Public Service Announcement

[8man]

This is for everyone, so I'm posting here.

Some of you know that I had a prostrate biopsy that resulted in a blood infection. With antibiotics it is going away.

However, the offshoot is that everyone needs to do the PSA blood test (Prostate specific antigen)! The only exceptions are those who have already started this.

Get your annual checkup and make sure the doc orders the PSA blood test and watch it closely.

In my case, I got the best possible result from a bad report. I have Prostate cancer, but it is contained in the prostate and can be robotically removed. That was the best news because they can cut it out and there will be no more C.

I have a friend going through it now who didn't get that good a report. His C spread to the bladder, and he is really having a bear of a time with treatment. He waited too long to go be checked by a competent Urologist.

So, please get checked early. Talk to your doctor and make a plan.

[mr48chev]

Take care and always do your follow up tests. My dad had that and got lax after a couple of years and it came back and killed him.

[unclebrad]

For those of you who are hesitant - My numbers were climbing so they did an MRI on my prostate which showed something going on. Looked like it could be the early stages. I had a prostate biopsy last week. The procedure was a piece of cake. They put me out and I woke up when it was done. Still moving a little slow but no pain.
Follow-up with doctor tomorrow to get the results. Wish me luck.

[57FleetsideC4]

I am thankful my primary doctor does blood tests for every visit. PSA stayed good for a long time then started to go up so had a biopsy and found cancer but not real bad in the lower range. I went with radiation to fix it and all is good now. PSA numbers are way lower than ever before. Hope it stays that way. Get checked out and find anything early. Steve

[truckster]

Originally Posted by unclebrad

For those of you who are hesitant - My numbers were climbing so they did an MRI on my prostate which showed something going on. Looked like it could be the early stages. I had a prostate biopsy last week. The procedure was a piece of cake. They put me out and I woke up when it was done. Still moving a little slow but no pain.
Follow-up with doctor tomorrow to get the results. Wish me luck.

Hmm... I was awake and quite aware during both of my biopsies. You are fortunate that you were put under general anesthesia.

I will say that treatment for prostate cancer can be very unpleasant, but I'm four years out now and my PSA numbers are undetectable. I hope yours goes well.

[Rickysnickers]

This is good info. I am going to move the thread to General Info.

[Steeveedee]

A PSA about getting a PSA test! I get mine done every year, too. Much better than that finger-wave!

Good for your results, 8man!

Luck, unclebrad!

[mobileortho]

Glad you found out about it and got it taken care of. Take it from me, you can't always rely on a PSA test alone. Mine was only a 2.86 but I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010. Like you I had mine removed robotically. That experience was definitely an eye opener but unfortunately it was not my last battle with cancer. I lost part of my left kidney in 2019 then had a reoccurrence last year and they had to remove the whole thing. Take care of yourselves guys. We aren't getting any younger.

[CG]

My brother just went through the prostrate cancer treatments and surgery. Im not one for going to the Dr, but my wife "encouraged" me to get the psa. It was normal, no issues. Im 63 and still haven't bothered to get the actual get on up in there prostrate exam. No plans on ever doing it.

[joedoh]

god bless you robert!

[Husker]

Thanks 8man. Get better
Ron

[unclebrad]

57Fleetside, did you have bad side effects from the radiation? Looks like my biopsy results are similar to yours and I am now trying to figure out whether to watch it for a while or try to take care of it right away.

[8man]

There is a relatively new treatment called HIFU. It's a treatment for some with the least amount of side effects.

Next for side effects is removal. Since that was my best option, I am now finding out that I get to do Kegel exercises and some "pelvic floor" exercises to help strengthen the muscles down there to help get back to normal bladder control.

Then comes radiation. This will kill the C, but it can cause more immediate damage, but worse is that the damage will continue to get worse over time. So, depending on age, it may be the option.

Chemo is dead last in terms of it will cause other problems. However, like my buddy, chemo may be the only choice for some.

Just a rundown from the least problems to the most for treatments.