Prostate Cancer - Ignoring It Won't Beat It

I’d no experience of DVT… but I do now… :relaxed::relaxed:
Have to say Doc, Specialist et al… were marvellous and he got seen/checked/treatment started all on the same day/evening… My nervous breakdown started around the same time… :upside_down_face::upside_down_face:

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Not surprised - scary stuff and, as I’ve said before, make sure to fit your own oxygen mask before helping others! :slight_smile:

This latest link give clear guidance on symptoms… but even without symptoms… cancer can be there… so get tested… please…

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So true Stella and great advice. As a reminder - I was 53, no symptoms, no problems, never felt ill and, as it turned out, 80% of my prostate had cancerous cells in it.

It’s a no brainer boys - get your PSA blood test sorted. A high reading does not always mean cancer - don’t be shy, it’s just a little prick (!) and takes about 10 seconds - may save your life!! :slight_smile: Available on a high street near you - just swipe that Carte Vitale !!

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As any of you that have followed this thread will know, I aim to encourage as many men as possible to have a PSA test. My view being it’s YOUR life, not your GP or MT’s ! To this end I’m a huge supporter of both Prostate Cancer UK and, in France ANAMACaP.

You’ll also be thrilled (!) to read that I’m one of the ‘Poster Boys’ for the Kegel8 For Men and was interviewed by them for their blog. In addition, I’ve recently been interviewed by Carenity UK - a great international, multilingual resource for people living with chronic conditions. Here’s the link to their home page : Carenity UK Homepage. You may need to sign up to access my interview / blog.

Anyway boys - this discussion has had over 6,500 views and it makes me wonder how many of you out there have taken a PSA test as a reult?? Come on - don’t be shy… :wink: :wink:

Prostate Cancer - Ignoring It Won’t Beat It

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The results just came in online - cancer free for 2 years post-op and the relief is beyond words - happy boy :slight_smile:

I hate PSA test day - no matter how hard I try, the anxiety and stress for the few days leading up to it are hellish. I can hardly bear to click on the ‘open results’ button on the Bio-Doc website. I think I may try hypnosis in future as it’s going to be part of my life… forever!! But hey - at least I’m still here!

This thread has had nearly 7000 views and I’d love to think that it has prompted some of you guys out there to take a PSA test - has it? :slight_smile:

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Best Wishes S’

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So pleased for you Simon… and I too hope we have persuaded some lads to be brave… :relaxed:

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Thanks Stella! I really hope we have too but…us lads can be pretty wimpy about getting our bits checked out!?? Heck knows why - it really is no big deal in the great scheme of things.

PSA testing saves lives - simple.

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Brilliant news Simon. Very pleased for you. :+1:

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That’s brilliant Simon…I sooooo empathise with having to wait for results…my eldest daughter has been in hospital today for another op…I sit here cross legged at what she’s been going through for the last 3 years…every time our whole family is on a knife edge waiting for the results of her various biopsies…this time her consultant is really positive and although we still have to wait for results in the post her consultant is feeling confident that maybe this time she’s eradicated it…(I’ll not go into the gory details about vulva cancer on your thread but suffice to say that my daughter has been through a hellish 3 years and us along with her…no all clear yet but hopefully that day is coming for her…) :heart:

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Thanks very much Mandy & Helen - support is always, always appreciated. I’m only too aware how cancer, any cancer, affects those close to the ‘patient’ but, without them I think I’d go nuts!

One of the amazing things about medical services in France is the ability to walk into a blood testing centre on your local high street and receive your results the same day. It goes such a long way to reducing the amount of worry time!

Best of luck with your daughter Helen although it sounds like she’s a hell of a fighter!

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Had my annual test last week and the PSA is steady at 0.6. hasn’t shifted much over the past ten years.

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although PSA test is said to be not very effective as many things can elevate it. even its inventor refers to it as a “coin toss”

Due to have a full health check up soon and they won’t include PSA as its not effective. while 1 in 7 men suffer at some stage in life only a minute number actually get proper prostate cancer. Not that i’m taking any risks i being in that minority without getting tested.

PSA testing is all we have Harry. Sure it’s an indicator that may or may not point towards prostate cancer. However 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with pc. In the UK one man dies every 45 mins from pc and, in France, it is the biggest cancer killer amongst men - with more cases of pc being diagnosed annually than breast cancer in women. The stats and their sources are discussed earlier in this thread. By no stretch of the imagination is it a ‘minute’ number of men - it’s huge.

PSA testing from age 50 saved my life at 53. It indicated I may have had a problem requiring further investigation and confirmation. I had no symptoms, no problems, no issues whatsoever and yet, by the time of my op, 80% of my prostate was cancerous. Luckily for me it was confined to the gland itself although my PSA level will be tested every 6 months for the rest of my life.

It’s your life and entirely your decision - not the docs or anyone elses - yours.

oh they are doing it but its been pointed out that its not effective. They wanted to do a DRE, then maybe the docs a bit kinky hence recommending it over the PSA…

Unfortunately unless absolutely necessary no ones putting a finger in my bum hole

I have zero warning signs though so im not stressing.

I thought it was just a blood test…

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You could always have a french branch of March for men, or even a virtual one?

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PSA is DRE is a finger up your bum top physically check your prostate. Unfortunately the PSA is only given to old people. I will be having it though, just means I may have to pay for it out of my own pocket, then again wats a few quid for peace of mind.

This is quite a confortable way of looking at things (me first) but doesn’t work on long terms …
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