Stephen
R Hughes and Diane live in Pennsylvania, USA. He was 57 when he was diagnosed
in August, 2006. His initial PSA fluctuated between 5.0 and 15.0 ng/ml, his Gleason
Score was 2 + 3 = 5 and although he does not say so, it seems he would have been
staged T1a . His choice of treatment was active surveillance. Here is his story.
1970
- 2006
Constant bouts of irritable bowel and prostatitis. Found that
the antibiotics only "cured" the prostatitis if it was accompanied by fever and
chills, ie a real infection.
April 2004 & April 2006
12 needle
biopsies - negative
2002 - 2006
PSA fluctuating between 5
and 15.
July 2006
Severe prostatitis and urinary retention
led to decision to have TURP (Trans Urethral Resection of the Prostate).
Aug
2006
TURP where ~ 50% of prostate was removed. Prostate volume went
from ~28 to ~ 12 cc. Biopsy report: 2 out of 102 chips < 5% Gleason 2 + 3 = 5
Severe bladder spasms for several days, catheter remained in for two days. Severe
prostatitis and irritable bowel symptoms lasted for several years. Mild symptoms
persist roughly on a monthly basis with occasional severe bouts lasting several
months.
Bone scan negative, pelvic MRI negative, pelvic endorectal MRI
negative, urodynamics test negative.
Decided on active surveillance as
treatment.
Dec 2006
Transurethral
and 33 rectal biopsies. Negative. Right and left seminal vesicles 1cm thick. Heterogeneous
with punctate hyperechogenic areas in both sides.
March 2007
PSA
= 0.35
April 2007
Started taking Finasteride and Saw Palmetto.
July
2007
Found
out I was allergic to Quinolones
after almost being airlifted off of a cruise ship while on vacation.
August
2007
Transrectal biopsies 32 needles. Decided against another transurethral
biopsy due to difficulty with last recovery.
2008 - 2009
Switched
doctors. PSA between 0.1 and 0.3. No more biopsies unless PSA starts increasing
and reconsider after 3 years from previous biopsies.
Still struggling
with irritable bowel and prostatitis symptoms on and off. Have not really had
sex since the TURP due to erectile dysfunction and since sex irritates the pelvic
pain syndrome or whatever is going on down there.
2010-2011
Since
switching urologists, I have continued to have very low PSA results and my bouts
of irritable bowel and prostatitis have decreased in length and intensity. I have
even stopped having the digital rectal exams, since they almost always brought
on a severe attack of prostatitis. If I have any kind of sex, I will get inflamed
in the prostate area and if I persist, I will get prostatitis. So, I don't do
that.
I
have continued to take the finisteride and saw palmetto. My urologist feels that
my chances of contracting prostate cancer are very low and that as long as the
PSA results remain low, no more biopsies.
Stephen's
e-mail address is: stephenrhughes@comcast.net
