doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com A New Years resolution nearly everyone should make

Over the past few years my yearly PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) tests had been slowly increasing until, early in 2008 they were just above 4, my doctor rechecked it six months later only to find it above 6, not good. A subsequent biopsy revealed that I had early stage prostate cancer. I had my prostate surgically removed on December 15th; my post-op biopsy found that the cancer was contained within the prostate, though it had almost breached the prostate wall. I was very lucky, according to the doctor I should be cancer free (at least in regards to my prostate). However, I’m to have quarterly PSA tests for the next two years, I guess I can actually celebrate this good news in 2010 (my loving wife of 36 years has inoperable (terminal) cancer; it’s made me rather cynical when it comes to “good news” regarding cancer).
The point of this revelation is to urge my many friends and acquaintances on this board to get a PSA screening included in their next blood test, and then do something about if the results reveal bad news. My doctor told me that if I had done nothing I probably would not have known about my cancer for 5-7 years, at which time it may have been too late.
Make it a New Years resolution to get a PSA test this year!
Steve
PS what made me write this was a conversation with a young woman I work with. Her fathers friend died of prostate cancer about 15 years ago. Before he died he made his friends agree to be tested, 4 out 17 friends were found to have prostate cancer. My friends father is alive today because of the PSA test he took at the urging of his dying friend; you see, he was one of the unlucky 4 to find out he had prostate cancer, yet lucky to catch it early when it could still be cured.

Steve,

Excellent advice. I am glad they found it early. I would add a colonscopy.

Pete

Steve

I had the same surgery on May the second. Did you have robitic surgery?

Everything wroks as before by now and two checks have been clean so far. My PSA was 4.6 and I to would urge everyone over 40 to have a PSA done every year.

I am sorry to hear about your wife.

Regards, Gordon

Pete
I had a colonoscopy six years ago, doctor found no problems. I'll do it again in 2013 per his recommendation.
Gordon
I had the robotic "laposcopic" surgery; recovery hasn't been too bad, I hate to even think about the recovery from the older surgical methods.
Steve

Very good advice Rockdoc - cancer has hit my family pretty hard -so I get my PSA test and Colonscopies on schedule.

40 is the time to start. A good friend of mine developed Prostate cancer at 44 years old - about 5 years before the guidelines say to begin testing. Prayers for your wife.

Prostate

Shotgunjones
You're right, that's the problem with relying on spell check, when the word you've mispelled is still a good word (but not the word you meant) you can get in trouble. Thanks for your help with this important subject. I'll fix my post.
Steve

Two years ago, PSA creeped up to 4.8, biopsy revealed early stage cancer. Elected to do radioactive seeding. Last PSA test, was sub 1. Good to this point. Friend turned 50 this summer, took his first PSA.... Late stage cancer found. Really stinks, never know when it shows up. My wife is a nurse so I have no choice but to keep up with checkups. Everyone should. Good health to all. Do the checkups. Randy

Rockdoc, I'm sorry for your wife's situation, and I'm glad yours was found early.

A friend of mine, Paul Beckman, who was a heck of a good guy and an excellent sporting clays shooter and insturctor died of cancer back in October. It started out as prostate cancer then spread to bone cancer. He was unaware of his prostate situation until it was too late.

Just before Thanksgiving I was found to have skin cancer, though it was only basal cell (still waiting for the pathology report on another one), which is the most common form of skin cancer and almost always treatable and cured.

A friend of mine has a good saying when it comes to these things: "Take care of it, before it takes care of you."

JM, I also had a small basal cell cancer removed from my nose this year. It's strange, I was diagnosed with cancer for the first time in my life this year... twice! I'm sure glad 2008 is over, it really sucked! I'm hoping that 2009 is better and the doctors at MD Anderson Hospital find that silver bullet that kicks my wifes cancer back to hell where it came from.
If people understood how hideous cancer can be, on so many levels, they'd better understand my plea to do everything they can to first not get it (ie: take care of yourself)and second, if they do get it, to seak treatment as soon as they can. Your friend is absolutely right "Take care of it, before it takes care of you."
Steve