[PsychoPhil]

Been away from this forum for a couple of weeks due to my next dx added: prostate cancer in for surgery next week. Yeay, got all the luck! Though in principle it's a quite curable form of cancer, depending on stage and pathology probably it's not and moreover I may be in for hormone and radiation treatment. Fun!

So my new combination is
Asperger's
maybe something bipolar
surely prostate cancer G7 (4+3) with a more nasty kind of grade 4 tissue

Interesting how priorities shift. The cancer thing moved from somewhere in the back of my head after initial elevated PSA readings to a top priority, and perhaps needless to add, the health system featuring 15min instantaneous diagnosis PDocs did all it could again to screw up.

Top highlights:
- they still haven't officially told me about my cancer diagnosis, I had to retrieve the biopsy results from a hospital archive query.
- my ex family doc denying a cancer specialist referral for lack of evidence of cancer, with blood values indicating a 45% probability of having a likely more aggressive form of it.

I've actually been too concerned and busy to experience anything in terms of episodes, though the whole thing seems highly unreal. And no, I'm not currently in a paranoid episode, this is real and I left the country to make use of better health cover I have elsewhere. Maybe I should take advantage of the opportunity to finally be seen by a decent PDoc as well.

Thoughts?

[MobiusPsyche]

I'm sorry you're going through this. I had an endometrial cancer diagnosis in December and it threw me for a loop. Fortunately they did a hysterectomy and got clean margins so I don't need radiation or chemotherapy. I hope the results are as good as possible for you.

[GoldenSnitch]

I don’t have any experience I just wanted to say I’m sorry about your news and I wish you the best

[downandlonely]

I'm sorry to hear this. If you are in another country seeing an oncologist, seeing a psychiatrist might also be a good idea if you can afford it. I hope you can be treated.

[tecomsin]

I was operated and then had chemo for early stage lung cancer just over 3 years ago. Now on to yearly scans. Serious mental illness and cancer is a tough combination. The best thing is to have a social network that you can rely on.

[sarahsweets]

That is really hard-I hope you have a speedy recovery. I by know means have what you have going on but I do have Barretts esophogus which means biopsies every year. I always worry that each year will be the year its cancer but so far so good. Keep your chin up!

PsychoPhil Sorry to hear. Hope all goes as well as possible for you!

[PsychoPhil]

Thanks for the wishes everyone. I haven't yet checked for a pdoc appointment, but maybe it can be arranged in the hospital treating my cancer. Tomorrow bone scan. Fingers crossed.

[bizi]

Dad had surgery for prostate cancer some 7 ears ago...did not require radiation at the time numbers were good....fast forward 7 years his psa went up and he had to have radiation. He is fine now. It is a very treatable cancer. Hopefully you will be in good hands from here on out.
((((HUGS)))))
bizi

[TheSeaCat]

I'm sorry you are going through this; I wish you good luck. Sending you very gentle hugs.

[PsychoPhil]

Surgery tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed. Thanks everyone for their wishes.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Thinking of you

[PsychoPhil]

Am back, everything went reasonably well, post-surgery pathology was decent, might be lucky I don't need more cancer treatment for the time being. Could also get an appointment at a clinic for bipolar disorder.

[sophiebunny]

I have bipolar 1 disorder with psychosis, PTSD with psychosis, and a dissociative disorder. Two years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had a mastectomy with reconstruction that resulted in a life threatening complication. Later I had chemotherapy. If it weren't for the involvement of my psychiatrist I would have been placed in a rehabilitation facility. My psychiatrist told my cancer team I would have a better recovery at home with skilled nursing support visits than in an institutional setting. My psychiatrist was spot on correct. He knew with my history of long duration psych admissions I'd decompensate in an institutional setting. Cancer and mental illness are a tough battle to fight together. It would be smart to get your psychiatrist (or at least a psychiatrist) on your cancer treatment team. My oncologists were very receptive to my psychiatrist's input. I struggled intensely, but I got good care.