Thank you Kite - for sharing your experience. You are incredibly brave. Your account also corrected some assumptions that I had - like I thought the needle biopsies go up the rectum, for example.
I am 57. At 53 I noticed my semen went suddenly from normal to just a few drops. Though my sex life had been tailing off anyway (once every month at most and no masturbation) I thought maybe this was the reason. Then a few months later I noticed some blood in the condom - not much - but still - a bit scary. It did clear but I went to the doctor and he said blood in semen is not that unusual - but only a problem if there are other symptoms. As for lack of semen - he said in middle aged men thats not uncommon either. He did not do a digital exam but sent me for a psa test - it came back normal.
My urine flow is just fine though it is a bit slower at night. However - because I know this is one of the main symptoms I am always watching for it - I can produce a flow that lands one metre in front of me when I have a full tank so if I see that change I will be going direct to the doctor. But I am planning a psa test shortly anyway as a precaution. I dropped all dairy products recently as I read that dairy can increase your risks of prostate problems, I have dropped red meat - I eat a good variety of fruit and veg and I also have diluted raw apple cider vinegar every day plus maintain a good BMI and try to keep fit. I feel I am doing everything I reasonably can to avoid prostate problems but appreciate it could still happen. There is no history on either side of my family though a scottish uncle did die of bladder cancer at 75 - though he drank heavily - maybe a connection.
I am sorry that you have had to go through this and once again thank you for your very detailed and helpful account. I really hope that you come through all your treatment successfully and live a long time.