Like most guy's I never went to the doctor for anything nor did I have routine physicals. Last year at the age of 56 I had a scare (blood in urine) immediately went to a Urologist. Luckily it turned out to be an infection that was treated with medication. I had a Cat-scan/MRI, Cystoscopy and Colonoscopy. All results came back okay. Because of this scare I am now on a yearly checkup plan. I think what scared me the most was the thought of not seeing my 4 Grandchildren grow up. I want to be around to enjoy them! I just want to stress the importance of what these guy's are saying
and,

IF YOU EVER SEE BLOOD IN YOUR URINE SEE A DOCTOR ASAP! DO NOT IGNORE IT EVEN IF THE BLOOD EVENTUALLY GOES AWAY!

I get blood work every 6 months and my PSA is still nice and low(1.9) even though my Dad had prostate cancer and just had a Colonoscopy last month too.. Necessary evils of getting old :(

Its been 12 years since my Cancer surgery, was diagnosed in my 40s. Was having my PSA checked since early 40s due to my Father passing from it. The Da Vinci was just getting started then and was not readily available. But Dr who did the normal surgery said when he was in there there were complications that the robot would have had trouble with.

But the good news is Prostate cancer saved my life! While going through pre-op screenings, the found I had kidney cancer too! So a sudden switch of gears, I had the kidney out 1st since it's chance of metastasizing was greater then the prostate, 2 month recovery, then the Prostate surgery.

The recovery of the kidney op was more painful then the prostate, but the 2nd surgery was a longer recovery due to the catheter and bladder healing and retraining :(

But all better now!

Good luck to all you gents that have gone through it and are going to go through it.

I'm a Stage 4 throat cancer survivor. 53 years old when it happened to me back in 2011. Four days before this past Christmas my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, found it through a routine mammogram.
Seems like every family has had their trial with cancer these days. People our age need to go to the Dr. every year for a physical and listen to their Dr.'s advice. Don't think for a minute it's not going to happen to you---- you could be dead wrong.
Shalom

You spelled her name right...and she's doing great. Sorry to hear about your son in law. Please keep in touch!

Lynn, thanks for the great prep talk and glad things turned out the way they did. I for one will be making an appointment.

I received news that my sister-in-law passed away early this morning from cancer. She was healthy a year ago and was just here in July. A week ago she took a nose dive and now she is gone. Get checked routinely people. Add me to the list.

I also recently went for a yearly check up my PSA is usually under 3 it was over 5. The doctor gave me some antibiotics said maybe I have a infection and said lets do another test in a month. The next month when I had the test done it was 6 so it was recommended to go see a urologist. The urologist gave me a choice of a byopsis or wait 2 month and redo the test, I waited 2 month it was 6.5 so I had a biopsy done and it came back negative. They had me worried but I guess a slight rise in PSA doesnt always mean u have cancer

Wow, Lynn, glad you are feeling better.

Man. Glad you guys are alright.

I'm 55 and the last physical I got was in 1989 to get on the Atlanta Fire Department.

Looks like I might be due...

Sorry for your loss Rick. I go annually and get my PSA as well as a full general check up. Going for my colonoscopy next week. I'm 51 and just trying to stay alive to watch my 7 yo grow up. Worth your time and effort to get checked annually.