Prostate cancer awareness

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Johnniepk

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
 

Johnniepk said:
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
Click to expand...

Thanks for this! And best of luck with your treatment.
 
Good luck with your treatment , hopefully it’s done the trick.

The most frustrating thing for me is the lack of a proper test for Prostate Cancer . I donate monthly to Prostate Cancer UK, get and read their literature. There are valid reasons why GPs will be reluctant to do a PSA test , and Prostate Cancer UK have written detailed articles on why PSA screening is not happening . Basically the science says its not effective enough and overall an universally testing system would do more harm than good.

Its a strange one to get your head around. There are so many stories about PSA tests picking up cancer , and I’ve had these conversations with three GPs and all have explained their rational behind their thinking. If you are experiencing symptoms then you really need to have it checked out by your GP and if necessary a PSA test. I would guess that just about every man over 50 , certainly over 60 experiences some kind of peeing issue . Read up on PSA tests , discuss it with your GP and make up your own mind , but be wary of thinking this is some kind of great “ Go/ No go” test which will give you the answer you want. Education on this is really key for any man over 50.
 
blueloon said:
Good luck with your treatment , hopefully it’s done the trick.

The most frustrating thing for me is the lack of a proper test for Prostate Cancer . I donate monthly to Prostate Cancer UK, get and read their literature. There are valid reasons why GPs will be reluctant to do a PSA test , and Prostate Cancer UK have written detailed articles on why PSA screening is not happening . Basically the science says its not effective enough and overall an universally testing system would do more harm than good.

Its a strange one to get your head around. There are so many stories about PSA tests picking up cancer , and I’ve had these conversations with three GPs and all have explained their rational behind their thinking. If you are experiencing symptoms then you really need to have it checked out by your GP and if necessary a PSA test. I would guess that just about every man over 50 , certainly over 60 experiences some kind of peeing issue . Read up on PSA tests , discuss it with your GP and make up your own mind , but be wary of thinking this is some kind of great “ Go/ No go” test which will give you the answer you want. Education on this is really key for any man over 50.
Click to expand...
Agree. Additionally bear in mind, that the NHS threshold for potentially invasive investigation, like other cancer tests, such as the FIT test, is extremely low.

With the FIT tests for example, 98% of those referred for colonoscopy dont have cancer.
 

Johnniepk said:
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
Click to expand...
Thanks for sharing man.

I had the dreaded finger up the arse a few months ago for the first time, thankfully nothing to worry about. Also it was loads easier than I’d worried about, as you say the doctor gets the worst deal.

I lost a mate at 40 to cancer and he made me promise him when dying to get everything that doesn’t seem right checked out by a doctor. Lads need to get better at this and there’s little excuse when a lot of us have access to socialised health care.

Well said John, and pleased you’re on the path to recovery.
 

Johnniepk said:
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
Click to expand...
Batter it John! xxx
 
Johnniepk said:
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
Click to expand...
I was exactly the same, no real symptoms but was picked up on a routine blood test.
I also have completed my radiotherapy and now just have a six monthly hormone injection. As for worrying about the finger up the bum it's no big deal.The only thing that hasn't been pushed up my hoop in the last 12 months is David Attenborough.
You should all get checked if possible , it's better to know than worry you might have it.
 
paultheblue said:
I was exactly the same, no real symptoms but was picked up on a routine blood test.
I also have completed my radiotherapy and now just have a six monthly hormone injection. As for worrying about the finger up the bum it's no big deal.The only thing that hasn't been pushed up my hoop in the last 12 months is David Attenborough.
You should all get checked if possible , it's better to know than worry you might have it.
Click to expand...
Can I ask you, what your PSA level was when you were first detected? Hearing that 4+is a red flag.
 

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