Prostate

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer 7 year ago. I had absolutely none of the symptoms and it was only because I'd been reading about it in the news that I asked by GP for the PSA test during my annual check up. Luckily for me he agreed, The result came back with a PSA level of 12, should be about 2-4,  and cancer was confirmed by a biopsy.  Six months of tablets and 35 sessions of radiotherapy were successful and I'm clear now. The thing is  the PSA check is about the best we've got right now , and in my case it probably saved my life.

Good to hear positive news dennisd ☺. We can only go with what's on offer 😉

Good news, Dennis.

What's with this annual check up at Dr's I've never been invited for one, at what age does this kick in? 

Really Good New Dennis - let's hope your story encourages the chaps to take care. 

My husband had a routine medical for his railway job and they took him aside and told him he had a little blood in is urine sample and suspected kidney stone(s) they also did a PSA test because of this and it came back at 40 !! (normal is up to 4.5) He had absolutely NO symptoms at all of anything wrong. They whipped him in immediately for scans and biopsies and it turned out he had both, stones and cancer. The consultant told us with a level that high it was inoperable and he would certainly expect it to have spread but he was amazed that it appeared to still be contained. We are very lucky to have an excellent oncology department locally and he was immediately put on a clinical trial (that he is still on now) and he put him down for seven and a half weeks of radiotherapy too which he finished in november. We are still waiting for the outcome and he is still taking the medication but they have said that his last PSA blood test showed levels were 'negligible' so we take that as good news. He will now have very regular check ups and our son will have annual checks from his 40th birthday which is just around the corner, so possibly that blood test will save the next generation too.

It may not be infallible but it is better than nothing at all and a false positive is a worry but it would be much worse with nothing at all to give you a heads up.

Firedragon, so pleased that things are looking good for your family.  I repeat we can only use what's on offer.

In England I have been having six monthly tests since I was about sixty because I had raised BP although controlled by medication. Every year I have a series of blood tests for sugar levels, cholesterol, liver function, kidney function, and PSA levels. It very much depends on your local Health Authority/Surgery policy but it would not harm to ask. 

David

FD.....sounds like god news. Fingers crossed.