Re: new PSA result

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry to disgree with Alan, but I too had a groin hernia, which I'm very glad I had fixed - a couple of days after I'd finished my radiation therapy. The surgeon was a bit dubious because the nearness of the op to the radiation meant that the odds of failure increased a bit - but were still tiny. What they do in the UK is insert a bit of polyester gauze, which is sewn in place across the muscle tear. It makes the area stronger than nature intended. I'd put my surgery off until the radiation had been done, as I'd suffered with the tear for a few months before. Actually it was my realisation that I had a prostate problem as well as the hernia issue that prompted my visit to my GP (I tend to save up my issues to get my money's worth and save the

GPO's time!). There's a real risk if the hernia is left untreated that it becomes strangulated, which can be a killer.

The hernia repair op is a simple one, day surgery, that's all. I used a guy who'd done hundreds of them. Piece of cake for him and me. Go for it!

To: ProstateCancerSupport Sent: Thursday, 28 January, 2010 1:02:18Subject: Re: new PSA result

Dave <halvor9820yahoo (DOT) com> wrote:> .... Got the results back today> and my PSA had gone way down from 147 when I was diagnosed back> in October to 5.0! It would seem that the Zoladex injections> are having the desired effect?Exactly! I hope the PSA continues to drop.> ... I put in a call to the Urologist to find out, haven'nt> heard back yet. ...At this stage it is time to request a referral to a medicaloncologist with lots of experience with prostate cancer.Urologists are surgeons. They're not usually not trained in allthe ins and outs of drug therapy, which is a complex topic and aspecialty all its own.> ... Also, I go back to the VA Hospital tomorrow for a surgical> consult to see if they can do surgery for my groin hernia.>

Previously, the urologist had said it was unlikely due to the> stage of my prostate cancer, but I will find out tomorrow. If> they can do the surgery it will be great as I am often in a lot> of pain from the hernia.Best of luck with that. If they don't offer you surgery, or ifyou decide against it, I recommend you look into buying a herniabelt. From personal experience I know that wearing a jock strapand a hernia belt can make a huge difference in hernia pain. Ihave hernia pain from time to time but I decided never to get it"fixed" because, wearing a jock strap all the time and a herniabelt when I need it (if I have pain or I'm going to do heavywork), has completely solved my problem. I figure that I don'tneed either the pain or the risks of a significant surgery if,just by wearing the right clothes, I can handle the problem.Good

luck.Alan

[Guest guest]

DAVID COLLINS wrote:

> I'm sorry to disagree with Alan ...

No apology required for that. Disagreeing with me is generally a

sign of high intelligence.

....

> The hernia repair op is a simple one, day surgery, that's all.

> I used a guy who'd done hundreds of them. Piece of cake for

> him and me.

I think that experience is key to success. I remember my Dad had

what was supposed to be a simple hernia operation from which he

was told he'd recover very quickly. He was in real pain for a

month and it took several months before he felt normal again. I

wonder how good his surgeon was.

I was diagnosed as a child with a hernia. It's kind of gone in

and out all my life and caused me pain from time to time. I was

about 30 when I first bought a hernia belt, and I've had

virtually no problems since then. I rarely wear it now, just if

I'm going to shovel snow or do something else like that.

Alan