Prostate Probs....?

[NiallsMama]

Heya, Just after some advice really....
My Dad has been having trouble running the loo for a pee & can't really 'go' when he's there for a few months now, my Mum pursueded him to go to his GP & they did the usual blood tests I suppose you need with that kinda problem. The results weren't due untill tomorrow, but the surgery rang this morning for himto go straight in today...The Doc ended up having a feel around & his prostate is hard & inflamed, also his Prostate specific antigen (PSA) results were thru the roof , I think they said it should be around 4, my Dad's was 185.......So he's off for a scan within the '2 week rule' and we will know more then......But.....
We are all concerened its the big C, but I was wondering if anybody else had any other ideas as to what could shoot the levels up so high & cause his prostrate to be so large.
Dad seems pretty chilled out at the moment, He & Mum want a day or 2 to think about things, My mind is just racing thinking of the C word......Any advice, good or bad, truly welcome.
TIA ,

[Huderon]

PSA levels are usually considered to be normal at around the 4 mark, but they do tend to be higher than that in older men. That's why the level is only seen as an indication that something is wrong.

I don't know what the PSA levels are likely to be for this, but there is a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia which is where the prostate grows and constricts the ureter. Treatment could be by drugs or minimally invasive surgery. Another possible condition, and again I have no idea what the PSA levels are likely to be for it, is prostatitis (hope I've spelt that correctly), again not a serious condition.

The scan will probably also include a biopsy which will be used to confirm whether or not he has cancer. If your Dad does have prostate he will also have to have a bone scan to check if any of the cancer cells have got out and migrated (when they do they usually settle on bone and keep growing). Treatment for prostate cancer is very successful if it's caught early, so keep your worry levels down until you know the results of the biopsy.

[Sqad]

This is cancer of the prostate and he will need a biopsy to determine the degree of aggression.

The majority of prostate cancers are very slow growing and you tend to die of something else. Rarely, there is a very aggressive form, which is not good news. Here are a few statistics for you.

Statistics are always out of date and will not tell you what will happen….BUT:

Stage 1 and 2….cancer localized……99%-100% survival for 5yrs
90%-100% survival for 10yrs.

Stage 3……cancer spread out of capsule……..complicated to assess.

Stage 4…….cancer spread to other parts of the body……….20-30% survive for 5yrs.

More people die WITH Prostate cancer rather than BECAUSE of Prostate cancer

Try not to worry...biopsy is the next important step....keep us informed.

[caththecrazy]

Just like to add my grandad had prostrate cancer and quite an aggresive form but as his brother had been diagnosed with the disease he was tested every year or 2 so it was caught in the beginning.

He had intense radium and was quite ill for a year , however he lived a fairly normal life for another 8 years and as Sqad said he did indeed die of something else.

I don't mean to sound callous and although cancer is a terrible disease remember it can be treated and isn't the death sentence it once was.

[NiallsMama]

Thanks for your answers guys, Hopefully he will be fine whatever the outcome.
He's trying to keep positive & not wallow in what might be, went playing golf as usual this morning!
Ill post again when he's had the appointment x