Test for prostate cancer
Discussion
Good Morning folks
I went to the doctors this morning and told him that I usually need to go for a wee in the middle of the night. He said this may be an early sign of prostate cancer - I celebrated my 50th birthday last week. He suggested that I have a blood test although this is not always 100% accurate and also suggested that I have my prostate checked. He said it takes a few seconds but can feel uncomfortable.
Has anyone gone through this procedure before? Is it painful and embarrassing?
Any advice greatly appreciated
I went to the doctors this morning and told him that I usually need to go for a wee in the middle of the night. He said this may be an early sign of prostate cancer - I celebrated my 50th birthday last week. He suggested that I have a blood test although this is not always 100% accurate and also suggested that I have my prostate checked. He said it takes a few seconds but can feel uncomfortable.
Has anyone gone through this procedure before? Is it painful and embarrassing?
Any advice greatly appreciated
I started to pee frequently a few years ago so went to my GP who did the finger test (not unpleasant at all provided they lube the glove well...) and arranged a PSA blood test which was 'borderline'. To be on the safe side, he suggested a biopsy, which was done at my local hospital and the result indicated I had prostate cancer.
From then on I've had probably a couple of dozen fingers up my jacksie, male and female though fortunately only one at a time plus a camera (viewed by the most gorgeous female doctor I've ever seen) and I've discussed everything from erections to poo with total strangers, men and women.
When you've done all that, nothing really phases you and I'm at the stage now where I'll drop my trousers anytime, anywhere, for anyone who fancies a poke.
The thing is, they've probably done it thousands of times before - maybe.....
From then on I've had probably a couple of dozen fingers up my jacksie, male and female though fortunately only one at a time plus a camera (viewed by the most gorgeous female doctor I've ever seen) and I've discussed everything from erections to poo with total strangers, men and women.
When you've done all that, nothing really phases you and I'm at the stage now where I'll drop my trousers anytime, anywhere, for anyone who fancies a poke.
The thing is, they've probably done it thousands of times before - maybe.....
supercommuter said:
I am 28 and have had to pee in the night since I was about 21. I drink lots of water so just assumed it was that.....not sure what age you should normally be checked.
If in doubt, check it out. I had prostate problems at 25, didn’t get it checked and ended up in hospital for over a week with a rather nasty infection. Sounds like your GP could've worded it better. Dropping the C bomb as an opener for ten is a bit uneccesary.
It way well be a normal symtpom of ageing!?
Ps..I'm 41 and usually get woken up about 4am by my bladder. Not every night but more than I'd like. It's a pain in the arse......pun intended
It way well be a normal symtpom of ageing!?
Ps..I'm 41 and usually get woken up about 4am by my bladder. Not every night but more than I'd like. It's a pain in the arse......pun intended
I’m 57 and I had a full medical done early last year, the elderly Indian lady doctor asked me if I had any particular problems, I told her I tend to pee a lot. She asked about prostate, I agreed to do the physical test and she nimbly stuffed half her arm up my tradesmans entrance.
To be honest I hardly felt it, she firked around for 20 seconds, told me it was perfectly normal.
She even gave my twin boys an examination, told me I had a lump on one, but I know for a fact that has been there since I was about ten years old.
I do drink a lot of big cups of coffee, but weak stuff, not brewed up, and that makes me pee a lot. Obviously. Just drinking water doesn’t really affect me, but coffee goes right through, one in, one out.
To be honest I hardly felt it, she firked around for 20 seconds, told me it was perfectly normal.
She even gave my twin boys an examination, told me I had a lump on one, but I know for a fact that has been there since I was about ten years old.
I do drink a lot of big cups of coffee, but weak stuff, not brewed up, and that makes me pee a lot. Obviously. Just drinking water doesn’t really affect me, but coffee goes right through, one in, one out.
dave_s13 said:
Sounds like your GP could've worded it better. Dropping the C bomb as an opener for ten is a bit uneccesary.
It way well be a normal symtpom of ageing!?
Ps..I'm 41 and usually get woken up about 4am by my bladder. Not every night but more than I'd like. It's a pain in the arse......pun intended
Exactly the same age and exactly the same issue here. I've had it for years and never thought anything about it. It way well be a normal symtpom of ageing!?
Ps..I'm 41 and usually get woken up about 4am by my bladder. Not every night but more than I'd like. It's a pain in the arse......pun intended
Worrying about a prostate at 28 because you've peed once through the night for years really is un-necessary.
Pros and cons to the test. Resulting investigations can also cause trouble in previously symptom free people. Chat to your GP about it.
Worst that will happen is they'll finger your bumhole for 10 seconds.
I only worry if its my first patient of the day and before 9am in the morning, as it puts me off my cup of tea.
Worst that will happen is they'll finger your bumhole for 10 seconds.
I only worry if its my first patient of the day and before 9am in the morning, as it puts me off my cup of tea.
RDMcG said:
Just be aware that a high PSA is not necessarily a reliable marker for cancer. Definitely check it out of course
Indeed, and a low PSA does not mean you are cancer free. But a prostate exam in combination with PSA is very accurate. Soft prostate with low PSA and you almost certainly haven't got cancer. Every man on the planet over 50 has an enlarged prostate (BPH if it's benign). The prostate should be about 15g. Some men can have a 20g prostate and have all kinds of peeing issues, others can have a 100g prostate with no issues at all.
geek84 said:
Good Morning folks
I went to the doctors this morning and told him that I usually need to go for a wee in the middle of the night. He said this may be an early sign of prostate cancer - I celebrated my 50th birthday last week. He suggested that I have a blood test although this is not always 100% accurate and also suggested that I have my prostate checked. He said it takes a few seconds but can feel uncomfortable.
Has anyone gone through this procedure before? Is it painful and embarrassing?
Any advice greatly appreciated
Whilst a blood test is a good start, it's far from an accurate assessment as your Doctor rightly stated, I'd suggest getting the Doctor to carry out a digital (finger) examination.I went to the doctors this morning and told him that I usually need to go for a wee in the middle of the night. He said this may be an early sign of prostate cancer - I celebrated my 50th birthday last week. He suggested that I have a blood test although this is not always 100% accurate and also suggested that I have my prostate checked. He said it takes a few seconds but can feel uncomfortable.
Has anyone gone through this procedure before? Is it painful and embarrassing?
Any advice greatly appreciated
It sounds very uncomfortable, unpleasant and embarrassing, and it's not something you'd want done on a regular basis, but it's bearable in terms of pain/discomfort once you get past the psychological barrier of having the procedure carried out, it doesn't last long (a tad more than a few seconds though, more like 60) and the Doctor's finger is fully lubed up!
If the Doctor feels any irregularities he will recommend a biopsy of the Prostate: read up here:
https://www.webmd.com/men/what-is-prostate-biopsy#...
I only found out I had PC purely by chance.
Went to the Docs to get a rash on my chest checked out (turned out to be shingles), and just before leaving for the appt my wife said "You piss funny" can you get your prostate checked out.
I did, and that's how I found out!
Any pain/discomfort during the examination is worth it if only for piece of mind, catch it early enough is far,far better than the alternatives!
Good luck
Any man over 50 should have the Digital Rectal Examination (DRE) done every 12 months as a matter of course. All talk of pain or discomfort is rubbish. You lay on your side, the doc applies lube to their digit and you will hardly feel a thing. A blood test wont faze you unless you have a phobia about needles.
And if you don't have the test?
You will start to get up more than once a night for a pee. Your flow may not be as strong. And if you leave it like me, you will find out you are at stage 3. If it is caught early, stage 1 or 2, then it can be called curable. An op to remove the prostate and while there are side effects, you can expect to live well over 10 years.
Once you are at stage 3 an op is not an option. Radiotherapy and then injections every 3 months for 2 or 3 years with complete loss of libido, so no interest in the opposite sex at all, hot flushes that wake you several times a night making you get up to pee, bloody awful tiredness all the time, loss of muscle strength, pins and needles in your hands, sometimes nausea, sometimes dizziness, short term memory problems, loss of decision making etc etc etc.......
So, what's it to be? 30 secs of a doc's finger up your bum and a blood test or a life of debilitating side effects?
And if you don't have the test?
You will start to get up more than once a night for a pee. Your flow may not be as strong. And if you leave it like me, you will find out you are at stage 3. If it is caught early, stage 1 or 2, then it can be called curable. An op to remove the prostate and while there are side effects, you can expect to live well over 10 years.
Once you are at stage 3 an op is not an option. Radiotherapy and then injections every 3 months for 2 or 3 years with complete loss of libido, so no interest in the opposite sex at all, hot flushes that wake you several times a night making you get up to pee, bloody awful tiredness all the time, loss of muscle strength, pins and needles in your hands, sometimes nausea, sometimes dizziness, short term memory problems, loss of decision making etc etc etc.......
So, what's it to be? 30 secs of a doc's finger up your bum and a blood test or a life of debilitating side effects?
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