Has Anyone Had Their Prostate Checked In Thailand?

[giddyup]

I last had my prostate checked in Australia and like a lot of guys in their 60's it was enlarged, also my PSA count was way up. I'm terrified of a big op like removal of the prostate, there are so may possible negative side effects like loss of sexual function, incontinence etc. I guess I'm sticking my head in the sand and putting off having another check-up. I'm now getting up two or three times a night and never seem to really empty my bladder. The other thing that worries me is the expense of treatment in Thailand, it could be prohibitive if it involves surgery and long hospital recuperation.

Anyone had treatment/surgery for the prostate in Thailand?

[craigt3365]

Let's try this over in the health forum.

Topic Moved.

[Sheryl]

Quite a number of TV members have had treatment for prostate cancer in Thailand and even more have been treated for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). If you do a search in this forum for "prostate" you'll find a number of helpful threads and first hand reports. And, in the pinned section at the top of this forum, there are some urologist recommendations.

You are getting a bot ahead of yourself in worrying about surgery and possible after effects, though, as you do not yet know whether your condition is cancerous or benign, enlargement and an elevated PSA do not alone indicate that. You need to have a prostate biopsy which is not as bad as it sounds -- usually an outpatient procedure or day surgery, they withdraw a sample of tissue with a needle.

If it turns out your condition is benign then treatment is with medications and only rarely is surgery indicated.

if it is malignant then there are a number of option for treatment, some of which do not involve surgery e.g. radiation implants. The decision of which treatment is best is a complex one that a good urologist can walk you through if and when it is necessary.

For now, just get the biopsy ASAP and then take it from there.

[giddyup]

Quite a number of TV members have had treatment for prostate cancer in Thailand and even more have been treated for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). If you do a search in this forum for "prostate" you'll find a number of helpful threads and first hand reports. And, in the pinned section at the top of this forum, there are some urologist recommendations.

You are getting a bot ahead of yourself in worrying about surgery and possible after effects, though, as you do not yet know whether your condition is cancerous or benign, enlargement and an elevated PSA do not alone indicate that. You need to have a prostate biopsy which is not as bad as it sounds -- usually an outpatient procedure or day surgery, they withdraw a sample of tissue with a needle.

If it turns out your condition is benign then treatment is with medications and only rarely is surgery indicated.

if it is malignant then there are a number of option for treatment, some of which do not involve surgery e.g. radiation implants. The decision of which treatment is best is a complex one that a good urologist can walk you through if and when it is necessary.

For now, just get the biopsy ASAP and then take it from there.

Thanks for your response, however after doing considerable research it appears that even getting a biopsy has it's hazards. There are quite a few reports of persitent bleeding after a biopsy and there is a suggestion that the biopsy may in fact trigger a cancer. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[thaibeachlovers]

Quite a number of TV members have had treatment for prostate cancer in Thailand and even more have been treated for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). If you do a search in this forum for "prostate" you'll find a number of helpful threads and first hand reports. And, in the pinned section at the top of this forum, there are some urologist recommendations.

You are getting a bot ahead of yourself in worrying about surgery and possible after effects, though, as you do not yet know whether your condition is cancerous or benign, enlargement and an elevated PSA do not alone indicate that. You need to have a prostate biopsy which is not as bad as it sounds -- usually an outpatient procedure or day surgery, they withdraw a sample of tissue with a needle.

If it turns out your condition is benign then treatment is with medications and only rarely is surgery indicated.

if it is malignant then there are a number of option for treatment, some of which do not involve surgery e.g. radiation implants. The decision of which treatment is best is a complex one that a good urologist can walk you through if and when it is necessary.

For now, just get the biopsy ASAP and then take it from there.

Thanks for your response, however after doing considerable research it appears that even getting a biopsy has it's hazards. There are quite a few reports of persitent bleeding after a biopsy and there is a suggestion that the biopsy may in fact trigger a cancer. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

The only way to be sure of what you have is a biopsy. I had one, and apart from wondering what the pleasure of male/male sex is ( they stick a large probe up your anus- not pleasurable at all ) and a pinch everytime they take a specimen I had no problems, other than blood in my semen for a while. Only took a couple of hours all up and walked home.

I chose to wait 3 years after diagnosis of cancer cells, as not of the highest malignancy, and not "old enough" to go through the loss of everything that surgery entails. 5 years past now, and would have been dead for sure had I not had surgery.

If you want, PM me for details of post surgery complications.

There are new radiation treatments available now- much more focused and few side effects- I saw it on Fox News health extra. Looks good, and better than what I had.

The expense of the surgery is probably less than that of all the tests and the follow up ( unless completely uneventful- feel lucky )- probably best to have in your own country if done "free", on the state.

[Sheryl]

Thanks for your response, however after doing considerable research it appears that even getting a biopsy has it's hazards. There are quite a few reports of persitent bleeding after a biopsy and there is a suggestion that the biopsy may in fact trigger a cancer. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

There may be "quite a few" anecdotal reports of this but the actual incidence of such complications is rare. Unlike untreated BPH and prostate cancer .

With an enlarged prostate and elevated PSA, biopsy is by far safer than no biopsy and it is the only way to make informed treatment decisions.

Even if -- as is hopefully the case -- you have BPH and not cancer, it will only get worse untreated and can lead to serious kidney infections.

[ShodomonRules]

I can't put my finger on it, but for some reason I avoid such exams, preferring to allow fate to take its course.

[thaibeachlovers]

I can't put my finger on it, but for some reason I avoid such exams, preferring to allow fate to take its course.

In the case of prostate enlargement, you don't get the luxury of leaving it up to fate. Not being able to pee is a powerful reason to seek treatment. You could leave it, but the pain of urinary reflux up your ureters into your kidneys, will undoubtedly change your mind.

[ShodomonRules]

I can't put my finger on it, but for some reason I avoid such exams, preferring to allow fate to take its course.

In the case of prostate enlargement, you don't get the luxury of leaving it up to fate. Not being able to pee is a powerful reason to seek treatment. You could leave it, but the pain of urinary reflux up your ureters into your kidneys, will undoubtedly change your mind.

I have been told, time and time again, that my sense of humor is too subtle for some. My apologies.

[giddyup]

I can't put my finger on it, but for some reason I avoid such exams, preferring to allow fate to take its course.

In the case of prostate enlargement, you don't get the luxury of leaving it up to fate. Not being able to pee is a powerful reason to seek treatment. You could leave it, but the pain of urinary reflux up your ureters into your kidneys, will undoubtedly change your mind.

I have been told, time and time again, that my sense of humor is too subtle for some. My apologies.

Not subtle, just insensitive.

[23962323]

New procedure being trialled two hooks take the bladder away from the prostate,three and a half thousand pounds private and NHS UK,If you can hold on for a bit the price is sure to come down