Ray Clemence, prostate cancer and the PSA test

[al the pirate]

I realise I'm breaking all the rules but this a matter of life and death.

With the news of Ray Clemence passing, it is quite likely that a simple blood test could have saved his life, just like it saved mine.

Especially men over 50 PLEASE GET A PSA TEST it could save your life too.

[phantom]

7 minutes ago, al the pirate said:

I realise I'm breaking all the rules but this a matter of life and death.

With the news of Ray Clemence passing, it is quite likely that a simple blood test could have saved his life, just like it saved mine.

Especially men over 50 PLEASE GET A PSA TEST it could save your life too.

It's great news that the test saved your life and you raise a very important point, anything prostrate related continues to be a stigma amongst men.

More information can be obtained here

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/should-i-have-psa-test/

The most important thing, if you notice anything not right see your GP as soon as possible. We only get one chance at life, don't let pride get in the way. 

[oldstandrobin]

I am 70 and have PSA test every 2 years but you really have to insist with your surgery. Despite all the ads, etc, I have found a lot of surgeries don't promote it and you have to insist you want it. It may be just a local thing as our surgery in Burnham is overwhelmed and can't seem to get doctor's but it's YOUR RIGHT.

[clunes]

I wasn’t aware Ray Clemence had Prostate Cancer. That’s what took my Dad at age 59. He found out he had it at 56 and it was symptomless until one day he collapsed with a shortness of breath. His cancer was so far progressed that when he had a PSA test, his result was 729 when someone of his age should return a score of around 5. Get checked. Insist on it.

[Son of Fred]

1 hour ago, oldstandrobin said:

I am 70 and have PSA test every 2 years but you really have to insist with your surgery. Despite all the ads, etc, I have found a lot of surgeries don't promote it and you have to insist you want it. It may be just a local thing as our surgery in Burnham is overwhelmed and can't seem to get doctor's but it's YOUR RIGHT.

It's very poor that there is no national screening programme for prostate cancer.. 

Strange that the ethos around this seem to favour the 'cons' rather than 'pro's!!

[Robbored]

1 hour ago, oldstandrobin said:

I am 70 and have PSA test every 2 years but you really have to insist with your surgery. Despite all the ads, etc, I have found a lot of surgeries don't promote it and you have to insist you want it. It may be just a local thing as our surgery in Burnham is overwhelmed and can't seem to get doctor's but it's YOUR RIGHT.

Surgeries don’t promote PSA tests because they are not definitive evidence of prostrate cancer but just an indication that there could be a problem. I asked my GP for a test but he declined explaining what I’ve just posted.

A more reliable symptom is frequent peeing but only passing a small amount. Its caused by the prostrate expanding and strangling the urethra which passes thru it. 

If you have that symptom then your GP will probably do a PR ( per rectum )which enables them to feel the prostrate and that will tell them whether it’s enlarged or not.

[Riaz]

11 hours ago, al the pirate said:

I realise I'm breaking all the rules but this a matter of life and death.

With the news of Ray Clemence passing, it is quite likely that a simple blood test could have saved his life, just like it saved mine.

Especially men over 50 PLEASE GET A PSA TEST it could save your life too.

Can you get one on the NHS?

[Robbored]

4 minutes ago, Riaz said:

Can you get one on the NHS?

Of course - if your GP approves it.

[downendcity]

When my brother was diagnosed with prostate cancer 3 years ago my sister, who is a nurse, told me to get a PSA test. There was no problem arranging it at my surgery although I suspect it might not be so easy now, given the pandemic situation, unless you have specific symptoms. 

[bpexile]

2 hours ago, oldstandrobin said:

I am 70 and have PSA test every 2 years but you really have to insist with your surgery. Despite all the ads, etc, I have found a lot of surgeries don't promote it and you have to insist you want it. It may be just a local thing as our surgery in Burnham is overwhelmed and can't seem to get doctor's but it's YOUR RIGHT.

I'm close to 73 & because of diabetes history in my family I have a full blood test every 6 months, so far so good & highly recommended.

[Hxj]

If anyone is thinking of having a PSA test they should read around the subject and make an informed decision with advice from their GP.  Just because you have a right to a test, doesn't mean that it is right to have a test.

A high PSA level in a blood test is not a good indicator of having prostate cancer and even more dangerously many men with prostate cancer have normal PSA levels AND THEREFORE IGNORE THE SYMPTONS BELOW.

You should always discuss the following symptoms with your GP as a matter or urgency:

• difficulty starting to urinate or emptying your bladder
• a weak flow when you urinate
• a feeling that your bladder hasn’t emptied properly
• dribbling urine after you finish urinating
• needing to urinate more often than usual, especially at night
• a sudden need to urinate – you may sometimes leak urine before you get to the toilet.

[Guest]

Ok, from someone who has been through this.

I had symptoms so went to GP. I had the finger up the bum and a PSA test. GP didn't detect anything with the finger up the bum BUT the PSA came back higher than normal. It is the PSA test that got me to a specialist at Southmead.

The specialists know what they are looking for. The finger up the bum was more thorough and warranted a MRI (this was all done on the same day). They were concerned about something and decided to do a biopsy. I had mine done under a local and it wasn't pleasant (I know other fellas who have had it done under local and they were Ok, so you can't take my experience as the de facto experience).

About the procedure:
You are given antibiotics before the procedure and this is a sepsis preventative measure (you still have to watch out for the symptoms). Three people (in my case) present: the surgeon, someone who is double checking everything and someone doing the paper work. Local anaesthetic in the perineum, ultrasound probe up the butt, and then the sampling takes place. All I'll say is, it was unpleasant for me (I will not lie about this but the thought of this should not prevent anyone from going through this - I might just have been unlucky with my experience).

Afterwards:
You can look at the paperwork about the symptoms afterwards and mine was blood in my semen for about 6 weeks (it's a bit of a shock but I wasn't in any pain so condom on, to cut down on the mess, and back to business). Other than that, really didn't bother me.

Results:
My results came back as 'High-Grade-Pin' which isn't cancer but I will be checked on a regular basis.

My thoughts:
Scared the crap out of me once I found out I had to go for a biopsy - all sorts of things go through your mind and it's all bad.
From start to finish, this causes me a great deal of anxiety.
Even though the biopsy was uncomfortable, I'd have this done again. Why? Because the worry of not having it done is more diabilitatating over time than a short time of discomfort.

To the main worry:
CANCER, the big C
What they don't tell you about is the percentages etc.
There will be a percentage that get the full on, you're dying in months.
There is also the treatable percentage.
There is, the cancer is so slow growing that you are more likely to die from old age than the cancer and they just monitor
And then there is you are clear or you have something like 'High-grade-PIN'.

The main takeaway:
If you are worried, go and see your GP and talk to them. You will not be forced to do anything you don't want. Things will just be explained to you.
If you think your GP is fobbing you off, INSIST (if they refuse, tell them your will report them) that they do a PSA test (you have a 'right' to this test, in much the same way that the ladies have rights about cervix and boob tests). If it is elevated, you WILL jump all sorts of queues because this is considered to be a risk of cancer. I was seen in a week and had my biopsy in 4 weeks (it can happen quicker).
Talk to your family, friends etc. BUT remember, they are unlikely to be medically trained and be able to give you good advice.
Do not seek advice, reassurances etc. on the Internet. Don't get me wrong, a lot of useful information out there but loads of crap advice.
It is better to do something than let ignorance or being scared kill you.

You are free to ignore my post, and I'd expect you take it with a pinch of salt, but don't let your fear kill you.

[pillred]

3 hours ago, Robbored said:

Surgeries don’t promote PSA tests because they are not definitive evidence of prostrate cancer but just an indication that there could be a problem. I asked my GP for a test but he declined explaining what I’ve just posted.

A more reliable symptom is frequent peeing but only passing a small amount. Its caused by the prostrate expanding and strangling the urethra which passes thru it. 

If you have that symptom then your GP will probably do a PR ( per rectum )which enables them to feel the prostrate and that will tell them whether it’s enlarged or not.

In the vast majority of cases this is benign prostate hyperplasia, I have it and am on medication to relax the muscles in the urethra and shrink the prostate, these symptom's are very common in men and are nothing to be unduly worried about but certainly worth having a check up if you are showing the classic symptoms, but be reassured in the vast majority of cases it's NOT cancer.

[Ronnie Sinclair]

I've had prostatitis before, and wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy, absolute agony.  

[phantom]

Important that if anyone notices anything different of amiss that they get checked out