Get your PSA levels checked!

[sc_rufctr]

[Bill Douglas]

Thanks Peter, good advice.

I got the other check done a week or two ago and the doctor did the finger test. He said your prostate is enlarged. I said I'd like a second opinion and he shoved two fingers up

[widgeon13]

Waiting for result now, PITA!

[recycled sixtie]

Yes prostate cancer is one of the silent killers(like high blood pressure). I lost my brother in law due prostate cancer that was not detected soon enough. Such a waste.....

Here in Alberta we are allowed one medical a year which includes blood work. In the UK I believe it is every five years on the National Health Care. A lot of sheet can happen to your body in five years.

[flatbutt]

my insurance allows only one colonoscopy every three years.

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

my insurance allows only one colonoscopy every three years.

Here I believe it is every five years unless you have previous issues.

Digital rectal examination for the prostate is cheap and easy so once a year for seniors is good.

I am not a med professional.

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

Here I believe it is every five years unless you have previous issues.

Digital rectal examination for the prostate is cheap and easy so once a year for seniors is good.

I am not a med professional.

But it’s Canada. Shouldn’t it be free?
I mean aren’t we being talked down to by Canadians constantly and told that socialized medicine is mo betta? Until of course it isn’t...

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by Alan A

But it’s Canada. Shouldn’t it be free?
I mean aren’t we being talked down to by Canadians constantly and told that socialized medicine is mo betta? Until of course it isn’t...

If you are looking for an argument you won't find one on this forum from me.

[RedBaron]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

my insurance allows only one colonoscopy every three years.

jeez, they really bend you over on that deal.

sorry, i had to say it.

[nvr2mny]

Yes, great advice. Any of you here on Testosterone and dealing with high PSA counts and enlarged prostrates? I’ve been doing the shots for about 5 years now and love the energy I get BUT now I’m dealing with an enlarged prostrate (and THOSE side effects), high PSA (5.4) where it was 2 three years ago and high blood pressure. Damn, I’m only 56. I’ve had the 12 snip biopsy and ALL samples were clear. Just had a colonoscopy and that too was clean, got a 10 reprieve from my next one. The thing is, I want to make my next one. I’m going off the T therapy and see what happens over the next 6-12 months. It’s great getting old(er), no REALLY it is! I’m SO thankful for the medical age we live in now.

[petrolhead611]

Over 65s in the UK can have a free health check annually. And free flu jabs.And free chest Xrays.

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by petrolhead611

Over 65s in the UK can have a free health check annually. And free flu jabs.And free chest Xrays.

Thanks for that petrol. I will have to tell my sister that as she said it was every five years. She is 78.

[wdfifteen]

Don't let a high PSA reading worry you, just get it checked out. My PSA began to get elevated 10 years ago (it was 5+ if I recall). Ten years and multiple biopsies later (no cancer found) my PSA is 9+. No more biopsies for me. The doc will do a DRE every year and send me for an MRI if he feels any lumps or weirdness. He told me PSA tests and biopsies aren't all that informative - a lot of money and inconvenience and they still miss too much.
I'm not going to miss the biopsies.

[RKDinOKC]

My brother put this site together after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Here ya go...paware.org

[rfuerst911sc]

My PSA started an uphill climb 3 years ago so had it checked out further . Turned out to be prostate cancer but was caught very early . I had radioactive seeds ( 80 of them ) implanted and then 7 weeks of 5 day a week follow up radiation . I now get PSA checked twice a year , to date all is good . If caught early it's no big deal . If ignored or caught late very big deal .

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

my insurance allows only one colonoscopy every three years.

I don't think I could manage one any more often than that.

[nvr2mny]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Don't let a high PSA reading worry you, just get it checked out. My PSA began to get elevated 10 years ago (it was 5+ if I recall). Ten years and multiple biopsies later (no cancer found) my PSA is 9+. No more biopsies for me. The doc will do a DRE every year and send me for an MRI if he feels any lumps or weirdness. He told me PSA tests and biopsies aren't all that informative - a lot of money and inconvenience and they still miss too much.
I'm not going to miss the biopsies.

Thanks for some add'l insight!

[SCadaddle]

At about age 62, my brother had a marginally bad PSA score, so as precautionary treatment, he had the radioactive "seed implant" done. He says hindsight is 20/20 and given the side effects of the treatment he would have rather put it off.

At about age 95 (Ninety Five), my Dad had his yearly physical and they did a PSA test on him. He scored a 24. So the family doctor that performed the PSA test as part of the physical sent him to the oncologist/urologist. He scored a 24 there as well. Perhaps it's a urinary tract infection. Run a round of antibiotics and come back to see me in a month. A month later he scored a 48. Hmmm. Come back and see me in another month. At that point he scored a 124 (One Hundred Twenty Four!). At age 95, it's too risky to try a biopsy. So lets try a round of "female hormone injections" and come back and see me in 3 months. PSA tested after that first 3 months and he scores a 12 (Twelve!). So they give him another round of injections and wait 3 months. That got him to a 6 (Six!). However, now that he had the injections, he is completely incontinent and the side effect was the loss of a lot of his muscle mass.

At nearly age 98, he had the PSA tested once again. He's back up around 124. He was given the choice of either A) treat it again with the injections and lose what little muscle mass he has to be able to get out of the bed and into his wheelchair etc. but be able to lay up in the bed all day with a great PSA number, or B) leave it go, wait for the congestive heart failure OR the stage 4 melanomas we routinely cut off the side of his neck/head behind his ear every 4 months that they pop up to do him in, and live life to the fullest. He says that's a no brainer. I choose plan B.

I'm certainly no Doctor, but the moral of MY story is you better read up on how wise it is to freak out over a PSA test when you are older than 65, and at least in my Dads case, it wasn't a cause for imminent death! He's still managing at age 98.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

Lots of ways to chase your tail...They do not mind charging you for it either.
It is like the test the dental hygienist performs-
She was stabbing my Gumbs and taking the readings .I asked:"when all done what will you do?"
She said "nothing just monitor them.."

She's checking to see if your gums are receding. Odd that she would tell you that. If they are receding you may need periodontic surgery to keep your teeth.

[widgeon13]

I had an elevated PSA of 5.0 six months ago. They did a preliminary test using blood that supposed determines the risk for aggressive vs non aggressive PC. Mine came back 76% negative for agressive but they still wanted to do a prostate biopsy so had that done in Aug. That also came back negative. Then the doctor recommends what they call an MDX test with somehow uses DNA to determine if any potential for PC around the spots where they took the boipsy samples. Once again that came back negative as well. So 6 months pass and they want another appointment and PSA. I went in last Wed and gave blood for the PSA. The normally post result in 24 hours. Unfortuntately, the nurse forgot to post the results so I had to call this AM and rattle the cage some. Turns out the current PSA has not changed, still 5. But it pisses me off that I had to wait and then if I had not called would have waited longer not knowing crap and being somewhat worried.

I'll have to give that nurse a good kick in the ass whn I see her this Friday.