Prostate cancer

I really should have started this topic a while ago. Probably in May 2011 when I got the results of my first PSA test. 7.2 (normal is 0-4).

That should have been a wake up call to the doctor, after all he rang me with the results. I had no idea that meant I likely had cancer – the only other person I knew who was having PSA tests was getting results in the 1,000’s.  I know a lot better now.

So nothing happened. Until 2013 when I was at the docs and said I was feeling that I might have some waterworks issues. The initial response was “well you’re depressed and so you worry about lots of things” “But”, said I, fortunately as it happened “I had a PSA test a while ago and it was elevated”
A somewhat pregnant pause. “What PSA test?” asked doc. “Couple of years ago”"….”  Frantic look at computer. “What???  This should have been followed up immediately!” The nurses got blamed.  I was just a tad shocked. But that kicked things off.
Another PSA test led to a biopsy, then another, then diagnosis of cancer, and this September 29th a radical prostatectomy.
Now the point of this initial insight is a warning.  They say that if any many lives long enough, he’ll get prostate cancer.  I don’t know if that’s an empirical fact or not.
What I do know is that I was ignorant.  I had no symptoms, and if I had never mentioned the  first PSA test, I would probably still have no idea that cancer was there.

In fairness a PSA test is probably one of the least reliable tests that exist. And the following procedures are so invasive as to be positively medieval. So checking is not a barrel load of laughs.

BUT…. Men, if you have any concerns, go get a PSA test, and know that anything over .4 (point 4) should be monitored.

I was advised to have surgery because of a complication I had. There are new and effective other treatments available.
I’ll post more on my “journey” later.