What happened when you first were diagnosed with prostate cancer?
Were you offered any support?
I am helping plan an ASPI meeting in April on the lack of support for newbies.
What do you remember when the doc said you have prostate cancer?
What happened next …. ?
Did the urologist offer support? Did a nurse?
Were you pointed to a support group?
Were you on your own?
Can you comment below? Please. Need your help.
The Active Surveillor.
What do you remember when the doc said you have prostate cancer?
I was told over the phone, which is all right, but not offered any other information than I could wait for treatment later, and probably years later.
What happened next …. ?
I said I was intrested in waiting for treatment. Then the urologist told me of the monitoring protocols. A PSA test every 6 months, and a follow up biopsy in one year. I agreed to both of those.
Did the urologist offer support? Did a nurse?
No. No support.
Were you pointed to a support group?
No.
Were you on your own?
Yes.
Can you comment below? Please. Need your help.
Looking back, upon diagnosis five years ago this January, I greatly increased my drinking and went into a slump, My girlfriend said to find a support group. After one year I looked for a support group, found two, tried both of them, and chose one of those two.
Because of advise in the support group, I cut way back on alcohol, changed my diet to mostly plant based, and exercise regularly. I have, for other reasons, engaged in much more social activities, and consider that an important part of my new lifestyle.
The support group has helped a lot. I am the only one on AS, and I think the leader resents my presence, but that is not my problem. The others in the group are great.
After one year in the support group, my anxiety lessened. I find a lot of education on the internet.
Gleason 3+3, January 2017, one core, I can't find what percentage, PSA 8+, up from 4. 12 core transrectal ultrasound
Follow up biopsy february 2018, ASAP Atypical Asinar , 12 core transrectal ultrasound
Prostate size 35 grams, so above 4 needs to be monitored. Last PSA Feb 2022, still 4.4.
I was told of the diagnosis, and told I could wait, probably wait for years, until treatment. No explaination of why I could wait. No information to help me decide.