keep check of your health

frshwtr · October 26, 2007, 02:11:57 PM

i dont know the ages of most of you people and i know a simular thread was on another forum but i feel real strong about this and if i didnt pass it on i'd feel bad if someone came up with a problem. i'm talking about prostate cancer its easy to detect and easy to treat in the early stages. talk to your family doctor about haveing a PSA test done; after the test ask what your numbers were. they run 0 to 10 and after 4 you should be thinking about going further, it doesnt mean you have cancer but you do have a problem. prostae caner in itself can be treated with radiation but it has a bad habit of going to other parts of the body. the reason i feel so strongly about this; well for quite a few years i have a PSA done and figure if the doctor doesnt say anything i'm o.k. well it seems one of my tests slipped thru the cracks (thats why i asked you tio inquire about the results) and now they have told me i have prostate cancer and they think it had started to spread into some lymp nodes. so far the treatment isnt bad, radiation every day for ten weeks and a hormone shot every three months. sooooo people get the PSA done and keep track of yourself, ladies if your reading this encourage your loved ones to following this advice.

centerfire_223 · October 26, 2007, 06:54:14 PM

Funny you should mention this, well not exactly funny.

They diagnosed my dad with prostate cancer last week. He has been having colonoscopies (sp?) regularly for the last ten years. You just never know when it is going to hit you, he has the highly aggressive cancer. The doctors said they won't even operate only going to do the chemo and radiation thing. Ya ll keep him in your prayers.

FinsnFur · October 26, 2007, 06:59:17 PM

Can do Ronnie.

frshwtr, I get gimped out at the thought of having my prostate checked?

iahntr · October 26, 2007, 08:03:09 PM

frshwtr, really sorry to hear that, and ThankYou for the reminder/advice.
centerfire, sorry to hear about your dad too.

frshwtr · October 26, 2007, 09:01:48 PM

haveing a prostate exam isnt fun but aSA is just a blood test. course if its high then you will know what is meant by the fical finger of fate. 223 dont forget to have a yearly exam too some of this though not heredatary still makes you more prone for it.

Greenside · October 27, 2007, 09:52:43 AM

frshwtr

Hoping everything works out for you. That's good advice about getting the PSA checked. At age 47, I was having some some reoccurring problems with blood clots in my legs. I went to a hematologist to have blood work done to hopefully find out what was the problem . She ordered about 25 or so different blood tests along with a PSA. To make a long storey short the PSA was positive and after a DRE and a biopsy that was positive, I had the surgery. This Feb. I will have my 10 year follow up checkup. More than likely will be declared Cancer free.

That Dr more than likely saved my life by ordering the PSA. If I would have waited till I was 50 years old, which was the standard at the time, I wouldn't be here today. Get the test even if insurance won't cover it as preventative, it's money well spent.

frshwtr · November 02, 2007, 10:05:36 AM

to keep you posted; had another PSA done for a mid treatment (getting radiation and hormone shot) check-up. started with a PSA of 390 (yes they do go past 10) and now its 2.9. thats within normal limits.

Nelson · November 02, 2007, 11:44:58 AM

Great news frshwtr!! My Dad died of prostate cancer, so I go for the fickle finger of fate and PSA every year. So far mine has been well within the normal limits.

Nelson

weedwalker · November 02, 2007, 01:48:48 PM

I lost my Dad to prostate cancer 3 years ago. He had no symptoms and felt fine. He went in for a regular check-up and his 1st PSA test was 1,800. It was already too late to do anything. He was 67 years old. It has been the killer of most men in my family. My PSA last year was 2.4. It's time for this years check now.

NASA · November 02, 2007, 01:58:11 PM

I've been doing it for the last 12 years. So far, so good. I'm 0.7 and within the "normal" range of 0.0 to 4.0 using the Bayer immunoassay. There are other assay methods and the results are not interchangeable.

(edit) You only need to get the blood test and finger wave once a year. It's cheap insurance that could save your live.

frshwtr · November 02, 2007, 02:22:34 PM

i started this post knowing it isnt an easy topic to discuss. i want to thank all of you for comeing forth and talking about it. they tell me its one of the easiest cancers to treat as long as you catch it early. if anybody is reading these posts and still dont want to go to the bother of getting checked then you are a fool. look at your fellow members and see the love ones they lost, feel their pain and greiving. do you want to put your loved ones in that situation.

KySongDog · November 02, 2007, 04:37:32 PM

Besides the real threat of dying there is another good reason to get the 'ol prostate checked and problems corrected early.

*If* the disease advances to the point where the prostate has to be removed, impotence is a real possibility.

A friend of mine went through that scenario.

Semp

Roundman · November 02, 2007, 05:30:09 PM

QuoteThey diagnosed my dad with prostate cancer last week

Sorry to hear that Ronnie. The family and I will be praying for your dad.

Bopeye · November 02, 2007, 09:38:42 PM

Prayers for both of you.

Been thinking about the whole colonoscopy and prostrate thing............guess I'll have it done after reading all this.