Johnniepk
Player Valuation: £8m
1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
Last March i joined that club.
I have had my treatment, and hopefully its done the trick. I will be routinely checked for life now.
I post this not to tell my story ( but happy to tell all!) but to raise the importance of getting your prostate checked out.
The posters you read, while having a wee, will tell you to watch out for the symptoms. Weak stream, peeing a lot , difficulty starting to pee, blood in urine or semen, ED etc
What they dont say is 80% of men diagnosed had no symptoms. I had no symptoms.
Mine was picked up in a random blood test. They test for PSA levels.
Prostate specific antigen. It is raised from normal levels when the prostate is in distress. Its not always cancer. It can be raised from other things, including having sex or riding a bike. ( avoid both at the same time)
If its raised the GP will do a DRE ( digital rectal exam). A finger up your bum. It doesn’t hurt , it’s a bit weird. I reckon the GP gets the worst of the deal. The GP may feel the gland is lumpy or hard , in which case you are off for a mri pronto. The scans will be viewed and if anything looks suspicious you will then have a biopsy. The biopsy will identify any cancer or not.
Followed then by any treatment required. With this disease you actually get a lot of treatment options and you get to choose.
Back to my reason for posting.
Basically, fellas, get your PSA checked. Any bloke over 50 can ask for one. Any bloke with a family history of prostate cancer can ask for one. GPs can be reluctant so you might have to push a bit. You can also pay to have a test.
If anyone wants a test but is getting nowhere with the GP and would not be in a position to pay, then let me know and I will take care of it.
One things is clear. Early diagnoses of this wretched disease makes treatment less brutal and with more curative intent.
I have learnt so much this past year. I honestly did not know what my prostate did this time last year!
Get checked out.
Please
Last March i joined that club.
I have had my treatment, and hopefully its done the trick. I will be routinely checked for life now.
I post this not to tell my story ( but happy to tell all!) but to raise the importance of getting your prostate checked out.
The posters you read, while having a wee, will tell you to watch out for the symptoms. Weak stream, peeing a lot , difficulty starting to pee, blood in urine or semen, ED etc
What they dont say is 80% of men diagnosed had no symptoms. I had no symptoms.
Mine was picked up in a random blood test. They test for PSA levels.
Prostate specific antigen. It is raised from normal levels when the prostate is in distress. Its not always cancer. It can be raised from other things, including having sex or riding a bike. ( avoid both at the same time)
If its raised the GP will do a DRE ( digital rectal exam). A finger up your bum. It doesn’t hurt , it’s a bit weird. I reckon the GP gets the worst of the deal. The GP may feel the gland is lumpy or hard , in which case you are off for a mri pronto. The scans will be viewed and if anything looks suspicious you will then have a biopsy. The biopsy will identify any cancer or not.
Followed then by any treatment required. With this disease you actually get a lot of treatment options and you get to choose.
Back to my reason for posting.
Basically, fellas, get your PSA checked. Any bloke over 50 can ask for one. Any bloke with a family history of prostate cancer can ask for one. GPs can be reluctant so you might have to push a bit. You can also pay to have a test.
If anyone wants a test but is getting nowhere with the GP and would not be in a position to pay, then let me know and I will take care of it.
One things is clear. Early diagnoses of this wretched disease makes treatment less brutal and with more curative intent.
I have learnt so much this past year. I honestly did not know what my prostate did this time last year!
Get checked out.
Please