Hey, its' prostate awareness month!

[PoodlesAgain]

As a prostate cancer guy, I know a bit about it.

Ask me anything.
For real.
I have been at it through thick and thin since 2003, so, I can draw on experience and updated readings.

For starters;
* the gold standard, the PSA test is rather cheap between $50+ depending, so even if you have to go out--of-pocket, it is worth an EARLY detection...
* the recent BS about "not testing under a certain age" is flawed (causing unnecessary treatment, huh?).

Go on. It may save you a LOT of aggravation, the kind you don't want screwing up your lifestyle.

[Raindog]

When I was last in the Philippines, I sat with some old GI friends that were a bit older than me. I was 57 at the time and they were all 65+. There were 5 others and one had just found out that he had prostate cancer. The other 4 were consoling him and allowing how every one of them had it. They asserted that it was pretty much inevitable past 65-70 for all men and, at that age, it progresses slow enough to not be much of a hassle. I was amazed at their lackadaisical attitude towards it. It made me want to get checked right away, as soon as I got home. Also, I found a good massage therapist that very day to take my tension about it away.

[PoodlesAgain]

[mention]Raindog[/mention] you are correct in saying that, as we stand, getting into old age you would eventually get it.

Note that autopsies on accident victims have shown presence of PC in men as young as 30-35.

Some young men can develop the disease, and it is often a very aggressive form.

There are such things as pre-cancerous cells, sitting for years, waiting their turn to fully develop. I also believe we all have a very small amount of active cancer cells but immune system knicks them off.

Another fun fact: by the time something shows up on a scan, there are billions of cancer cells doing their thing... the whole cancer cell growth is also astonishly efficient.

Two upbeat news.
*since early 2000, death rates have come down (better early detection, etc).
*2004 or so was a turning point: better drugs, completion of good clinical trials, and novel drug combination protocols.

[golem]

My grandpa died of prostate cancer. Definitely get yourself checked.

[RockYoWorld]

I heard from a friend that they can now check for it in urine instead of a finger up the butt. Any truth to that? I'm 27 now so I'm not really concerned, but it's good to be educated on it.

[Houblues]

I heard from a friend that they can now check for it in urine instead of a finger up the butt. Any truth to that? I'm 27 now so I'm not really concerned, but it's good to be educated on it.

He is referring to the PCA3 test. It will specifically detect cancer, as opposed to just being an indicator, like the PSA, which is anything but ironclad.

It doesn't take the place of the "urologist's handshake" (DRE). That gives an indication of severity, as opposed to just presence, and it too is only a rough guide. You can have severe cancer and no indication with the digital exam.

[Partscaster]

My Dad died with it rolling along, my oldest brother has issues. Fortunately my recent PSA blood test has me very low relative to normal.

I clicked on this because I first thought the thread was "Prostitute awareness month". But soon re-read it correctly. Then I see the prostate masseuse option.
Maybe wishful thinking does make a difference.

[jtcnj]

Digital exam? You mean they stick a computer in yer arse?
They are smaller these days; thats a bit comforting I suppose.

Thanks for the reminder; I had a follow up doctors appt. scheduled in Dec. 2019 for this past June but the COVID cancelled it.
I had planned to ask about a test *shudders*; I'm 56.
Maybe the pee pee test is better than the poke poke if it is as reliable / accurate.
I have been "given the finger" many times, but not like that.

Once when I was like 7 I didnt poop for like 5 days before I told my mom I had a bad belly ache; bad constipation.
I had a terrible fear and resistance to going to the doctor after that for years, lol.

[Chocol8]

With all the advances in technology and science, you would think they would have come up with multiple diagnostic techniques that are better than sticking a finger up your as long before 2020.

[Houblues]

With all the advances in technology and science, you would think they would have come up with multiple diagnostic techniques that are better than sticking a finger up your as long before 2020.

Oh, they do! But the finger is much more affordable....

[jtcnj]

and a "personal touch" you cant get with an online Dr. visit.....

[PoodlesAgain]

With all the advances in technology and science, you would think they would have come up with multiple diagnostic techniques that are better than sticking a finger up your as long before 2020.

Yes sir, it is called an endorectal MRI, and trust me you are better off with a brief DRE.
In reality, it is an advanced, expensive, diagnostic tool for staging (= measuring extend of disease). IF you don't trust me do an image search. Yes, it is that big, and long! Both worst and funniest day, as the thing broke down during the test...!
Abdominal MRI would also show something, but require prep, and that's adding yet another radiation load.

One more about the dreaded DRE: not so much with your generalist, but with an experienced oncologist, it is telling. You could easily find a guitar setup analogy.

Gotta quit here... getting a bit wound up!

[dearlpitts]

I had colonistpy 4 yrs ago, they want to do another, is that really necessary,?

[PoodlesAgain]

I had colonistpy 4 yrs ago, they want to do another, is that really necessary,?

Do you have a report on prior exam?
Anything there indicating potential areas to watch?

[idiotsdelight]

I'm going through this as we speak. Diagnosed Christmas '19. PSA continues to climb, Gleason score rising. Time to pick my treatment. I just turned 54 and stil in excellent health.

When you're at risk, something going up your ass is of little worry. Honestly, it's not really that bad.

PSA are simple blood labs. The urinary symptoms are a giveaway. Without either of those 2 I'd have never known until it metastasizes.

Get checked.

[Raindog]

@Raindog you are correct in saying that, as we stand, getting into old age you would eventually get it.

I'm not saying anything,not being a doctor, but just stating what these older, more experienced men claimed.

[andrewsrea]

I appreciate the heads-up!

My dad had a scare, but everything turned out okay after he had his biopsy. His doctor said after 50, your 'decade' age almost aligns with your probability of having prostrate cancer. So a man in his 60's has a 60% chance of having it, or a man in his 100's almost certainly has it.

He also said the majority of cases are slow moving and said unless you are younger, you'll more likely die of something else. However, he said it is always good to get checked and under medical care. My friend's father was the minority case where it moved quick and it got him. When my friend got it in his 50's he wasted no time on treatment, which also turned out to be fast moving.

I get my PSA checked with my normal annual labs (cholesterol, ugh), and my numbers are slowly rising, but thankfully low for my age.

[PoodlesAgain]

..numbers slowly rising... per [mention]andrewsrea[/mention] .

Velocity is a factor, more than the nominal number per se, within a "normal"range

There is a simple spreadsheet calculation for what is called the doubling time
Doubling time can be years, can be months.

[Milkman]

I used to work with PC champion. The company basically paid him to travel around the company spreading the word. He used to say:

Be aware of your colon Once a year, because there’s nothing worse than being Aware of it all the time!”

[Raindog]

[andrewsrea]

..numbers slowly rising... per @andrewsrea .

Velocity is a factor, more than the nominal number per se, within a "normal"range

There is a simple spreadsheet calculation for what is called the doubling time
Doubling time can be years, can be months.

Good clarification!

I am grateful mine are more like doubling in decades and below 'normal.' I am going to be 58 years young soon, which means the odds are creeping against me - so, keep checking!

[PoodlesAgain]

In digging some info for a fellow forumite I reminded myself about this very comprehensive document that reflects latest and best practices:

https://www.nccn.org/patients/guideline ... atient.pdf
(long doc but easy read, dig in)

I mean, it' s all in here, from definitions, to treatment decision trees.

I was made aware of this while asking questions with a nurse practitioner - she gave me a coy of a few decision tree pages, years ago!

[Houblues]

Excellent document indeed!