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P.S.A

Derek1952
Derek1952 Posts: 779
in Not Sports Related
Any Advice please. I had a blood test recently and my P.S.A is high according to my Doctor(dont know what the readings were) so I have an appointment at my local Hospital for examination which lasts about 2 hours. Can any one tell me what
 is involved and the pain/discomfort. Serious answers please, I am worried enough as it is.
«134

Comments

  • Essex_Al
    Essex_Al Posts: 3,582
    For your age Derek, readings should be between 1-4, anything over that and they will generally start investigating.

    Finger up the bum time I'm afraid!
  • SoundAsa£
    SoundAsa£ Posts: 22,480
    Just make sure you don’t feel a hand on each shoulder whilst the examination is being carried out!
  • Derek1952
    Derek1952 Posts: 779
    My profile name does not reflect my age,I am older than that.
  • cfgs
    cfgs Posts: 11,476
    Whatever they do, it will either put your mind at rest or be the first step towards getting healthy. 

    Good luck.
  • Lincsaddick
    Lincsaddick Posts: 32,348
    edited June 2019
    PSA readings are notoriously unreliable according to my medics acquaintances .. the 'finger up the bum' is not as bad as you might think (I presume you are a 'virgin' to this procedure) and the 'fingerer' (lol) can tell a lot by feeling the size of your prostate.
    Prostates tend to enlarge with age and an enlargement does not necessarily mean that it is cancerous.
    Nowadays prostate surgery is a very last resort even when cancer is found. There are ways to control the problem through medication and radiation.
    The trick is not to get too worried, although that is easy for me to say, and to always ask for a second opinion, and that goes for any anxiety causing potential health problem 

    EDIT I forgot to add that a preliminary examination with involves taking 'samples' from your prostate for analysis is unpleasant. For my part, that should only be done when a dangerous cancer has been pretty much verified. But remember, I write this as a layman 

    GOOD LUCK
  • Covered End
    Covered End Posts: 52,006
    edited June 2019
    Derek loads of fans had a PSA test done at The Valley recently. Read this thread my friend.
    https://forum.charltonlife.com/discussion/comment/3556437#Comment_3556437
    PS A finger up the bum test takes what 10 seconds and is literally no problem at all.
  • Henry Irving
    Henry Irving Posts: 85,222
    Been through this recently and have a check up next week.

    First thing is ask what the PSA score was.

    Second, the PSA indicates the size  of your prostate, not that you have cancer.  An enlarged prostate MAY be an indicator of cancer but it doesn't automatically follow.

    There is nothing in your appointment to worry about in my opinion.

    They will ask you lots of questions and may give you a digital examination.  The finger has a lot of vasaline on it, doesn't hurt and the whole process takes two seconds.

    They may suggest or give you a MRI which is like a big x-ray where you lie down for 30 mins while they scan you. No pain and you're clothed.

    It's better, in my view, to know than not know. The process is all ok and for you own good.

    I hope it all goes ok.  
  • queensland_addick
    queensland_addick Posts: 7,547
    As Lincs said, don't fret too much at this stage. I had a false positive a few years ago. There can be many other reasons for an elevated PSA, such as prostatitis, having had sex within a few days of the test, even cycling can cause an elevation of the antigen. I had an MRI and a more specific PSA blood test which measures Free and Complexed PSA within the blood. Thankfully I had negative results from both, and a subsequent PSA test was back in the normal range. 
    I decided against a biopsy, as although routine, it is not without risks and still misses 20% of cancers anyway.
    Even if you have very early stage prostate cancer, these days there is a lot of debate about whether prostatectomy is a superior treatment to simply taking a conservative approach of watching and waiting.
    Most older men develop prostate cancer eventually, but usually something else kills them before the prostate cancer does.
    As Lincs said, seek a second opinion before making any big decisions as different doctors have different ideas about the best course of treatment according to your age and other important factors.


  • lolwray
    lolwray Posts: 4,900
    Hi Derek...i really don't think you have anything to worry about at the moment....what other blood or pee tests have been done ? Do you have any other issues..for instance peeing to much or too little? Anything changed Down there? Ahem ? ...I feel for you as I have just spent the last 2 weeks fearing the worst just like you ...I am fine and I expect you are ..but you are Doing the right thing getting checked...good luck old son 
  • hmmoore
    hmmoore Posts: 125
    Happy to share this. I have been having a routine PSA blood test for a few years now and last year my PSA was high. This resulted in an MRI followed by a biopsy which confirmed prostate cancer. Because they caught it early stage they said monitoring was best and if I had not been tested then nothing would have been evident for probably 10 years, and it would not have become terminal for 25! After 6 month of the diagnosis a blood test showed my PSA had gone down so no further action then. When the next 6 months is up I'll have another MRI to decide if I need another biopsy. I should be able to just have the monitoring for about 10 years and, if things do advance anytime during that period I can opt to have my prostate removed which should be 100% effective with very minor side effects. I guess my point is that basically, so far, it's made no real changes to my life at all apart from the once a year uncomfortable, but not too painful, intrusion! If caught early, it's really one of the more treatable, unaffecting less worrying cancers. You may never need major treatment depending on your age. I'm 56 btw and not worried about it all.
    Hope this helps to put your mind at rest.
     
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  • Valiantphil
    Valiantphil Posts: 6,410
    They don’t always do the old invasive test nowadays. They use the baby scan technology to get a 3D picture of the prostrate. 
    If they are unhappy with the scans they may take a scape of it - local anaesthetic- for lab analysis. 
    Not much pain involved, more discomfort, but better to be safe. 
  • Derek1952
    Derek1952 Posts: 779
    Thank you so much for all your positive comments,very reassuring. I have no symptoms,it was only because of my age(76) that caused the Doctor to do a PSA test.
  • Derek1952
    Derek1952 Posts: 779
    I have had a few MRI scans in the past so not worried about that. I think I would rather have the Prostrate removed instead of Radiation treatment. My father had that for Cancer from working on
    Nuclear Submarines in Chatham Dockyard.
  • AddicksAddict
    AddicksAddict Posts: 15,791
    Best of luck, however things turn out. 
  • _MrDick
    _MrDick Posts: 13,107
    I’m coming up to 60. My PSA reading last October was 4.7 and my doctor packed me off to hospital on a two week cancer referral. Had the examination and they found a lump. So I had an MRI scan. Thankfully, no cancer but I do have an enlarged prostate. I’ve had a cystoscopy and my prostate weighs 100g when a normal one should weigh about 20g. I was booked in for surgery (TURPS) to have it shaved but at the last minute the surgeon decided it was too risky because of the potential amount of blood I’d lose. I’m now on a waiting list at Guys for Green Light laser surgery which is less risky and I’m only in hospital for a day. Try not to worry until there’s something to worry about. All the best ... 
  • Derek1952
    Derek1952 Posts: 779
    There is a video on youtube with Stephen Fry going through the detection and surgery procecdure you may be interested in.But he went private so it was a lot quicker,time wise. I certainly feel
     better reading all your comments.
  • Robbo on the wing
    Robbo on the wing Posts: 4,135
    Covered End said:

    PS A finger up the bum test takes what 10 seconds and is literally no problem at all.
    I guess that has a lot to do with whether it has been one way traffic all your life.
  • JamesSeed
    JamesSeed Posts: 17,380
    edited June 2019
    Lincsaddick said:
    PSA readings are notoriously unreliable according to my medics acquaintances .. the 'finger up the bum' is not as bad as you might think (I presume you are a 'virgin' to this procedure) and the 'fingerer' (lol) can tell a lot by feeling the size of your prostate.
    Prostates tend to enlarge with age and an enlargement does not necessarily mean that it is cancerous.
    Nowadays prostate surgery is a very last resort even when cancer is found. There are ways to control the problem through medication and radiation.
    The trick is not to get too worried, although that is easy for me to say, and to always ask for a second opinion, and that goes for any anxiety causing potential health problem 

    EDIT I forgot to add that a preliminary examination with involves taking 'samples' from your prostate for analysis is unpleasant. For my part, that should only be done when a dangerous cancer has been pretty much verified. But remember, I write this as a layman 

    GOOD LUCK
    The finger up the bum is just slightly uncomfortable. No big deal, honest.

    But please remember that you have a right to have an MRI scan if they believe your prostate is either enlarged or cancerous. If you have a two hour appointment it's possible they plan to give you an MRI scan. If they plan to give you a biopsy I'd tell them you want an MRI scan first. This is your right since a NICE ruling about twelve months ago.
    Best of luck. 
  • Derek1952
    Derek1952 Posts: 779
    Todays the day for my two hour Hospital ordeal,hope ii is less than that. Trying not to worry,but not easy.
  • Essex_Al
    Essex_Al Posts: 3,582
    Derek1952 said:
    Todays the day for my two hour Hospital ordeal,hope ii is less than that. Trying not to worry,but not easy.


    Good luck mate

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  • Derek1952
    Derek1952 Posts: 779
    Thank You
  • Derek1952
    Derek1952 Posts: 779
    Back from Hospital,not good Doctor thinks it is prostate cancer and probably spread to the bones. I have a month of taken hormone tablets to try to arrest the spread.P.S.A is 1200 NOT GOOD. The
     highest is about 25,000.
  • hoof_it_up_to_benty
    hoof_it_up_to_benty Posts: 22,447
    Sorry to hear your bad news. Hope you've got some support.
  • Henry Irving
    Henry Irving Posts: 85,222
    Sorry to hear that.

    Hope they can deal with it now they know about it.
  • lolwray
    lolwray Posts: 4,900
    Hi Derek 
    Sorry to hear your news please keep us posted we are on your team 


  • SoundAsa£
    SoundAsa£ Posts: 22,480
    Derek1952 said:
    Back from Hospital,not good Doctor thinks it is prostate cancer and probably spread to the bones. I have a month of taken hormone tablets to try to arrest the spread.P.S.A is 1200 NOT GOOD. The
     highest is about 25,000.
    Don’t despair Derek......still lots that can be done and there are some very very good procedures that can be performed, the success rates for prostate cancer treatment gets better and better by the day.
    Stay positive old chap.
  • Six-a-bag-of-nuts
    Six-a-bag-of-nuts Posts: 8,127
    Sorry to hear your news @Derek1952
    Best of luck with your treatments.
  • Mendonca In Asdas
    Mendonca In Asdas Posts: 22,650
    All the best Derek, try and stay positive,
  • _MrDick
    _MrDick Posts: 13,107
    Best wishes, Derek. Best of luck with the treatments. Fingers crossed 🤞 
  • Stig
    Stig Posts: 29,024
    Good luck, Derek.

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