one for the senior gents

Been a lot of mens health in the news lately, especially about the "man gland" & not going into too much detail I've had symptoms shall we say for some time. This week I'm on holiday so on Monday saw my doctor & he found something. Blood sample taken & he said he would be in touch. Good grief to say the least, I was a bit taken aback. Today my Doctor phoned me with good news the PSA reading came back far lower than expected, excellent news. Phew!!!!!!

I'm only relaying this as a heads up to all the older gents on here, I'm not looking for sympathy, if for any reason you may think you have relevant symptoms get yourself tested.

Glad you've had some good news, Jim. Always worth being alert and none of this "ignore it and it'll go away" nonsense.

I've been tested, with a similar result to you, but that was some years ago. I'm aware that I may need to have another test before too long.

Great result Jim - indeed it's a common ailment and we should all take it seriously before anything develops.

Sound advice Jimboy - glad all is ok.

Just on 7 years ago I was visiting my GP on an unrelated matter and he said to me "Given your family history (my brother was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer at age 60), we'd better check your Prostate, so drop your pants and bend over, and it won't cost you any more".
Duly did as instructed and Whamo! The GP then said "Don't like what I"m feeling". My reply, "Neither do I".

So after a biopsy, I had a robotic Prostatectomy which was 6 little nicks, sown up with dissolving stiches and a very short 2 days in hospital. The growth was a Gleeson scale of 7 with 10 being the highest and it was contained, thank goodness.

Am due to have my annual PSA test next month, which should return "undetectable".

I had no symptoms of the disease but it was just the good work on the GP's part that caught it early.

The moral is "GET CHECKED" as it beats the alternative.

So the thing I’m not clear about is whether you should get a PSA test with absolute no symptoms or hints of issues? My dad, who is being treated right now, says get tested. The expert I heard on the radio said only get tested if you have something to suggest a problem.

MRS, listen to your father! If you are over 50, get tested.

As I said, I had NO symptoms, but there was the family history, as is your case.

One of my Car Club mates, about 10 years ago was feeling poorly (then aged 40) and his doctor could not find a reason. His wife suggested that he should see her doctor and he was then diagnosed with Prostrate Caner, followed by a radical prostatectomy. His own doctor thought he was too young to have this cancer and never tested.

I've had the PSA test twice, no abnormal results, but it's not a universally accepted test, and can give abnormal results for other reasons, riding a bike is one I think.

It's just a blood sample at the end of day, a small investment to make.

I’ll talk to my health centre about it

The Reading Lions organise regular (once a year?) mass PSA screenings for anyone who wants to come along, here's some blurb about this one earlier in 2018

The simple answer is get your PSA tested. I have been getting mine tested every year after my father died from Prostate cancer many years ago which spread to his bones. As stated it's only a blood test.
However, having been tested and my PSA always remain very low and still is, I had an operation two years ago in that region and they took biopsy that showed I had Prostate Cancer. Luckily it is the non aggressive type. As soon as I saw my oncologist for the first time she immediately told me " You are not going to die". She explained that I will probably die of something else, but not Prostate cancer.
PSA is still low and I get checked every 4 months and an MRI scan every two years.
It's called Active surveillance. I hope that helps. All males should get checked I think every year. Check this website, it's brilliant and their phone line is very helpful
https://www.prostatecanceruk.org

It's unfortunate that this is being discussed as I discovered on Thursday evening that a very well known Fiat twin cam Italian engine specialist has been diagnosed with prostate cancer but it is too far gone and nothing can be done for him

Hi MRS!

Yes, as per the others, please, please get checked out, even if you have no symptoms whatsoever.

What I will say, is like the rest, *IF* there is anything abnormal there at all, then catching it at the first opportunity is the very best that can happen to you. There have been so many advances in medicine over the years that detection, early detection, is now considered the best chance we all have if we want to outlive the sparkplugs in our cars!

On another note: has anyone else around the country been called for bowel screening? Our county is doing it for all men over a certain age <cough>, and although it is voluntary I'd strongly recommend people take it up (bad choice of words!), because I would probably still have a couple of mates still swinging the lantern if the screening had been available two decades ago

And Begbie, really sad to hear that news. If it is who I think it is then he has, almost single-handedly, raised the profile of the engine into mythical status. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. Never give up hope, the body is a strange thing....

My goodness Stan, great to see you posting again

Yes I've "taken it up..." (bowel screening that is ) but it only goes so far (until the first 90° bend) and it was errrm, interesting using the DIY enema

Hi Stan - great to hear from you! My still far-too-frequent trips across the A66 (two kids at Glasgow university) usually bring you to mind.

Anyhow - thanks, to all the encouragement here, I have a PSA test in a week. I have no problems with doing the test but was led to believe that it gave too many false positives to be a reliable screening test.

Funny you should mention the false positive bit MRS, but, bearing in mind Mrs Stan is actually Dr Stan and teaches wee wannabe doctors, the generlly accepted line is that any test is better than none. It is simply a guidance as to whether to subject a patient to the rubber glove treatment or not. Bearing in mind how many GPs these days seem to be women*, you can appreciate that it is embarrassing for both sides.

I'd like to see a study done on how many men avoid getting tested for that very reason: the fact that they may have to be examined by a female doctor? Sad to think that a few blushes spared could lead to The Long Sleep....

*poor choice of words, but very few of you have seen Mrs Stan in the flesh but when you do you'd think "She seems to be a women, but I can't be sure, the beard doesn't help for starters!

In my surgery anything remotely concerned with male nether regions is referred to "a male doctor" if you happen to be consulting with a female one at the time...

You are lucky 'burgh!

Down in our pokey wee practice it is only female doctors, but what really, really gets ma goat is that they are all part-time, one or one and a half days per week, yet they all drive the very newest, most expensive cars out there!

Ooooh, you've done it now! You've started me off on my current pet peeve!

I need to go and lie down in a darkened room.

Not because I'm ill, just hiding from Mrs Stan!

I'll not hijack the thread but (yes I will! ), over the past ten years, as my health spins lethargically around the plughole called life before going down the drain finally, my body has been poked, prodded and examined in intimate detail. But enough about working undercover, isn't the NHS wonderful?

As an aside, a couple of years ago I had to go for a cardiac ultrasound (mrs Stan said they'd find nothing in there!).

It was a female senior consultant teaching a female Year 2 doctor, i.e. they had finished the five years at Uni and sshe was now in her second year of learning how to ignore patients!

Towards the end of the ultrasound the consultant turned to me and said, "Well, you have the heart of a 20 year old"....to which I instantly replied,

"Yes, I like to take trophies...." very quietly.

I'm sure she'd said the exam would last another 10 minutes but it seemed to end there and when I got dressed I noticed a security guard was hanging around in the department.

To be honest, when I started this thread, I really did not think there would be quite so much response. Glad there is though. It's one of issues when good bad & indifferent thoughts come to mind.

Looks like Stans story is coming out in installments...

Clarified that, Jim

@Mr. Laurel: in my practice the only doctor who was able to diagnose my 2x pneumonia last Christmas was one of these 2-days-a-week personages and now pretty much the only one I'll have see me (fully-clothed [mostly ] I should add) - she's taken a decent interest in my medical history and followed up through regular 'phone calls over the following 6 months. That's a service I haven't experienced in living memory although I'm not counting a few seconds when they wired me up to the kick-start pads 6 years ago

The male doctor whom I saw years ago and whom I refuse to see now wasn't even able to detect a long-standing lung issue - it was funnily enough a number of female doctors that noticed

@Jim: good shout in your OP as I feel it's woken a few of us up and reminded us how the legacy-refusal of blokes discussing such matters is perhaps on the wane and we're being a bit more sensible....

i.e. CHECK YOUR OIL!

I pay good money to have ladies in rubber gloves and pots of lube.....

Doesn’t bother me at all.

In fact, around the time Charlie was diagnosed, I thought I felt a lump on one of my nuts. I went to the male doc who checked me and, whilst he was 99% sure, he referred me for ultrasound to ease my mind (considering what else was going on).

At the ultrasound there was a male and female. They were very discrete but I said that if I had to drop my trousers in the hospital reception, I would. I’d seen what Charlie had been through and didn’t give a stuff.

The guy said that they did at least warm the gel. I said that, given I’d just cycled to work for the first time in months, I’d prefer cold gel. He laughed, saying that they weren’t that kind!

My nuts were fine.

If I’m going to have a finger up my bum, I’d prefer it was female.

Aye chaps, I suppose it's your dog & duck regarding your Doctor. I/we are very lucky in the sticks here. Our surgery is in the next village four miles away & can get an appointment straight way & all our Doctors are very professional/open to discussion & sympathetic. By the way regarding gender, I've been fingered both by male & female physicians, doesn't phase me at all in the quest for diagnosis.

Was in hospital a few years back with a twisted bowel. They had to open me up to untangle it in the end, but in the mean time, every Dr and surgeon passing my bed seemed to want a "feel". I do recall a lovely Asian trainee surgeon was extra gentle. You have to take all the positives in any situation !!

Bit of an update, been to hospital for further investigation, still not conclusive, have to go back for a MRI scan & biopsy. Have to admit there's only so much bullets you can duck. It's the waiting & the not knowing for sure.

Fingers crossed for you Jim.

Yup - good luck, Jim.

I had my PSA done and heard nothing back so I assume (as they suggested at the health centre) that I’m all good for now

Here's hoping for the positive news, Jim

No News is good news Jim,

Keep on ducking-and stay positive.

Regards

Positive thoughts from France for you mate.

Very timely Joe....

I'm off to have my annual PSA blood test in the next week and it should be, as usual, "undetectable" as I had my prostate removed 7 years ago.

Great to read that several of you are having a test done as early detection usually results in a good outcome.

?

I mean considering the particular turmoil we're in over here!

Bugger, had the MRI scan sometime ago & hospital today for biopsy, bottom line it aint looking good. Still not 100% conclusive, but another three weeks waiting. I'm obviously still looking for the right noises, but this waiting is doing my head in.

Hoping it all goes you're way Jim. We will be thinking of you mate.

From my experience, the waiting is the worst part. Once you know conclusively what you are or aren’t dealing with, you can get your head around it - until then, your mind fills in all the gaps and that’s horrible.

Thoughts are with you, Jim - all the very best

Bloody hell, Jim...

Aye! thanks chaps. It is the waiting. I took the the day off work & I'm at home alone. It's well documented how well this forum is at times like this. I've read many sad stories on here & it's a credit to everyone how we Coopsters stick together. Thanks for listening.

Positive thoughts from down here Jim

Jim, Having experienced what you are going through, I know how you feel, but I was given the sad news of a positive result as soon as the biopsy results came in (7 on the Gleeson Scale).

It is now 7 years since I had mine removed and all is still clear. Hope you eventually get the "all now OK" as I have. Just remember "Cancer is a word not a sentence".

Very best wishes from here, Jim.
Having discovered the meaning of "epididymal cyst" last week, I can empathise with the initial worry.
Keep us updated...

Best wishes Jim.

I got the all clear today chaps. I really would like to thank each & one of you personally & give you all a hug. Possum, I would like to thank you for sharing your story. All of you, for your kind words I've been in bits since my biopsy. Ridiculously coming home building myself up expecting a letter almost straight away from the NHS with news.

My lovely Doctor who was in a similar position last year phoned me & gave me the good news. I was driving at the time, obviously stopped & cried like a baby down the phone to him.He was very sympathetic & understanding, it was then when he told me about being in the same position last year.


Been off the wine/booze for ten weeks now, but tonight it's Champagne & steaks. Bloody hell I get so emotional at times. Once again thanks for listening. I could prattle on for ages but i'll do you all a favour & bugger off now.

Long live the Coop & it's owners.......Jim.

That’s such fabulous news, Jim. A shiver’s gone down my spine after having been through various versions of this. I’m delighted for you and yours. Celebrate hard ”place no faith in tomorrow”

Ah that's just great news Jim. Enjoy the weekend celebration mate.

That's wonderful news Jim! I'm really happy for you!

Cracking result Jim, what a relief!

It'd be interesting to see how long it takes to fully register - took me a while!

Excellent news, Jim. Enjoy some of life's good things. Even if they aren't "good for you"!

Excellent news Jim

Good news, Jim. You know where I'm coming from.