HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Bulbourethral gland (Cowpers Gland)

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/31/2017 2:55 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Everyone.

A question... are the Cowper's glands typically left in place after RALP?

My PSA was elevated from <.02 to .02 and the week prior to the week after my urethra was horrible inflamed. Not just burning during urination but sore/irritated to touch along the entirety (or reachable entirety... : )

Could inflammation of the urethra account for this uptick in PSA?

thanks and best wishes.
Posted 8/31/2017 3:39 PM (GMT -5)
Hogo, I red (here, in another thread), that the urethra can give off minute amounts of PSA, if that's true, is guess if it's inflamed it would be more prone to do so.
I think the cowpeas is left behind after surgery, they don't take it out.

FWIW, I was <.02 till the 2 year mark, then I was .02. 5bmonths later I was .033 but at a different lab. My next test, 3 months later, remained at .033. So not concerning at the moment. I know it's easy for me to say, and I should be the last person to say it, but keep cool, there is no reason for concern just yet. It could be an error if input, where the human that did the data input, left out the< sign. Or it could be machine calibration, or just margin of error.

I saw one of the premier Radiation Oncologists on my own, when I first hit .033, and even at .033 his words to me were "possible recurrence, I wouldn't go so far as to say probable at this point. There is no clear trend"

So try to chill out till your next test.
Posted 9/1/2017 6:57 AM (GMT -5)
I think anything is possible when it comes to small changes in uPSA. Don't sweat it. My PSA has begun climbing 4 years post-treatment after having been on TRT for 11 months but it also seems to have accelerated when I began an intensive exercise program. One thing not on the radar yet is aspirin therapy as a preventative treatment regimen and it also reduces inflammation. I am taking 2 baby aspirin a day. I wish they made a wrist band with continuous PSA monitoring so we wouldn't so anxiously await our next uPSA testsmile
Posted 9/1/2017 2:16 PM (GMT -5)
Yes, Bulbourethral gland (Cowper's gland) is left untouched in RALP surgery.

The Bulbourethral gland produces Cowper's fluid, which most guys call precum. Some guys (me included) find a significant increase in their production of precum after surgery. See here for more info: www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=3647381.

-Gedman
Posted 9/1/2017 2:20 PM (GMT -5)
I saw my surgeon today, asked him the question, where is my PSA coming if not from cancer cells, if I have no prostate. He told me male breasts produce some PSA,as does the cowpeas gland. So to the OP, I think that answers your question.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply