Cancer Mistaken for BPH 5 Years
Just wondering if anyone else had experienced this?
I started treatment for BPH in 2019. I had a scope done in 2022 and they said I had 50% obstruction. They stated it was a life style decision to do TURP or continue meds. I have taken 3 meds for BPH for years. The one that concerns me is the Finesteride. At the time I chose to continue meds.
During this time my PSA has declined from 1.8 to 1.16.
Over Labor Day 2023, I was in the hospital for 4 nights and 5 days on IV antibiotics for a UTI and Sepsis. This propelled me to do TURP, which was done 1/15/24.
Unexpectedly for everyone, it came back as cancer. The Gleason score was 3+4=7, but we are being told that is not a true number as the cancer would start outside and they took the tissue from the middle. It could be worse.
I also have been having Steroid Epidurals for hip and back pain for the past 2 years.
Because I just hand TURP, I have to wait 2 or 3 months for biopsy. I am having a Nuclear bone scan in 2 weeks.
My question is really for anyone else this has happened to, what was the end cancer?
Thanks
The test you want is a NM PET/CT. It is the "Tells All" Cancer scan.
I have had 5 different scans and MRIs with multiple false positives and things missed. It was the Bone Scan Technician that told me that the PET/CT was the right test. He was right.
Hello
Thanks for sharing this information. Knowledge is power. This is very helpful. How are you doing? How did your bone scan turned out? Diane (Team Member)
Thats a really low PSA if its your current number. I would guess that is a good thing showing a low amount of PCa cells.
Also possibly a good thing is the TURP. It found your cancer and fixed your urinary performance? The reason i say this is that if you have bad pee performance, many docs will push you out of their office if you decide you want radiotherapy. This is because radiation will tighten up the urine stream further.
Also, going TURP vs biopsy. Many men i read about have had multiple 12 pin biopsies and fail to strike the existing cancer. They are told they are fine and to go home and relax (right! Lol). Then nothing happens for a long time til the next biopsy while the existing cancer dna morphs and grows. Its hard to detect small amounts of PCa early.
So maybe not so bad.Hello
, thanks for sharing with the community. My father has PC and we went through a lot getting to the right diagnosis. There is so much we can learn from each other by getting in a community that understands. Diane (Team Member)
Here is a good website to compare odds of cure for the major treatment paths. You have to determine your stage, low risk, intermediate, or high risk (risk of recurrence). So if you are intermediate, pull up the intermediate chart and you can see the odds of 10-20 yr survival, etc. based on the treatment you pick.
https://www.prostatecancerfree.org/compare-prostate-cancer-treatments/
It is best viewed on computer or just print it on paper. Not so viewable on phone.
To make the graphs easier to read, i drew a dot on the endpoints of the elipses, and then drew a line through the dots. This turns the elipses into lines.
Also be aware the the graphs don’t show any salvage radiation benefit. This would boost the surgery odds up a bit.
Also beware, this is a very dysfunctional industry from my view. Loads of bad info mixed in with the good info. Same with the docs. Some of them are more dangerous than the cancer.
Hello
, Thanks for sharing. Diane (Team Member)
