Prostate - dont be shy !!
Discussion
Hope Ted doesnt mind, but due to a recent detection in my Dad, and as most PH are male, please make sure you get your prostate checked out. There. said it. 
Ask and insist on a PSA test (blood test)as well. My dads prostate at 60 felt fine (so im told) but he had a PSA test which was showed a positive result. Luckly They appear to have caught it in time and he is having treatment now. they beleive he had it from about 57 to 58
But as male medical issues are hardly published by the gov I would urge you to swallow your pride and have a check up and PSA test.
As I understand from the doc 60 is young for prostate cancer but apparantly most males will have prostate cancer to a larger or smaller extent by the time your 80 but you are likely to have other more urgent medical issues.
I have started regular checks from 33, and the PSA test is easy and more accuraate then the other thing.
difficult topic to talk about but hey they you go.
>>> Edited by superlightr on Wednesday 12th February 19:47
Ask and insist on a PSA test (blood test)as well. My dads prostate at 60 felt fine (so im told) but he had a PSA test which was showed a positive result. Luckly They appear to have caught it in time and he is having treatment now. they beleive he had it from about 57 to 58
But as male medical issues are hardly published by the gov I would urge you to swallow your pride and have a check up and PSA test.
As I understand from the doc 60 is young for prostate cancer but apparantly most males will have prostate cancer to a larger or smaller extent by the time your 80 but you are likely to have other more urgent medical issues.
I have started regular checks from 33, and the PSA test is easy and more accuraate then the other thing.
difficult topic to talk about but hey they you go.
>>> Edited by superlightr on Wednesday 12th February 19:47
Good call.
My expeditions support The Orchid Cancer Appeal - www.orchid-cancer.org.uk - the UK's first male cancer charity.
There's some useful info/advice on the "cancer awareness" section of their site.
My expeditions support The Orchid Cancer Appeal - www.orchid-cancer.org.uk - the UK's first male cancer charity.
There's some useful info/advice on the "cancer awareness" section of their site.
im trying to eat my lunch. couldnt you post this at another time Excuse my ignorance and blunt speaking this is in no way meant to be humourous just honest.
Whats involved or what is a PSA test ? Is it a straight forward blood test or does actually involve any looking or feeling up your arse, as I assume this is the preffered route to the prostate.
Whats involved or what is a PSA test ? Is it a straight forward blood test or does actually involve any looking or feeling up your arse, as I assume this is the preffered route to the prostate.
PSA ia a simple blood test to assess the amount of a protein that is specifically released into the blood by the prostate. Low levels are normal, slightly higher levels may indicate a benign (non-cancerous) condition and moderate to higher levels may indicate a prostate cancer. Alone it does not give a definitive conclusion. It is used as a preliminary screen and usually combined with a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) where the doc uses a gloved finger to feel the surface of the prostate for lumps and bumps. The final part of diagnosis would involve a biopsy of any suspicious areas.
Hutch
>> Edited by hut49 on Wednesday 12th February 14:06
Hutch
>> Edited by hut49 on Wednesday 12th February 14:06
mel said: Excuse my ignorance and blunt speaking this is in no way meant to be humourous just honest.
Whats involved or what is a PSA test ? Is it a straight forward blood test or does actually involve any looking or feeling up your arse, as I assume this is the preffered route to the prostate.
Prostate Serum Antigens, it shows up in the blood test and a low rate is good BUT NOT 100%, (just had a bloody awful XMAS waiting for results after a biopsy...all OK thank God.)
Get one done (PSA test that is!)! I lost a very good friend who died sloooowly in serious pain because it wasn't caught on time.........
JMGS4 said:
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Prostate Serum Antigens, it shows up in the blood test and a low rate is good BUT NOT 100%, (just had a bloody awful XMAS waiting for results after a biopsy...all OK thank God.)
Hey JMGS4.... congratulaions.
snap for my dad but unfortunalty positive. but very very early stage so hopefully promising outcome.
superlightr said:
Hey JMGS4.... congratulaions.
snap for my dad but unfortunalty positive. but very very early stage so hopefully promising outcome.
Thanks for the wishes it was a really shitty xmas, but a great relief when all was OKd. Talk about a second lease on life!!!
Hope your Dad gets it all caught in time, and the relatively minor (hopefully) op will cure all. As I said my mate took a very long and painful time to die just because the test wasn't done on time
>> Edited by JMGS4 on Wednesday 12th February 14:19
hut49 said: PSA ia a simple blood test to assess the amount of a protein that is specifically released into the blood by the prostate. It is used as a preliminary screen and usually combined with a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) where the doc uses a gloved finger to feel the surface of the prostate for lumps and bumps.
Phew, thought Digital Rectal Exam involved a computer for a second. Mind boggled.
Having read this I rang my local surgery saying could I come in and have a PSA test, and the receptionist said sure thing ( or words to that effect, like it happens all the time)and booked me in.
Feeling a bit strange about it now, as I have often wondered whether, if it was to turn out that I had cancer, would I really want to know?
John
Feeling a bit strange about it now, as I have often wondered whether, if it was to turn out that I had cancer, would I really want to know?
John
I lost my dad to intestinal cancer on 17.08.01.
It was only diagnosed two weeks before he died.
He was 62 and was still working as a GP when he was admitted to hospital.
Since then I have had a flexible sigmoidoscopy (32 inch long camera up the chuff) and a barium enema (2 pints of porridge up the chuff, administered by a very nice female radiographer).
I was given the all clear and celebrated by picking up my Esprit from Paul Matty on the anniversary of his death.
If he had been diagnosed just a few weeks earlier, he would have had a pretty good chance of getting through.
My advice is to swap the indignity of the procedure for the peace of mind of a clear result. Even if the result is not clear, the test might just have saved your life.
Pat.
It was only diagnosed two weeks before he died.
He was 62 and was still working as a GP when he was admitted to hospital.
Since then I have had a flexible sigmoidoscopy (32 inch long camera up the chuff) and a barium enema (2 pints of porridge up the chuff, administered by a very nice female radiographer).
I was given the all clear and celebrated by picking up my Esprit from Paul Matty on the anniversary of his death.
If he had been diagnosed just a few weeks earlier, he would have had a pretty good chance of getting through.
My advice is to swap the indignity of the procedure for the peace of mind of a clear result. Even if the result is not clear, the test might just have saved your life.
Pat.
A DRE (digital rectal examination) or PR (examination per rectum) is a good method for checking the general health of the rectum and prostate as well as for detecting Carcinoma of the prostate. The examination takes less than a minute and is uncomfortable rather than painful.
Sigmoidoscopy (camera view of the colon) is a good screening tool for Colon Ca. It is indicated in relatives of people with known colon Ca. or in those >50 who have large bowel polyps.
and while we are down there...
Make sure you check your testicles regularly.
Testicular Ca. is the commonest malignancy in young men (25-34) but is still quite rare.
For a 'how to' see;
http://tcrc.acor.org/tcexam.html
Happy examining
>> Edited by DRG on Wednesday 12th February 21:22
Sigmoidoscopy (camera view of the colon) is a good screening tool for Colon Ca. It is indicated in relatives of people with known colon Ca. or in those >50 who have large bowel polyps.
and while we are down there...
Make sure you check your testicles regularly.
Testicular Ca. is the commonest malignancy in young men (25-34) but is still quite rare.
For a 'how to' see;
http://tcrc.acor.org/tcexam.html
Happy examining
>> Edited by DRG on Wednesday 12th February 21:22
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