Prostates and PSA tests
Jasper - 21/5/09 at 01:34 PM
Just following on from another thread on here.
Any chap on here over the age of 50 (or 40 if there's any family history) should be getting a regular (1-2 years) PSA tests for prostate cancer.
My local GP wouldn't do it for me - I'm 41, so I just paid £30 to a local clinic and they did the blood test. I'll now get it done
every other year to 50, then yearly after that.
It's really worth doing, my dad had regular PSA tests and they caught his prostate cancer really early about 4 years ago and treated it with
radioactive implanted beads. He's complete fine now - though he can't have pregant ladies sitting on his lap any more 
- though two of his
mate got checked for the first time when he was diagnosed and they're in much more trouble with it.
Do it guys, it's only a blood test - no fingers up the arse......
Mr Whippy - 21/5/09 at 01:42 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Jasper
Do it guys, it's only a blood test - no fingers up the arse......
I'm sure thats what they all say....
"oops I've dropped my pen, could you pick it up?"
balidey - 21/5/09 at 01:51 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Jasper
Do it guys, it's only a blood test - no fingers up the arse......
Not worth going then if there's no sexy nurse to do the old in out
Reminds me of this.....
Doctor was carrying out a rectal examination....
Doctor: Any discomfort?
Patient: Yes, right at the entrance.
Doctor: Actually sir, we prefer to call that the exit
iank - 21/5/09 at 01:51 PM
Couldn't agree more. My family member got his done as part of a trial and they picked up his cancer really early - if it's caught before
it's showing symptoms you have a massively higher chance of getting it sorted with a lot less intervention.
Surgery seems to have sorted him out btw.
On a more personal note - all the gentlemen should be giving their veg a good check over every week (or ask a very good friend to check for you
) Any lumps and straight to the doctor (the NHS really works very well in that situation). Don't leave it and hope it'll sort itself out
- I met the guys who'd done that on the ward and they had 10 cycles of chemo rather than the 4 I had (would have been 3 but I didn't get on
with one of the drugs). I felt like the 4th was going to kill me, no idea how bad they must have felt.
Ladies - I'm sure you're all very sensible and doing the right thing already 
BenB - 21/5/09 at 02:03 PM
PSA can be useful but you can get false negatives which makes it less useful as a screening test (you also get quite a few false +Ves but that's
less of a problem). When choosing a screening test you normally want a test which will pick up on all people with the condition even if you also get a
few false positives (ie people who don't but the test suggests they do). The false negatives are one reason why at the moment there isn't a
PSA screening scheme nationally.
Total PSA on it's own isn't so useful. If it's combined with a "free PSA" (as in not bound to proteins in the blood not
£££!!!) then it's more useful.
So although having total PSA + free PSA is useful it shouldn't replace common sense and if the water works seize up or you start peeing blood
it's time to see the dr.....
Definately agree re checking out the nuts... that's a free, quick and simple screening test which nobody does!!!!
40inches - 21/5/09 at 02:36 PM
Yea, a lot of false positives possible, but if a family member has had Prostate cancer, get it done.
I did 2 years ago because my father died from it, had a biopsy in January after 18 months of treatment and got the all clear, follow up biopsy last
Monday, get results next week, but it's looking good.
The point is, if my father hadn't had it I would not have bothered with the PSA, and dread to think where I would be now otherwise 
mistergrumpy - 21/5/09 at 03:06 PM
quote:
all the gentlemen should be giving their veg a good check over every week
Every week? Umm, I bet most men check them every 15 minutes! Seriously though, it's something I keep an eye on after knackering one up from too
much cycling. Put me out of any running or cycling for 2 years that did
Peteff - 21/5/09 at 03:33 PM
The consultant I saw about my bladder cancer used the finger method, he used lots of lubrication and did wipe for me after though Go see your GP if
it seizes up or peeing blood which happened to me but also if you find you are having to go more often or more urgently. It can be a simple infection
but in my case it wasn't and a cystoscopy showed cancerous growths which have now been removed twice and I am in for Chemotherapy soon.
A friend I was at school and work with died of prostate cancer two months ago after a year of treatment
russbost - 21/5/09 at 04:48 PM
"Definately agree re checking out the nuts... that's a free, quick and simple screening test which nobody does!!!!"
Aww! C'mon, what's the first thing every bloke does when he gets up in the morning!!!
iank - 21/5/09 at 04:51 PM
quote:
Originally posted by russbost
Aww! C'mon, what's the first thing every bloke does when he gets up in the morning!!!
Yawn and fart?
A quick hand shandy doesn't really find anything. 
Dick Axtell - 21/5/09 at 05:14 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Jasper
Do it guys, it's only a blood test - no fingers up the arse......
Nooo, .......that comes a bit later!!!!!!!!
Been there, done that, had the op. But not before there were more b****y gadgets stuffed up my a**e than Julian Clary ever had!!!
Nonetheless, it was all very worthwhile, 'cos I've been signed off, discharged (after 10 years post-op). All thanks to my then new, young
and enthusiastic GP, who just happened to have a med school buddy, who was No.2 on the C/R surgical team at our local hospital. Quick conflab with
said buddy, 2 weeks later, up at hospital being examined, 'scoped and biopsies taken.
One small downside; the consultant had junior doctor with him. Very attractive blonde lady, who requested to examine me, whilst pulling on the latex
gloves!!!
And I said yes, (but a little voice in my mind muttered "....and you thought the day couldn't get any worse????" )
In spite of all this, I can only agree with Jasper. Get yerself PSA checked. Discussed with my GP, who said despite all press coverage suggesting test
shortcomings, The PSA was still the best available check for blokes heading for late middle age.
As I said, notwithstanding all the various rear end probing, the end result (no pun intended) - I'm still here. Many others haven't been so
fortunate.
P.S. C/R = colo-rectal.
[Edited on 21/5/09 by Dick Axtell]