FAO Sqad

[horseshoes]

Sqad, is it possible that a biopsy taken to get a diagnosis for prostate cancer could damage nerves in the back?

[Sqad]

You will have to be more precise "damage nerves in the back".......but yes, it IS possible.

[horseshoes]

Sorry Sqad I can't be more precise. My uncle is having radiotherapy for his prostate cancer. I saw him yesterday and he said his back was really bad. today my Mum, (his sister) is VERY upset and worried about him. He's never been a well person, being a chronic asthmatic and having lung disease we're actually quite suprised he's lasted this long - he's 72 and had lord knows how many bouts of pneumonia. She saw him this morning and she says he's in an awful state and his back is worse. When I said he should have a word with the doctor, she said there's nothing they can do as the nerves were too damaged during the biopsy. Can this be correct?

[Sqad]

That is, in my opinion, very unlikely to be the case as i would have thought that the pain that you have described is more likely to be due to extension of his prostate cancer involving his vertebral column.

Not a good sign i am afraid.

[horseshoes]

..... and yet he was told that the cancer hadn't spread. Unless he's not telling the truth; and yet I don't think he would go for his treatment if he didn't think it would work. It's a round trip of about 60 miles a day for 5 or 7 weeks. He was advised AGAINST the operation because of the danger of him having an asthma attack (which has happened previously during a hernia operation).

[Sqad]

OK....well, time will tell...as they say.

[horseshoes]

Thank you sqad. I appreciate it.