Take Care of Your Health!

I was asymtomatic and I only went in to get a physical a couple of months ago because it was part of my ACA plan. They ran a typical prostate screening and my numbers were elevated. I had a biopsy done and it turned out that I had prostate cancer. My surgery to remove the prostate was done yesterday and I'm back home today and the doctor is confident that the surgery represents a complete cure.

If you're in your 50s, along with getting a colonoscopy, have them test your prostate, both with exams and blood tests!

Frankly, I wouldn't have gone in, except that it was part of my ACA plan!

You give great advice. I almost lost my dad to prostrate cancer 16 years ago. Dad never ever ever went to the doc. He found his because all of the sudden his blood pressure was off the charts. His cancer had spread by the time they found it and he had a really hard time beating it. My best friend was diagnosed on his yearly check up and because he found it early, his treatment was a snap. Therefore, I started yearly checks at age forty and haven't missed one and won't. If you aren't up to date on your check up get it done!

Yep, just 'cause everything seems to be working properly in the bathroom and the bedroom doesn't mean its all ok down there.
Doctors vary on when they want you start annual DRE and PSA's but almost all say once you hit 50 you need to start annuals. Few seconds of discomfort is little to pay for your life.

Same with getting scoped. Guy I know went in for his first scoping & they found 2' of colon full of pre-cancerous polyps. 3' of colon removed but no chemo, they were able to graft things back together and no post-operative issues. If he had waited a few years, could have been a very different story.

What do they do to check your Prostate?

DRE and blood test for elevated PSA levels.
DRE=
Digital
Rectal
Exam

Don't remember what PSA stands for but its a prostrate hormone, elevated levels indicate a problem.

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Originally Posted by CarlF

Don't remember what PSA stands for but its a prostate hormone, elevated levels indicate a problem.

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PSA is a marker in the blood called, "prostate specific antigen". If it is at a level that concerns the physician, he may order a biopsy of the prostate, through which he obtains what is known as a "Gleason Score". The score, along with an MRI, will assist the surgeon in determining the nature of the disease and the degree to which it has advanced.

If the cancer spreads, it typically goes through the pelvic lymph nodes, so those, along with the seminal vesicles are routinely removed in the prostatectomy. The pathology report won't be available until next week for me, but indications are that it was still in the early stages. So that's my message here to guys in their late 40s (or older). You definitely want to get this caught early. In my case, there was no known family history of prostate cancer and I was completely asymptomatic.

I was lucky, because if it hadn't been for my ACA Program healthcare screening I wouldn't have gone to the doctor because I thought that I was well. For a guy, this is as important as a woman getting a mammogram. If it's caught late it's a whole different ball game!

Thanks, antigen is a lot different than a hormone!

ACA rules cover every insurance plan now, but I've never had a plan that did not cover this. ALL males over 50 needs blood and digital screenings. I get annuals, ACA or not. It is what you just have to do. Not going is like sticking your head in the sand. 1/3 of males in their life will eventually have prostate issues. You just have to see after this- just like watching your Blood pressure and other vitals.

I'm real glad you are coming through this OK and that you caught it early. Mine was diagnosed at age 54 and turned out to be a very aggressive form that required a complete radiation treatment four years after the surgery. Talk about a loss of dignity---all the technicians were cute young women, and they were having to do things to me that you probably couldn't pay a, er, professional lady to do. (Who'd want to?)

That was back in 2000. Like y'all said, it really pays to have regular checkups. That surgery is major, but it's the gold standard when it come to treating prostate cancer. Recovery from this won't interfere with your fishing near as much as the shoulder surgery. Look on the bright side.

emy sirius God Bless have a quick recovery.You will be ready to fish in the spring.Thank God for good Doctors and today's technology.Get well soon. Tom

Let the crew know how you do. Just found out that my Brother in law was just diagnosed, surgery in 4 weeks. His appears to be fully contained, so this sounds like one more success story. We are blessed to live in a country where we can get treatment.

These days doctors are providing very advance type of treatment solution because of technological improvement. It's good to know your brother recovered fast by getting enormous treatment.

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Originally Posted by FishAddict

Let the crew know how you do. Just found out that my Brother in law was just diagnosed, surgery in 4 weeks. His appears to be fully contained, so this sounds like one more success story. We are blessed to live in a country where we can get treatment.

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Today the catheter came out. That wasn't as bad as I anticipated. Unfortunately the pathology report revealed a little more than was expected, so instead of a clean bill, there's possibly radiation therapy on the horizon.

There are also many more fish out there to be caught, cleaned, cooked and eaten! So there's a lot of good ahead, too! I'm looking forward to a productive Spring!

Sorry to hear they missed some, but that's why surgery is a good way to start---you have back up treatment. Best wishes with yours.

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Originally Posted by Haywire

Sorry to hear they missed some, but that's why surgery is a good way to start---you have back up treatment. Best wishes with yours.

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Thanks Haywire. One of the reasons I wanted to come on here to tell my story was to encourage everybody to get his prostate screenings done early. If I had waited longer (until symptoms showed), my treatment options would be fewer.

Well guys thanks for all the posts and up dates. I go back to work February 1, three months after shoulder surgery. I look forward to a short trip down in April. Thanks again. ROLL TIDE ROLL.

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Originally Posted by coach

Well guys thanks for all the posts and up dates. I go back to work February 1, three months after shoulder surgery. I look forward to a short trip down in April. Thanks again. ROLL TIDE ROLL.

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Good to hear, coach. Hope your recovery is like mine, when after three and a half months, it got better exponentially. I'm still recovering strength, but it doesn't hurt any more (except when I forget and abuse it.) I'm hereby putting the sharks, remoras and catfish on notice; I'll be after them again this spring.

I still have a LONG way to go but I think I'm turning the corner. Still hurts like the devil but I just started to do the strength phase. Thanks George for the support.

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Originally Posted by coach

I still have a LONG way to go but I think I'm turning the corner. Still hurts like the devil but I just started to do the strength phase. Thanks George for the support.

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Just stay with the program, Coach. Things will come around for you. Set your sights on the Spring and you should be a lot better by then!

For those interested in my recovery from a prostatectomy, recovery has been faster and easier than anticipated. I'll certainly be able to enjoy pier fishing like before! It's been only a couple of weeks since the catheter came out and I'm fortunate to be back to near-full functionality already. If you're over (or approaching) 50 years old, get an annual physical, regular colonoscopy, and make sure that they test your PSA (prostate specific antigen) when they run your blood profiles.