Ok let's talk about PSAs

[flintknapper]

Never too young really. Especially if you have a family history. I was only 56 & when they found it I was in trouble. Gleason scale 9 out of a 1 -10 range.

Exactly right! Though this thread speaks directly to Prostate Cancer (usually found in older men), other Cancers can be present in much younger males. My nephew (22 yrs. old) just underwent treatment for Testicular Cancer and I know of another young man (30) that had the same thing. So...if you have ANY reason to suspect a problem (or have family history), get the test.

As a side note, I can hardly believe its been almost 5 years LT. Seems like yesterday you were telling about this when we were at lunch one day. I still have a mental picture of you in the Hospital as well. You looked pretty beat up....at that point, but I knew you'd beat it!

Take care friend,

Flint.

[Jim Lockey]

Maybe this will make you guys feel a little better:

My wife lost a breast when she was 59 and is now 73
I have been taking PSA test since I was 40 and I'm now 78 and ALL my parts still work. Maybe not as good but still work.
Eat right and take plenty of exercise.

Jimmy

[chasfm11]

I've always been one who leaned strongly to prevention so I've had my yearly Prostate exam and started the PSA testing as soon as the doctor suggested it.

A good friend of ours who was in 'Nam and around Agent Orange didn't go to any doctor for over 30 years. By the time that he had symptoms, his PSA was 2,400 and the cells had spread to his bones. They originally gave him 4 years. He is currently passing the end of year two. He has had hormone therapy and chemo, both of which failed. He is on a 2nd round of hormone therapy and, so far, has surprised his doctors with much better than anticipated results. He has become a health nut and is very careful to eat only the best foods for his condition. I'm afraid that it may be too late for it to really help him. He is constantly in our prayers.

Prostate cancer is way too common for any of us to ignore it. For many, it isn't a matter of if but of when. We need to try to get as early a jump on it as we can. My wife is a breast cancer survivor (10 years) and I'm grateful every day for her willingness to get her regular tests. They probably saved her life.

[longtooth]

Never too young really. Especially if you have a family history. I was only 56 & when they found it I was in trouble. Gleason scale 9 out of a 1 -10 range.

Exactly right! Though this thread speaks directly to Prostate Cancer (usually found in older men), other Cancers can be present in much younger males. My nephew (22 yrs. old) just underwent treatment for Testicular Cancer and I know of another young man (30) that had the same thing. So...if you have ANY reason to suspect a problem (or have family history), get the test.

As a side note, I can hardly believe its been almost 5 years LT. Seems like yesterday you were telling about this when we were at lunch one day. I still have a mental picture of you in the Hospital as well. You looked pretty beat up....at that point, but I knew you'd beat it!

You are really right. That stuff reall knocked me in the dirt for a while.
The cookies you brought made me feel better though.

Still have the knife & arrowhead on my desk.
Thanks friend.
LT

Take care friend,

Flint.

[The Annoyed Man]

My last three PSAs (oldest to most recent) were: .48, .42, and .38. It was on the last one that an exam revealed that a lump on my prostate had doubled in size in the last 12 months, despite my PSA values going down. Praise God that my lump turned out to be nothing more than a hunk of calcified tissue, but don't take a low PSA for granted. As unpleasant as the experience is, make sure your doctor actually "checks" by digital exam to make certain.

[RPB]

Went for my annual Doctor visit, First time I ever had PSA done, figured I better because of a couple threads on this forum.

Blood sugar 86
PSA 0.7
Kidneys are ok etc

Doctor said He'll see me next year, I said yeah, you're the only one I've seen since 1990, and Only seen you 3 times, once a year for the blood pressure med refill and blood test.

He said looks like that's workin out for you since all tests look good.

I said yeah, I'll try to keep stayin' away from doctors. We both laughed (My dad knew his dad/grandad in Crosbyton, Tx in the 1930s or 1940s )

Now, My mind is at ease for anther year anyway.

Thanks guys for suggesting it.... It's a cheap stress reliever to not worry about for a while.

[PBratton]

Oh MAN!!! I though we were talking about Palmetto State Armory here...

But, yes, even thought the wife is named in the life insurance policy, she still insists on regular visits to the doctor.

[philip964]

Despite the recent articles which state that yearly PSA tests only cost money and lead to unnecessary biopsies, the real truth is, they save lives. Its easy to add it to your yearly blood test, graph it and if it starts to go up suddenly, start getting tested every three months.

Prostate Cancer is very treatable if you find out early enough.

All men will get prostate cancer if they live long enough.

Don't die of a cancer that is so easily detected and treated.

[OldCurlyWolf]

"Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars." - Unknown

U S Army 1967-1970"

Just noticed your Avatar. My dad was 82nd 1948-1950.