My experience: I am now 56 and went to Dr about something else and had a blood test which flagged up high PSA. Got sent for biopsy. This was horrible. Humiliating and painful. Confirmed that I’d got Prostate Cancer but low grade, low risk. So got put on ‘watchful waiting’ i.e. regular testing. Next biopsy showed that it had got worse and that I needed treatment whilst it was still, hopefully, contained in prostate. I had a Labroscopic Radical Prostatectomy just over 9 weeks ago. I go back to the Consultant in a few weeks to see the results of the tests they will have done to see how aggressive the cancer was and whether they think it is likely to have spread. It’s been pretty grim at times, most of the time if I’m honest. I was off work for a month. I have started running again but no cycling as yet. Being pragmatic, I am still here and lucky to have been diagnosed early.

having staples fired into your walnut sounds nasty.

On a par with a dentist visit but at the other end. A bit alarming looking into the toilet bowl for the first day after …

The Grid Of Needles. Effing painful.

I’m guessing you didn’t cycle home …

A finger? Luxury 😉

I’m going in on Monday to get 50 litres of Co2 and a BBC Film crew up there.

A swift couple of pints of Moviprep will soften me up first.

So what, unless its in the family or you are showing some signature symptoms, dont push to get tested?  Its very confusing to my mind, certainly now I’m over 40 and hyper-aware, taking any slight discomfort as something terminal, after losing my mum to cervical cancer in the recent past.

Following the publicity a few years ago I went and asked for a PSA test.

Doctor refused as I didn’t appear to have any symptoms. 70 now and still not had it done and still riding my bike although I just ordered a new guitar instead of a new bike.

I think GPs are slightly coming round to the benefits, in many instances, of the use of the PSA test as an annual or similar index test for those with risk factors. That’s the view of my Consultant anyway..

MrSparkle, there are a few of us on here who have been where you are (my link on first page). Drop me a PM at any time if you want a natter..

iainc – thanks for that. I appreciate the offer.

Well I had reasonably elevated PSA levels at age 56 so my GP got me in and did the finger up the bum. She thought she felt something irregular so sent me to a specialist. It was a little embarrassing but compared to the worry of possible cancer it was OK. Strangely being a middle aged women who said she had seen it all before seemed to help and it was tolerable.

Anyway after further tests and two biopsy’s (both not particularly pleasant but tolerable as well) it is confirmed l have lowest grade cancer on the scale. They are just monitoring it – regular PSA tests and an MRI and occasional biopsy to check what’s happening. They think it maybe dormant so nothing to worry about (at the moment). I have no symptoms and feel happy and healthy. I have learnt to live with it now. Strangely it feels good to know and have it monitored. Shit happens but it could be a lot worse.

Get yourself checked – if the cancer spreads from the prostate it’s not good!

Get yourself checked – if the cancer spreads from the prostate it’s not good!

Too right! I’ve been sitting on this* for too long. Should have got it looked into** ages ago.

*See what I did there?

**I’m on a roll with this now!

I have to call them after 2:30 tomorrow if they don’t call me first. Can’t wait!

Urgh. They buggered up the test. Got to have it done again.

They buggered up the test.

Or you have a medic that likes you very much! 🙂

Just bloods. Nobody has licked the back of my neck just yet.

There’s a good BBC “Inside Health” podcast (here) from last year that’s well worth a listen. It’s quite good on testing and treatment but a bit rose-tinted about the availability of the newer more useful “steered” needle biopsies to the general population.

Reading through the thread   there are a couple of posts where people have said they have been diagnosed with low grade cancer and they have just been monitored.

Why is it not treated at this point ? Is it a case of there isnt an effective treatment ?

Seems daft to let it develop into something harder to treat if you can catch it in its infancy

^^^^ when I was going through it all, my Consultant put it succinctly : 9 out of 10 men who die at an old age have prostate cancer which hasn’t killed them, 1 in 10 men die of prostate cancer.  Many are slow growing and have minimal impact on life quality, whereas the surgery for many men can be more life changing in the negative – some men become incontinent post surgery, most suffer permanent erectile disfunction to a greater or lesser extent.

@revs1972. Mine is classified low risk as we suspect the the first template biopsy removed the growth. To be certain it’s gone the prostate has to come out. Mine is rather large (6 times normal size, when last measured) and the risks of incontinence and impotence are quite high. The size of the prostate also means it leaves a big exit wound, the robot around here does keyhole work but the gland has to come out through a big hole in one piece. I’ll have it done when it needs doing but not as a precaution.

The hell that is Ikea on a Saturday got in the way yesterday. Now to build the purchases.

Sandwich,

I thought for a minute there that you were comparing it to the hell of Ikea  😁

In for more tests in… 6 minutes.

All clear! Yay!

Still feeling rough though, so more investigation is required elsewhere.

All clear! Yay!

Very quick results, I’ve always had to wait for a letter from the hospital….

and well done on the all clear.

5 weeks of blood letting, prodding and poking. Got the bloods back a few days ago.

Are you thinking of having a PSA test having read this thread?

heres some things they don’t tell you – I did a bit of research before my third PSA test and mad e these notes – reading this thread prompted me to share.
<p class=”p1″><b>Aging Affects PSA Levels</b></p>
<p class=”p2″>Even without any prostate problems, your PSA level can go up gradually as you age. “At age 40, a PSA of 2.5 is the normal limit,” says <span class=”s1″>John Milner, MD</span>, a urologist in the Chicago area. “By age 60, the limit is up to 4.5; by age 70, a PSA of 6.5 could be considered normal.”</p>
<p class=”p2″>https://www.everydayhealth.com/prostate-cancer/non-cancerous-reasons-your-psa-levels-are-high.aspx</p&gt;
<p class=”p2″>https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319551.php</p&gt;
<p class=”p2″>”https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information/prostate-tests/psa-test</p&gt;
<p class=”p1″><b>What could affect my PSA level?</b></p>
<p class=”p2”>Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is produced by healthy cells in the prostate, so it’s normal to have a small amount of PSA in your blood. The amount rises as you get older and your prostate gets bigger. Prostate problems, such as an <span class=”s2″><b>enlarged prostate</b></span> or <span class=”s2″><b>prostatitis</b></span>, can cause your PSA level to rise – but lots of other things can affect your PSA level too.</p>
<p class=”p2″><b>A urine infection – </b>You may have a test for a urine infection as this can raise your PSA level. If you have an infection, you’ll be given treatment for this. You’ll need to wait until the infection has gone – around six weeks – before you have a PSA test.</p>
<p class=”p2″><b>Vigorous exercise – </b>You might be asked not to do any vigorous exercise, especially cycling, in the 48 hours before a PSA test.</p>
<p class=”p2″><b>Ejaculation – </b>You may be asked to avoid any sexual activity that leads to ejaculation in the 48 hours before a PSA test.</p>
<p class=”p2″><b>Anal sex and prostate stimulation – </b>Receiving anal sex might raise your PSA level for a while. Having your prostate stimulated during sex might also raise your PSA level. It might be worth avoiding this for a week before a PSA test.</p>
<p class=”p2″><b>Digital rectal examination (DRE) – </b>Having a <span class=”s2″><b>DRE</b></span> just before a PSA test might raise your PSA level a small amount. Your doctor might avoid testing your PSA for a week if you’ve just had a DRE.</p>
<p class=”p2″><b>Prostate biopsy – </b>If you’ve had a <span class=”s2″><b>prostate biopsy</b></span> in the six weeks before a PSA test, this could raise your PSA level.</p>
<p class=”p2″><b>Medicines – </b>Let your GP or practice nurse know if you’re taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, as some can affect men’s PSA levels. For example, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors such as finasteride (Proscar®) or dutasteride (Avodart®), which can be used to treat an <span class=”s2″><b>enlarged prostate</b></span>, can reduce your PSA level and give a false test result.</p>
<p class=”p2″><b>Other tests or surgery – </b>If you have a catheter or have had any tests or surgery on your bladder or prostate, you may need to wait up to six weeks before having a PSA test.”</p>

I had a high PSA test (4.5+) a few years ago after a rather long bikeride the day before, one with a lot of sitting – I was told, “it’s high but what we do before referring you to the cancer team is wait 6 weeks and test again”. That was a rather stressful 6 weeks.

Next test was low – phew.

8 years later they wanted to PSA test again, no mention of the above “stuff to avoid”, [even though I live in Brighton ;~} ] – anyway I did avoid the above treats and the PSA test was very low for  my age. I’m 60+ it was under 3.

SO there’s a moral, if I’d ridden the bike or had a shag during the week it might have led to the dreaded biopsy.

Be informed

hope this helps someone

ps I’ve no idea whats happened to my post it seems to be HTML now!!

looks good in editor! not when posted

anyone help?

don’t reply here please, I might miss it, e-mail me on flatpedalthunder(attt)gmail(ddoottt)com

That’s a really important post right there but it’s a shame this ‘kin forum makes it virtually illegible.

but it’s a shame this ‘kin forum makes it virtually illegible.

Tsk Tsk, it’s all part of the grand plan for commercial success, make posts illegible to increase revenue. Obvious if you think about it.

Biopsy testing appears to have retreated as a primary check on the prostate. My level was high again 2 weeks ago and I’m down for the new MRI scan that can show lumps, bumps and lesions.

A sense of relief as the last time I was off the bike for several months.

I get PSA done every year – on hormone replacement so it has to be checked. It’s been on or around 1.0 and slightly higher, but was 2.0 last test – certainly up, but within range and I’m well aware of the cycling impact (I’d not been near the bike for a few days the last time).  No concerns raised.

My Uncle has Prostate Cancer, but he was also told – “it won’t kill him” – he’s in his late 70’s and still fine.

Hmmmm….

I’m 50 next week and had the prostate thing in the back of my mind for a while.

Had neurosurgery etc in the past so don’t really mind the digit check method in the grand scale of things.

If I go see my gp and ask for the finger check will they just do it during that appointment do you reckon? Just to get it over and done with?

I am sure they will do the finger thing at your age if they ask. My experience was that they will get you to do a blood test as well to check your PSA levels. Both tests are not totally conclusive as to whether you have cancer from what I understand but gives an indication.

Good luck with it!

Cheers bud, going to call tomorrow to make an appointment… With any male doctor.lol

Usually a 4 week plus wait to get an appointed at my docs now….

Ask for the one with the longest and thinnest finger. I swear my guy was in up to his watch.

Had a digit up the jacksy in my late 20s after I noticed blood in my pee. Nothing to it, although I was desperate for a dump at the time so I dread to think what the tide marks on the docs glove would have been like.

However, a camera stuffed down my knob end all the way in to my bladder was the worst pain I’ve ever felt, I swear the camera had barbs on!