Prostate problems and the CF

[Armymedic]

Szcep,
Every male eventually develops some degree of prostate cancer, as you also noted.

So no....it is unlikely to be attributed to related military service.

 

[Humphrey Bogart]

I wander how many CF members have issues with prostate? I had the nasty type: prostate cancer and had to be removed.  There were couple of CF personel going to the urologist from our base for the same thing. I believe medical world had done some studies re: cancer in CF but i have not seen anything published about it.
Regular mantra is: comes with age and nobody knows why.  Has anybody been sucessful in puting a claim with VAC? on what grounds?
I know of one firefighter from Comox who done it and did win (after taking a layer)- based on exposure to chemicals in his trade. I found it on internet.
Any other winners with VAC with this condition?
Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I am sure more then you think.  The thing about prostate problems is most men are embarrassed by it and don't want to talk about it with other people so they suffer in silence.  This can lead to a whole host of problems such as depression, anxiety, relationship problems, etc...

I am 26 and have suffered from Chronic Prostatitis for almost two years.  It is the worst feeling in the world and their are some days where I don't even feel like going to work.  I have gotten to the point now where I am learning to control my symptoms but it is a hard go.  When it first happened I was very depressed as you literally feel like shit all the time and always are in a state of general malaise.  The two worst things for me are alcohol and caffeine and they immediately set me off  and my prostate goes haywire.  This is discouraging because two things I used to love: coffee and beer are now off limits for me... I still manage to slip up sometimes and drink a little booze but I try now to stay away for the most part.

I have been to see multiple GP's but so far nobody has found anything that cure's me.  I have been on Bactrim and am now on Cipro but so far it has not done anything to relieve my symptoms.  The doctor is going to send me to a specialist if it doesn't improve with this treatment he is trying.  I personally feel my symptoms are muscular and nerve related.  Most of the relief I get comes from vigorous exercise which I do a lot of.  In that regard it is good because my constantly inflammed prostate pushes me harder in the gym because it is the only time I feel 100% and I am in top physical shape because of it. 

So far it has not affected my job as an Infantry Officer but it is a shitty condition and I don't wish it upon anyone, mostly because I think the psychological symptoms you have are just as bad as the physical symptoms.  I don't talk very often about this with anyone other then my doctor but in case their are others out there that suffer from prostate problems just know that you are not alone!  If anything this has made me take a hard look at myself and get rid of some of my old bad habits (hard partying, drinking) and realize that this isn't the end of the world and their are worse things that could happen to me.

 

[GAP]

:goodpost:

 

[Humphrey Bogart]

On another note, the military medical system, from my personal experience is not that great at dealing with more complex health problems; such as the one which has afflicted me over the past number of years.  The sick parade/cattle herding system ensures that people with more serious medical problems are sometimes brushed over.  This is not entirely the systems fault as the system, especially at the major bases, is heavily overburdened.  I can't even begin to count over the past two years how many tests I have had done (urinalysis, PSA, MRI) and not once has the base hospital properly followed up with me.  Any follow up has been purely on my own accord and if I was not proactive with my own health I would quickly be passed over. 

Just getting a follow up with the same doctor is a challenge at times, I am now seeing the same doctor regularly but this was only after I sent an email on the DWAN to this Doctor that I did not want to see another Doctor as this would require me to begin at zero again the same old crap, telling my story over and over again.  The worst part was that I was being given the run-around by the receptionists and the other staff, it was only once I emailed the Doctor directly and circumvented the usual CoC that I got the proper care.  If it was this daunting for me I can only imagine how much trouble it is for the junior soldiers at my unit who don't have the advantage of rank on their side.

If this sounded like a ***** session, sorry that was not my intent, I want to tell people that your health is your OWN RESPONSIBILITY, I learned that the hard way by being too passive at first and simply falling in with the rest of the herd and now nearly two years later I am finally going to see a specialist.  Do whatever you need to do to keep yourself in fighting shape, even if that means pissing someone off because you didn't follow protocol because at the end of the day it is your life and you only get one.

 

[Teager]

On another note, the military medical system, from my personal experience is not that great at dealing with more complex health problems; such as the one which has afflicted me over the past number of years.  The sick parade/cattle herding system ensures that people with more serious medical problems are sometimes brushed over.  This is not entirely the systems fault as the system, especially at the major bases, is heavily overburdened.  I can't even begin to count over the past two years how many tests I have had done (urinalysis, PSA, MRI) and not once has the base hospital properly followed up with me.  Any follow up has been purely on my own accord and if I was not proactive with my own health I would quickly be passed over. 

Just getting a follow up with the same doctor is a challenge at times, I am now seeing the same doctor regularly but this was only after I sent an email on the DWAN to this Doctor that I did not want to see another Doctor as this would require me to begin at zero again the same old crap, telling my story over and over again.  The worst part was that I was being given the run-around by the receptionists and the other staff, it was only once I emailed the Doctor directly and circumvented the usual CoC that I got the proper care.  If it was this daunting for me I can only imagine how much trouble it is for the junior soldiers at my unit who don't have the advantage of rank on their side.

If this sounded like a ***** session, sorry that was not my intent, I want to tell people that your health is your OWN RESPONSIBILITY, I learned that the hard way by being too passive at first and simply falling in with the rest of the herd and now nearly two years later I am finally going to see a specialist.  Do whatever you need to do to keep yourself in fighting shape, even if that means pissing someone off because you didn't follow protocol because at the end of the day it is your life and you only get one.

The part in yellow is very important for people. Members need to know when it is ok to break protocol and when it has to do with your life I feel that it is ok. Any member who has gone through the release process or put a VAC claim in has probably had to piss people off in order to make sure there health and future life is taken care of.

All the best to you RoyalDrew and keep up the good fight.