The former BBC journalist and presenter, Bill Turnbull, died yesterday. He had advanced prostate cancer and has said he left it too late to get treatment. Since his diagnosis, he was instrumental in getting men to speak to their Doctor about the condition. I had a 'scare' a number of years ago and, whilst I have never had a 'clear' diagnosis, I have mentioned on the forum on a few occasions how imprtant it is for men to see their Doctor and discuss the matter and, possibly, get a PSA test. I make no apologies for mentioning it again - it could save your life. :beers:
RIP Bill.
Bbc obituary of a broadcaster who brought warmth humour into peesenting the news and programmes. a firm favourite.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-62714293 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-62714293)
Sad news but inevitable. Bill was a brilliant broadcaster and almost certainly a genuinely nice guy.
There are a lot of us who are members of the prostate cancer club. I've been through the treatment and am ok at the moment. Mine was caught just about in time (hopefully). It's worth making sure you know the symptoms ( which are hard to spot) and get a PSA test when you are in your 70s or older.
For the information of all the geezers here, what are the initial symptoms please?
It's very hard to say as it can be different in different people. I had a lower back pain if I sat down for a long time and also had the sudden need for a wee happing quite a lot. This can of course be caused just be getting older. I didn't think I had a problem until I had a bit of blood in the unmentionable stuff that emanates from these parts. That set off a whole course of tests that found the problem. The scary thing is that if I had been a few months later finding out it might have been too late for me.
The PSA test and the dreaded one fingered glove are the best ways of detection. If your GP isn't helpful on a PSA test then look out for mobile clinics that do it for free.
To simplify things, you are looking for any change in your normal toilet habits - more urgency to go, more frequency of visits and being woken up in the middle of the night needing to go. To cut a long story short, I had these symptoms, so visited the Doctor. Numerous PSA tests, with results varying from about 12 to 25, (should have been about 5), a couple of internal examinations, a couple of 'normal' biopsies and a MRI scan eventually found a dark area in the prostate. I subsequently had a different biopsy under a general anesthetic - even that could not confirm one way or the other! So now I live with it and take one tablet daily and have a PSA test every six months. None of the foregoing was painful, more uncomfortable, although after the last biopsy, I was told that if it got too painful going for a wee, I had to dial 999 and get to the hospital and take a letter I had been given with me. I can say that there were 2 or 3 times when I was sorely, (literally), tempted to ring 999. However, I am quite happy taking my daily tablet, everything seems to have settled down over the last couple of years, so it is a small price to pay. As I have stated numerous times on the forum, please gents, any slightest doubt, visit your Doctor - the hardest part is making that first step.
Addit: One thing I would add is that there is no need to wait until you are in your 70's to get a PSA test. If your Doctor is willing, you can get one done as early as your 40's. But it is only an indication, the result can show up a false positive or not catch a high PSA count, but it is an indicator. :beers:
NHS and Cancer Research websites have plenty of information:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/ (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/)
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/prostate-cancer (https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/prostate-cancer)
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK.
Over 30% of men have problems with the prostate so it's quite common. Well worth reading up on the various symptoms and getting checked out.
Steven B.
Just to add to the links provided by @Steven B (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=3063) another good source of information is -
https://prostatecanceruk.org/ (https://prostatecanceruk.org/)
And on a final note, more men die with prostate cancer than die of it. :beers: