PSA test and prostate cancer

[NWYENKO]

Knowing that there are a lot of baby boomers on this site, I want to suggest that you guys get a regular PSA test even though it it poo-pooed by a lot of physicians. Mine went from 3 to 7 to 9 over 6 months in the summer of 2012. Had biopsies in the fall, had radical prostectomy in January '13. Informed by the doctor that cancer had broken out of capsule. PSA started to climb in the summer of '14, completed 38 sessions of radiation therapy last October. Also going through hormone treatments every 4 months for 2 years. Side effects are not much fun but hopefully worthwhile. Get that checkup. Jim

[Xplantdad]

That's on my list of things to do this year...thanks for reminder Jim <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif


Hope you are on your way to complete recovery!

[RST]

Great advise, I just had about of prostatitis, my PSA went from 1.5 to 33 .......... WTH. Doctor did test, I had a serious bacterial infection, thank goodness. I will now be getting PSA tested every 6 months for the rest of my life.

Don't take chances.

[BJCHEV396]

Have the old prostate manually checked by your doctor also.

[markinnaples]

I had my PSA tested by a new (to me) urologist and he mine was a little elevated, so they did surgery to test my prostate, and it all came out negative. Went back later to have my PSA tested again after and they said it was elevated again, but it wasn't that long after I had the initial surgery so the physician's assistant asked why they tested it again so soon after the surgery as it surely was still irritated from the surgery. Anyway, long story short, I left that practice and went to another doctor who tested my PSA and found it OK a couple months later and now I get it checked annually. Moral of the story is that you shouldn't always rely on one doc's opinion and getting another opinion is usually a good idea. Also, don't be afraid to speak up if something doesn't seem to make sense or isn't logical. This is your life and no one will care for it as much as you will.

[BJCHEV396]

Amen to that!

[Tommy]

Dads PSA is 182 as of this week. Yes, 182.... Things aren't good. Prostate, Liver and recently metastasized to the bones. He was on the lake Bass Fishing yesterday though.


Tommy

[al8apex]

ugh, been there done that

my father passed from prostate cancer in 1997 (after an 11 year battle - DO NOT go with the radon implants) so I knew that it was important to be tested annually

mine was slowly elevating over the years but nothing to be concerned about until the year after my wife died from breast cancer, now up to 6.9 (from 6.7) and my GP suggested I pick a urologist and referred one. hmmm, his was on vacation and the next appt was in 3 weeks ...

got a referral from my neighbor that HAS prostate cancer (low grade) and then researched him through two others (way excellent doc)
My &quot;node&quot; was virtually undetectable through the manual test but was finally found the 2nd time around.

Because of A. my psa number and B. my family history Dr. Gburek felt it was best to do a biopsy. Long story short, we found it very early and it was an &quot;aggressive&quot; version, I had 6 of the 12 samples positive, from 4-8 Gleason Scores (the scale is from 2-10, 10 being worst/most aggressive). OK, let's go over any options, but there really wasn't any with an aggressive version, so out it comes. I did the daVinci version of the Radical Prostatectomy surgery October 26th, 2012.

I was lucky, we caught it very early on and the surgery was a success, no radiation or chemo necessary. I am cancer-free 1 1/2 years after the surgery still. I will have another check up in another 6 months then after that (2 years after surgery), he feels I can be tested yearly just to be sure.

I want to STRESS that you get a GOOD urologist that understands how hideous this cancer can be. My urologist ordered ct scans AND an MRI - he was very pro active PRIOR to any surgery to make SURE there was no other cancer / metastasis.

I mention that because I went to a prostate cancer survivors meeting (they hold them monthly at the Mayo Hospital on 56th Street) and heard about one person's story: His GP was concerned because his PSA went to 2.9 from 2.7. He had a biopsy, it was positive and he had an aggressive Gleason number (8 or 9 I recall). His urologist had him get a followup psa test a week after his daVinci Radical Prostatectomy and it was 12.9. &quot;Not possible his doc says, have them do it again&quot;. 13 this time. His doc tells him to go to another lab, they were &quot;clearly&quot; messing up his PSA test. New lab is 13.1. NOW (what? why not get these tests BEFORE?) his doc ordered the ct scan / mri tests. Bad news, his bones are full, plus elsewhere - his prostate cancer had metastasized BEFORE his prostate was removed, so he had an unnecessary surgery ...

[KevinW]

Yes, I have been there too. First I want to say Prostate cancer saved my life! My father passed from Prostate cancer, he waited until it was too late to see a doctor, by then it has escaped and the treatments were always one step behind the cancer. not a good way to go at all! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif So with my family history, I started PSA tests at 45, by 47 it had jumped 4 points in 6 months. In hindsight, my Father had his cancer at 47 also, died by 65. I really had no other choice but surgery as it was detected earlier. Going through pre-op tests, they found kidney cancer. The kidney was more dangerous than the Prostate, so it came out first, heal, then the prostate came out, both back in 2005. Been clean for 10 years now. But if I did not have Prostate cancer, the kidney cancer would have grown undetected and metastasized very quickly (tumor near the main artery) and killed me. There are no tests for kidney cancer until it is large enough to see on an expensive MRI test. By then it is almost too late. Side note, while I was going through this, I urged all my buddies to get tested. One guy did not and had prostate cancer, caught much later RIP <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif

[NWYENKO]

Side note. I believe there has now been a link between Agent Orange and prostrate cancer as there is Parkinsonsons Disease. A marine friend of mine went on partial VA disability after his cancer.

[earntaz]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: NWYENKO</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Side note. I believe there has now been a link between Agent Orange and prostrate cancer as there is Parkinsonsons Disease. A marine friend of mine went on partial VA disability after his cancer.</div></div>

YES!!!

[737Driver]

As a commercial pilot, I have mine 'physically' checked every six months. Once per year, I get a PSA included in a CBC. Every five years, my proctologist checks my prostate after my colinoscopy, while I'm still out.

Great advice...can't be too careful.

[Canuck]

Good to bring this up. Its a touchy subject with most guys,but its essential. Keep the dialoge going and it creates awareness. Mine has been steady low for 14 years, No family history but get the checkup done annually.
A few years ago a Concours show I was judging at, was doing a fundraiser for the local Urology Unit at Vancouver General Hospital. The Head guy is Dr. Larry Goldberg, who is a very funny at a public speaking event, was there to address and thank the show committee.
Larry admitted to me he knew nothing about cars, and wanted some references that car guys could relate to in repect to Prostate cancer. I told him how most car guys will use one of their digits to check out various components of their cars, Larry took that info and had the group in tears laughing at the similarities between his practice and us taking care of our cars.

Paul

[hiperf406]

I just went to see my Dr &amp; my PSA was 0, I had my prostrate removed 11/2 years ago. I was on pills for high PSA, it was good for several year but suddenly started to increase significantly. Mr Dr sent me for a biopsy &amp; 11 of 12 had cancer cells. I decided best for me was surgery so I had it done &amp; now my PSA is 0. I strongly recommend everyone get it done yearly, if caught early chances of recovery are very good.

lorne

[RST]

This thread proves what a great site this is and a great community of people we have here. Yes this is a touchy subject, especially when you have to personally deal with it, I commend everyone who is sharing!

[black69]

I got to review my numbers, thanks for the reminder. I just survived bladder cancer by detecting one drop of red pee. One drop is all it takes for a wake up call. I went in, and got a great urologist, and caught the earliest stages of bladder cancer my doctor as ever seen. Fortunately it was low grade and not the high grade invasive, a couple of outpatient surgery visits. Most just get antibiotics from the local doctor, symtoms go away for 6 months, and bam, 6 months later you are in a different boat.

I think the best thing about this thread is don't take your health for granted. I too know enough folks that are now gone, because they didn't read the signs right, or never got a check up.

[markinnaples]

black69, glad to hear that your bladder cancer ordeal has worked out.

I went through something similar a few years ago when I had my prostate surgery and the doc checked my bladder and found a tiny polyp and removed it. It was so small that the lab tech couldn't even do full testing on it, but he was sure it was cancer. Anyway, I just didn't have confidence in that doctor and decided to find another and this new one checks me out annually and so far, no mas, thank God.

I also did some of my own research after that situation regarding cancer, and bladder cancer specifically, and found that many, many times people have these types of stagnant cancer cells in their body for their entire lives and they are never negatively affected by them. And, the research stated further the stress of someone finding out they have some, any, form of cancer has far more negative affects than the cancer ever will. Always, always do your research and get multiple opinions. Doctors are wonderful most of the time, but they're still just fallible men.

[KevinW]

To continue the levity, one of the Dr's in my Urology group was name Dr Fingerman! very apt profession!

[markinnaples]

A friend went to have his checked, and when the doctor asked him if it was going to bother him when insertion occurred, he responded, &quot;Only if I feel both of your hands on my shoulders...&quot; The doctor had to take a minute to regroup.

[whitetop]

Been going to the same family doc for 25 years..4 years ago at my age 49 physical Dr J told me was was going to do the digital exam the next year/next physical-whatever came first.

In the meantime age 52 rolled around and had to get a physical and Dr J recently sold his practice to a cutie pie young(er) gal doctor who did my physical and yep she did the berry check and digital. Dr J observed-stayed in the room the whole time as custom when the doc is a different sex of the patient and he wanted to see her physician skills.

My wife just laughed..she has gone to Dr J for years for her physical so she told me how she felt.

[black69]

If I can be a preacher one time, stay the heck away from aspartane and sacarin. They are nasty sugar substitutes, almost in everything (mouthwash, baby aspirin, toothpaste, diet soda,). Companies are quietly taking it out of stuff now. I did enough research based on my bladder cancer bout, and convinced myself that is part of my problem. A 5x dose of what we are allowed, proportionately given to mice, causes bladder cancer. I never drank enough water, thus never diluting what the bladder wall sees, when I injested this crap that seems to be everywhere in all our foods (even some ketchup). So I fixed that, and drink water like a fish now. I read all the labels on what enters my body now.

My personal doctor's sister died from drinking Tab (loaded with the stuff). My wife's aunts sister just died last year of something similar.

Done preachin...stay away from this stuff, and live longer. We are all predisposed to cancer, and have cancer cells lurking, it just takes something to trigger them.

[NWYENKO]

Hey Charley, Ya listening you old fart? <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/CharleySucks.gif

['69Novajoe]

<span style="color: #CC0000">Very important topic here. There is a car show in So Cal devoted to prostate cancer awareness. I went to the very first one with my neighbor. They have a mobile testing unit available to anyone that wants to get tested....for free!! My neighbor (and I) took advantage of it and he ended up finding out he had prostate cancer!! They caught it early and he had the &quot;seeds&quot; implanted. That was 16 years ago and he's doing fine.....except for the hip surgery he's scheduled for next month!! By the way, that car show is called &quot;Cruisin' For A Cure&quot; and it's billed as the largest one day charity and save your life car show in the country!!. On a much sadder note, another friend found out too late that he had prostate cancer and it took his life a couple years ago. I ended up taking his wife to the car show last year and she was amazed at the number of people there and the reason for it in the first place. She is definitely an advocate for awareness!! It will now be an annual event for her.</span>

[kwhizz]

A couple things.......I went thru this 3.5 years ago........My Doctor gave me my options......I had a friend that had the seed option and it spread anyway and he is no longer here........so....I chose to have it removed by Robotic Surgery.......Piece of Cake....The most difficult and painful part was when the Doctor pulled the Catheter out after a week......Yowsa!!!In my situation it worked out very well.......everything is pretty much back to normal.....Like Joe said........The elevated PSA was found thru a random Blood test.........
On another note.....some years ago we built the machine that filled and capped the seeds......The dosage at the time was controlled by the length of the &quot;Seed&quot;.......anywhere from .090 to .140 in length.........the body was .030 diameter .003 wall Titanium tubing and after filling with the radiation medium ....the ends were capped off with some caps that would resemble smooth pop bottle caps......again .003 wall Titanium..........the seeds are inserted thru a special tool that resembles a needle......That way they were able to get the Radiation exactly where it was needed............Some of this Medical stuff is interesting......