Case study to bust taboo around men's health
The prostate is a part of the male reproductive system – which includes the penis, prostate, seminal vesicles, and testicles. Prostate cancer is a disease in which cells in the prostate grow out of control. Getting regular check ups can help in early detection of cancer.
Doug Bliss, 74, shared his unusual symptom of prostate cancer, identifying which could help him seek the right treatment in time.
The bus driver from East Anglia, England was out walking his dog. “Whilst walking, I thought to myself, I need to go to the toilet, but then I just couldn’t hold myself. It was strange to me as I’ve been fairly fit my whole life, and I’ve never had to go to the hospital before,” Express UK quoted Doug.
He contacted his doctor the next morning and explained his symptoms. He was then referred to the urology department at the local hospital.
Diagnosis of prostate cancer
At the hospital, Doug had a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test. His score came back at thirteen.
PSA scores that are higher than 10 have over 50 percent chance of being a positive indication of prostate cancer.
Following his PSA test, Doug had an MRI scan and a transrectal biopsy. Following his biopsy, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Multiple treatment options available
Doug’s cancer hadn’t spread outside of the prostate and it was a fairly small tumour. The hospital first recommended that he go on active surveillance, in which they monitor the slow-growing localised prostate cancer, instead of treating it right away.
Few weeks later, the oncology team discussed and explained the available treatment options with Doug – radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery or brachytherapy.
“I opted for brachytherapy because I felt it was the least intrusive out of all the treatments, and I was adamant that I didn’t want my prostate removed. It was also important to me to have the ability to go back to normal life quickly,” Doug explained his treatment option.
In the LDR (Low Dose Rate) brachytherapy procedure, small radiotherapy seeds, about the size of a grain of rice, are inserted around the cancerous cells to eliminate them over a period of a few months.
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Recovery post brachytherapy
Doug shared that he was soon able to go to work and had minimal side effects after his brachytherapy procedure, such as having trouble going to the toilet.
According to Express UK, he was also taking Tamsulosin, and needed a catheter fitted for around fifteen months. “It wasn’t necessarily the operation that caused it, it was the drugs afterwards.”
Doug also had regular six months check-ups at the Royal London Hospital. He shared, “I still have yearly PSA tests, and my last score was very low at 0.4, which I’m pleased with.”
Other signs of prostate cancer
According to the US CDC, it is important to immediately consult your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:
-Difficulty starting urination
-Weak or interrupted flow of urine
-Urinating often, especially at night
-Trouble emptying the bladder completely
-Pain or burning sensation during urination
-Blood in the urine or semen
-Pain in the back, hips, or pelvis
-Painful ejaculation
Note that these symptoms may not necessarily be caused by prostate cancer and could also be signs of some other condition. It is best to consult your doctor for diagnosis.
Read more: Can toilet seats give you a UTI? A doctor decodes
Importance of catching signs early
Early identification of symptoms of prostate cancer can improve the patient’s outcomes of overall survival.
Apart from being aware of the signs, which may or may not show, getting tested regularly is also important. The PSA test can aid early detection of prostate cancer. In fact, it is better to rely on regular testing than waiting for the urinary symptoms to show up. This is because the symptoms might show up when the cancer has gotten too worse.