It's a guy thing - prevent prostate cancer

[O6nop]

If you are from Austin, male and over 40, you might be interested that September is National Prostate Cancer Month. St David's Healthcare in Austin is offering free screenings for prostate cancer. Please consider it. Anyone from other areas, feel free to post these types of screenings that are available from your area.

[Hoi Polloi]

Remaining 2010 Screenings, according to the North Texas Prostate Cancer Coalition (NTXPCC) website:

September 4 (Sat),1pm-3pm, Urology Research & Education Foundation, at Mt. Hebron Missionary Church, Risk Assessment and PSA Screening, 1233 Texas 66, Garland, 75040-7278

September 11 (Sat), 8 am - 11 am, Prostate Cancer Screening to men 45 and older, and to men 40 and older who are at high risk; Medical Center of Plano; 3901 West 15th St., Plano; use the North Emergency Entrance; PSA and Prostate screening; registration not required

September 11 (Sat), 8 am - 11 am, Prostate Cancer Screening, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano; 6200 West Parker Rd., Plano; register at 1-877-THR-WELL

September 18 (Sat), Cowtown Cruisin' for a Cure, Fort Worth, 5-th & Main St., screening from 10 am - 3 pm, PSA + DRE screening, Contact: Gayle Wilkins, 817-820-4868.

September 25, 8 am - 1 pm, Free Male Health Screening for men 35 and older; Medical City Hospital, Dallas; 7777 Forest Lane, Building A, 1st Floor, Cancer Resource Center, A-100; screenings: PSA + Prostate, Cholesterol, Testosterone; educational presentations, registration required

September 25, 9 am - noon, Texas Health HEB, Bedford; Prostate Cancer Screening

September 25, 9 am - 1 pm, Prostate Cancer Screening to men 50 and older, and to men 40 and older who are at high risk; Baylor Medical Center at Dallas; 3500 Gaston Ave., 2nd floor Hoblitzelle Hospital; PSA and Prostate, for an appointment call 1.800.4Baylor

Other screenings at Methodist Medical Center, Senior Access Center, 9 - 11 am, 2nd Thursday of each month; must be age 55 or older

Use the Screening Finder of the American Urological Association (AUA) to find a free or low cost screening close to you (by zip code).

[The Annoyed Man]

I get screened twice yearly as part of my ongoing treatment for BPH.

[chasfm11]

To underscore the reason for testing, I have a good friend who has is an avid hunter and has had his CHL for years. He felt healthy so he didn't go to the doctor...for 30 years. By the time he had symptoms, his PSA was 2,400. The cancer has spread to his bones. Chemo didn't work. They originally gave him 5 years to live. That was 2 years ago.

PSA testing isn't perfect but is way better than the alternatives.

[lonewolf]

The doctor asked why my blood pressure appeared elevated at my last physical......I responded by asking him what the normal response was to an impending prostate exam? He gave that a little thought......

I then told him to take a close look at my record. Blood pressure right on the money, 120 over 80 for YEARS. Then came the annual unhappy exam....blood pressure slightly elevated....Could there be a connection? Gee, I wonder.......

[MoJo]

After years of having both PSAs and manual exams last year my PSA score was too high. After a biopsy, I learned it was malignant I had a robotic prostatectomy in September after the surgery, I was told the tumor was just before metastasizing. My PSA has been less than .01 since the surgery! Don't put it off if you are over 40 and haven't had a prostate exam for baseline purposes the time is now.

[StewNTexas]

GO GET IF DONE.

My PSA bounced around for a few years. On the THIRD set of biopsies we got a hit for cancer. After all the prep work, and 46 consecutive days of radiation treatment, the PSA did show up as 0.01 twice, and 0.00 the last two times.

This is one problem you can't hide from.

My wife was in the room for the last set of biopsies. Near the end, I asked the doctor.....
Doc, while you'r up to you elbows, and have a whole tray of tools, if you find a wire or a small switch, please clip it out. He gave me the strangest look and asked me what the Hell I was talking about. I told him that while around the house, everytime I sat down, my wife called me for another project. I said I must have some kind of a butt switch up there, and I want to disable it.

She was not happy.

[The Annoyed Man]

To underscore the reason for testing, I have a good friend who has is an avid hunter and has had his CHL for years. He felt healthy so he didn't go to the doctor...for 30 years. By the time he had symptoms, his PSA was 2,400. The cancer has spread to his bones. Chemo didn't work. They originally gave him 5 years to live. That was 2 years ago.

PSA testing isn't perfect but is way better than the alternatives.

Like I said, I get mine tested twice yearly, and it's as low as one could hope for. My last two tests were 0.48 and 0.42. I did have a bit of a scare last October when my urologist found a lump there, but apparently, it's not anything I need to worry about at this point.

[P12]

I'm screened once yearly.

Since I hit the big 50.