Go And Get Your Psa Checked

I have been reading this thread with interest and am now wondering whether I should arrange a test after reading what some of you have been or are going through. Maybe there should be routine checks for this now.

 

I wouldn't wait for the 'one day', get on the phone to your GP and tell them you want a PSA test.

 

We've got an app called DR IQ - I did call my surgery but they told me to use the app to request the test. Done, picked up the form this morning and bloods being taken 5/12.

Don't think about doing it - do it!

 

Apparently you can reduce the chances of prostate cancer by ejaculating 6 times a week!

Jesus I’d be shooting dust after 3 days!

 

That’s great news and makes me feel a bit more secure

 

Had Blood Test yesterday. AOK.

Anyone thinking about it, just do it.

 

I’d read about this too so I just rounded it up to 7 times as that fits into the week better.

 

Is it reasonable to request a PSA annually, yes I said Annually

 

If NHS, I doubt they'd accommodate it.
I have noticed a few on-line companies advertising home sampling, then send to their lab.

 

Hi everyone, I'm been off the forum for about 4 months and I thought it was time to return and tell my story. I'm sharing this to raise awareness about an ever increasing health issue and how getting out on the bike has helped me cope with the mental health issues I have been facing during time and I'm still dealing with, and I'll try to keep this as short as possible, and I know a lot of people on this forum have experienced similar dark periods with their mental health and can relate to my story.

Following an accident on 24 Jan 2022 when a guy drove straight in front of me and I didn't stand a chance, along with other injuries I sustained severe groin trauma. The following medical checks involved a number of very intrusive and unpleasant procedures which lead to the discovery of me having Prostate Cancer, my diagnosed on 21st of May this year, 18 months after the accident.

This was only discovered because of the medical procedures I was having, prior to this I had no adverse symptoms and I felt perfectly health, so the diagnosis came as a complete shock to me and my family. When it was discovered it categorised as Localised Advanced Aggressive registering 9.8 on the Gleeson Scale, where 10 is worst case scenario, and my PSA was 16.8.

I was started hormone therapy on 05 June, which lasts for 3 years and I had 20 sessions of Radiotherapy between 5 November and 05 December, so it's been almost two weeks since I finished the treatment. The whole experience has been mentally, emotionally and physically draining, and it's only with support of my family and close friends that helped me cope.

But when I need time on my own and when I felt physically capable, I got my bike gear on and out on the road, but during the radiotherapy I just couldn't manage to get out on the bike. I've always been an all year rider, and last Tuesday was beautiful day and the first day in 6 weeks that I felt strong enough to get out on the bike, and it made me realise that just how much riding your bike improves your mental health.

I will finish with this, gents, unfortunately prostate cancer is an ever increasing issue, and if you have never had a check, please get a blood test to check your PSA, this is really the only proper indication of prostate issues including cancer. I was lucky that it was discovered when it was, because even though it was so advanced, it was still treatable, I still have another 10 weeks to wait to find out the success of my treatment, but I'm already feeling better and I'm positive everything will be fine. So don't wait, get checked, the earlier the diagnosis the better.

i hope this helps some of you and here's a few photos from last Tuesday.

 

Sorry to hear of your woes, thanks for the heads up.

 

Hi, slightly similar thing happened to me last year. Came off my dirt bike during the summer and had a nasty bash to my mid rift. After weeks of the muscle still being all a bit weird I went to the doctors. After having a feel she said “well it’s just taking its time to heal” not surprised after the bash you had. “I see from your notes you’ve not been in for 14year” well I’ve not been unwell I said! Long story short she booked all the blood test one would expect at 59 AND a PSA test (prostate specific antigen). A week later she’s explaining my PSA levels are a bit high, two weeks later, I have an MRI, two weeks later the consultant says “there are three spots of cancer in the prostrate, we need to do a biopsy to confirm” two weeks later I have the procedure. Next meeting it’s confirmed it’s cancer, not aggressive AND (please make a special note of reading this) because they have found it early, they plan to cure me of this! Next stop hormone blockers testosterone. (apparently it encourages the cancer cells, and I think this is also true of oestrogen and breast cancer in women). After a number of months in my case I had the choice of surgery or radiotherapy. (The surgery seems so medieval and barbaric and being a Physicist the radiotherapy seemed a bit more ‘modern’) This happened in April and the first post PSA test was where it should be. The second meeting is tomorrow and I hope it’s still down. Just to repeat the important message here, if you are in your 50’s get tested. Some doctors can be a bit reluctant to test as does give false negatives and positives. (Sometimes the numbers high and the prostate is OK and other times a good low number when there is a problem). I would even go as far as to lie you are going to the toilet multiple times just to nudge them into testing you. Bottom line is 1 in 9 will get it (if you are of Afro Caribbean heritage it’s 1in 4) If you are lucky it’s when you are really old and something else will take you away. Or it will catch you when it’s not time to go. Sadly two near neighbours (admittedly both 8 years older) died this last year from it. Unfortunately they did not seek help. Get tested guys, there’s a lot more riding to be done before you are taken away!

 

Firstly best wishes to both of you for a full and speedy recovery. As for gettig checked, absolutely - though I left it until I was 60. I have a few friends who have been through this, have fully recovered, and are all in better shape going forward. And the little radiotherapy warning card they hand out (or used to...) reminding one not to let little children sit on your lap is always good for a few laughs...

 

Thanks, Ducbird.