caused by genetics. My father, who will be 92 this May, has been, and currently is being treated for BPH, and possible prostate cancer. His docs don't know for sure because he doesn't want to spend the money, and really doesn't want to know anyway!
Earlier this week I got a telephone call from a younger brother who lives in Melbourne, Fla. He told me he has some bad news for me. I do know that he has been treating for BPH about as long as I have. Like me, he never had another DRE for the same reasons that I mentioned above for myself. zed in a VA hospital in Melbourne, Fla His legs were swollen so bad, they were turning blue and he couldn't walk. While a patient, his PSA numbers were off the charts. So a biopsy was done. They thought his swollen legs were caused by an infection, so he was treated with IV antibiotics. Plus, he had another DRE while he was there. At the time, he wasn't told the DRE results, but was instead discharged. Several days later he got the phone call from his doctor he wasn't expecting. He has prostate cancer and it has already metastasized throughout his body , his bones, kidneys, liver, everything. His head has been messed up since Vietnam, and his "private war"(PTSD) just got a helluva lot worse! Even though it's practical to assume it's a genetic thing, his docs can't rule out Agent Orange as the cause!
Right now I don't know whether to be angry and upset.
When we were little kids, me about ten, and he about 7 were together constantly. Except when we had some knockdown, black eyed fights. A "normal outbreak of sibling rivalry. This one particular day there was a fire down the street from where we lived. A row of garages were under construction and construction items and tools were stored in the wooden shed that was burning. Everyone who was around went running towards the shed. We all heard a young voice inside the shed screaming for help. It was my little brother screaming. While everyone else just gawked with scared expressions on their faces. I found a way into the inferno, found my brother, and dragged him to safety!
This is one "fire" I won't be able to pull him from! DAMMIT!!!!!
Which Segway's into my question: What do you all think my chances are for getting prostate cancer? I've been to several web sites that go from a 50% chance, all the way up to 100%
So share your thoughts on this topic with me, please. My brother is scared for himself, he's afraid for me now that my immune system is "shot" to hell, thanks to my Parkinson Disease! Me. I'm afraid for the both of us!
Any info or recommendations you can provide me and my brother would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Regards, Jim Evridge AKA:SILVERFOXX*FIGHTING_BACK!"
BTW: I also have a very bad MRSA infection throughout my entire respiratory System, to go along with my, PD Severe End Stage Emphysema, and my BPH
The PD I've had for 38 years now, I was Dx'd with the emphysema in 2010.
Hello everyone,
My name is Jim Evridge. If you click on my name or picture to the left, it will take you to where I am today.
I was Dx'd with BPH approximately 20 years ago. My PCP at the tine saw something on a CT Scan of my Pelvic area, for something else, and told me to go see a Urologist for a DRE. At the time, I had no idea what a DRE was. Today I do, and find it very uncomfortable, embarrassing, and humiliating! There has to be a better, easier, and less invasive way to do this exam. For that reason, every year since, I have not had the DRE exam done! But I have a feeling I will eventually have to due to a worsening "drainage problem that is, in itself, embarrassing, and uncomfortable as well, wet pants.
I believe it to be caused by genetics. My father, who will be 92 this May, has been, and currently is being treated for BPH, and possible prostate cancer. His docs don't know for sure because he doesn't want to spend the money, and really doesn't want to know anyway!
Earlier this week I got a telephone call from a younger brother who lives in Melbourne, Fla. He told me he has some bad news for me. I do know that he has been treating for BPH about as long as I have. Like me, he never had another DRE for the same reasons that I mentioned above for myself. zed in a VA hospital in Melbourne, Fla His legs were swollen so bad, they were turning blue and he couldn't walk. While a patient, his PSA numbers were off the charts. So a biopsy was done. They thought his swollen legs were caused by an infection, so he was treated with IV antibiotics. Plus, he had another DRE while he was there. At the time, he wasn't told the DRE results, but was instead discharged. Several days later he got the phone call from his doctor he wasn't expecting. He has prostate cancer and it has already metastasized throughout his body , his bones, kidneys, liver, everything. His head has been messed up since Vietnam, and his "private war"(PTSD) just got a helluva lot worse! Even though it's practical to assume it's a genetic thing, his docs can't rule out Agent Orange as the cause!
Right now I don't know whether to be angry and upset.
When we were little kids, me about ten, and he about 7 were together constantly. Except when we had some knockdown, black eyed fights. A "normal outbreak of sibling rivalry. This one particular day there was a fire down the street from where we lived. A row of garages were under construction and construction items and tools were stored in the wooden shed that was burning. Everyone who was around went running towards the shed. We all heard a young voice inside the shed screaming for help. It was my little brother screaming. While everyone else just gawked with scared expressions on their faces. I found a way into the inferno, found my brother, and dragged him to safety!
This is one "fire" I won't be able to pull him from! DAMMIT!!!!!
Which Segway's into my question: What do you all think my chances are for getting prostate cancer? I've been to several web sites that go from a 50% chance, all the way up to 100%
So share your thoughts on this topic with me, please. My brother is scared for himself, he's afraid for me now that my immune system is "shot" to hell, thanks to my Parkinson Disease! Me. I'm afraid for the both of us!
Any info or recommendations you can provide me and my brother would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Regards, Jim Evridge AKA:SILVERFOXX*FIGHTING_BACK!"
BTW: I also have a very bad MRSA infection throughout my entire respiratory System, to go along with my, PD Severe End Stage Emphysema, and my BPH
The PD I've had for 38 years now, I was Dx'd with the emphysema in 2010.
I believe that you might want to get tested just to find out the results.
Not sure what the odds are that you might have it or get it but I think the more info you have the better the decisions you can make.
Much luck with your decision.
Odds of getting it - with a brother in full blown stage 4 - is pretty good, unfortunately especially with your other family history.
I knew I was in line for a problem, and took strong proactive measures so that it got properly identified and diagnosed very early. I recommend you do the same. The earlier it's found, the less difficult it is to deal with, and with fewer long term side effects.
I'd seriously work through the issue with having a digital rectal exam - it's quick, easy, just a few seconds long, and once over it's over. I'd also recommend regular PSA testing, and more than just the standard PSA - there are multiple tests, including 'fixed' PSA, 'free' PSA, and 'PSA velocity' that all tell a urologist a lot more info than just the standard 'total PSA' result.
Information is your ally in this - do what's needed to get all the info on the table early - you'll be glad you did.