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General => General Discussion and ??? => Topic started by: sportsshoppe on March 09, 2018, 08:45:40 AM

Title: This is for the Males
Post by: sportsshoppe on March 09, 2018, 08:45:40 AM
At the age of 54 having 4 brothers and 1 sister three of the older brothers diagnosed with Prostate Cancer I was having blood work done every 6 months to stay on top of things. No symptoms, No pain, No problem urinating. On Oct of 2017 I had a biopsy performed and the results came back positive. I asked what everyone ask, Why? I have no symptoms how is this so. On Dec. 2017 I chose to go to the Cancer Center of America Newnan Ga for my HDR (High Dose Radiation Treatment). When I was diagnosed my PSA was 4.2 which is not real high I found out later. I have my PSA checked every 6 months now and the last check it was a .65. I feel like I need to spread the word for Men to get the blood work done regularly especially if your over 45 and its in your family hsitory. It could save your life from this sleeper disease. I thank God each and everyday for his grace on my life and give him all the glory.
This may not be the place I need to post this topic but Frog will place it in the correct spot. thanks
Coop
Title: Re: This is for the Males
Post by: Sbrem on March 09, 2018, 09:12:40 AM
Good public service announcement. I'm checked annually with no family history. It's just a good practice, as I'm pushing 66...

Steve
Title: Re: This is for the Males
Post by: Frog on March 09, 2018, 09:28:06 AM
Likewise, after having some plumbing problems s few years back, my urologist was initially concerned about a slightly raised PSA, though in the end, consistently steady readings in annual checkups alleviated his (and my) fear.
Title: Re: This is for the Males
Post by: Croft on March 09, 2018, 09:31:16 AM
Always a good check to have , just got the call from the doctor this week , hitting 50 soon so time for the checkup

My father died from this a few years back, his was discovered early by chance and it gave him 14 years extra but they weren't the easiest.
Title: Re: This is for the Males
Post by: T Shirt Farmer on March 09, 2018, 09:33:49 AM
You can take a blood test... my doctor says he has to do prostate test manually... :-[


All kidding aside, do take care of yourself we work way to hard to not live long enough to enjoy the golden years
Title: Re: This is for the Males
Post by: blue moon on March 09, 2018, 09:39:50 AM
there are some recent (last 3-4 years) studies that indicate PSA numbers are not good indication for diagnosis. Additionally, it is now agreed that prostate is continuously changing as we get older and almost every male is in for elevated numbers over time. While not adopted by 100% of the doctors yet, physical check is considered significantly more reliable than blood work.

that SUCKS!

pierre
Title: Re: This is for the Males
Post by: sportsshoppe on March 09, 2018, 09:44:23 AM
Even after I was diagnosed they could not feel it manually and they knew where it was located. Many different ideas on what works best but the blood work and the steady incline of PSA was my saving Grace. I had 3 out of 12 core biopsy cancerous.
Title: Re: This is for the Males
Post by: blue moon on March 09, 2018, 09:48:59 AM
Even after I was diagnosed they could not feel it manually and they knew where it was located. Many different ideas on what works best but the blood work and the steady incline of PSA was my saving Grace. I had 3 out of 12 core biopsy cancerous.

glad to hear all is good now!
Thank you also for the feedback, it goes to show you can't trust even the Harvard Medical Journal! I'll have to change my position on not doing the bloodwork!

pierre
Title: Re: This is for the Males
Post by: 3Deep on March 09, 2018, 10:05:21 AM
Good to know Scott as you and I are around the same age, I need to go in for a check up....glad your doing fine ole friend. 8)
Title: Re: This is for the Males
Post by: KevinD on March 09, 2018, 10:21:12 AM
Also don't forget the colonoscopy at 50!  Had my first one last month.  All I did was take a short nap and it was all over.  Most insurances pay 100%
Title: Re: This is for the Males
Post by: Robert Clark on March 09, 2018, 10:29:34 AM
Thanks for sharing your personal story and advice !
Title: Re: This is for the Males
Post by: Prince Art on March 09, 2018, 10:37:33 AM
It's good to publicize it. I think if people can talk about this more like just one of the realities of life, it helps de-stigmatize the topic. And that in turn will hopefully help guys find it easier to deal with this kind of thing in a timely manner. And fyi, "old guy problems" don't always wait until you're an old guy to come knocking (try 30!), so younger guys need to hear it, too. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Title: Re: This is for the Males
Post by: Doug S on March 09, 2018, 12:26:21 PM
I just turned the big 50 so my first colonoscopy is scheduled for the middle of next week..  It is definitely best to stay on top of things.
Title: Re: This is for the Males
Post by: KevinD on March 09, 2018, 01:49:59 PM
I just turned the big 50 so my first colonoscopy is scheduled for the middle of next week..  It is definitely best to stay on top of things.
The only thing hard about it is the liquid you have to drink before.  Some people have a problem drinking it. I didn't it tasted like Alka-Seltzer without the fizz.
Title: Re: This is for the Males
Post by: sportsshoppe on March 09, 2018, 01:57:12 PM
I just turned the big 50 so my first colonoscopy is scheduled for the middle of next week..  It is definitely best to stay on top of things.
The only thing hard about it is the liquid you have to drink before.  Some people have a problem drinking it. I didn't it tasted like Alka-Seltzer without the fizz.
Like wise... That is an easy procedure almost feel like I should have had more soreness after the entrance :0
Title: Re: This is for the Males
Post by: Sbrem on March 09, 2018, 03:42:21 PM
there are some recent (last 3-4 years) studies that indicate PSA numbers are not good indication for diagnosis. Additionally, it is now agreed that prostate is continuously changing as we get older and almost every male is in for elevated numbers over time. While not adopted by 100% of the doctors yet, physical check is considered significantly more reliable than blood work.

that SUCKS!

pierre

My urologist has a model on his desk of 3 stages of prostate; clean, slightly lumpy, definitely lumpy. It only takes 15 - 20 seconds for a proper "finger" exam, though admittedly, it does seem longer, LOL.

Steve
Title: Re: This is for the Males
Post by: screenxpress on March 10, 2018, 03:27:06 PM
I just turned the big 50 so my first colonoscopy is scheduled for the middle of next week..  It is definitely best to stay on top of things.
The only thing hard about it is the liquid you have to drink before.  Some people have a problem drinking it. I didn't it tasted like Alka-Seltzer without the fizz.

The problem is that there are about 10 different 'cleanse' prescriptions out there.  Avoid the 'old' gallon mix...yuch.  The newer ones are 2 packets (almost like kool aid) you can pour in a quart of bottled water and drink along with taking some other non-offensive fluids (like lime or orange jello/broths).  Check with your pharmacist/doctor as the the easiest one to get prescribed and live through, lol.

IMO

My age puts me in the every two year colonoscopy group.

AND......I know this was 'for the Males'....BUT, since the content changed some.....you MALES need to be sure your WIVES are getting colonoscopes when they reach the associated age.
Title: Re: This is for the Males
Post by: Sbrem on March 12, 2018, 12:28:00 PM
Oh yeah, I'm going to remind my wife about that, LOL!

Steve
Title: Re: This is for the Males
Post by: alan802 on March 13, 2018, 12:24:40 PM
I'm glad you were more proactive and caught it soon enough to make the difference.  I need to get on a program like that to start watching for things that could cut me down before I get to watch my son become a man.  That has really begun to shape my actions the last few years, but I've still got a long way to go.  From a physical standpoint I abused my body to the point that most would not believe.  All the sports in high school, and I guarantee I put more miles on my body in college than most of the athletes did.  Then most of my post-collegiate years I've spent playing "ball" of some sort.  Men's league baseball, softball (high level tournament down to beer league coed, 5 nights/week, 8-12 games/week for almost 8 years), flag football, basketball, if there was a league I was in it.  Now I'm paying the price, but I couldn't change it nor would I change it if I could.  I had A LOT of fun.  Oh, I almost forgot that for 22 years I've worked at a minimum of 8 hours a day, 5 days/week walking on concrete floors.  5 miles on a slow day around here, as many as 15 on busy days.  I've worn pedometers off and on for many years now. 

Back to the important topic now, our laser engraver who has been with us from the first day we opened this building is terminally ill with cancer.  He never says exactly what type of cancer it is, but seems like bone, and I just don't ask for details.  It's obvious he's dying.  2 years ago he had prostate cancer and it was fairly advanced at that point since he didn't get checked out till way late.  They removed the prostate, did some intense radiology of some sort, but he didn't opt for the most aggressive treatment.  So he was fine for almost 2 years but in the last 4 months he's lost almost 70 pounds and his doctor gave him the news that he was terminal and the cancer is back.  He comes in when he feels like it, but it's only about 15 hours a week, but he gets paid 40 no matter what.  We're doing what we can for him, but it's not ever enough.  I finally convinced him to get on the opioid schedule so at least he wouldn't be in so much pain and he's much more happy now.  In my mind, or my opinion, his fears for taking the opioids didn't make sense.  Yeah, he'd be physically and mentally dependent on them, but why spend the last 6 months of your life in THAT much pain if you didn't need to?  Maybe not everyone will share the same opinion and chastise me for trying to convince him to go that way, but when you see someone you've watched the last 12 years go through that kind of pain I just wanted to help him improve the quality of life that he has left and that seemed the most expedient and most practical way to do it.  The guy could barely walk on most days and now he's coming to work somewhat regularly and teaching me how to run the laser, generally in a good mood even though he will not be walking this earth come the fall.  They initially gave him 3 years, maybe more if he was lucky, but the rate at which he's dwindling away is drastic and no way he'll make it to 19'. 

He has a son that is about 25 years old and I thought they had a decent relationship but he approached me a few weeks ago and asked me if he could name me as estate caretaker upon his death because he can't even get his son to drive 25 miles to his apartment to sign the paperwork.  I told him I would, then when his son comes calling for all of the material goods and money I'd just hand it over to him and be done with it all.  I'm sure there are legal things that would need to be done to protect myself but I haven't done the research yet in hopes that his son will step up and do the right thing.  It really sucks to watch this happen, and at first most of us put a lot of blame on him because he never properly took care of himself the first go around with the prostate cancer.

So yeah, let's try and take better care of ourselves.  Regardless if the going trend is that most men are evil and this world would be much better off if we played a backseat role in society, the world does need us, they just don't want to recognize it right now.