PSA testing (Prostate info.)

I guess this is an annual push to you all, only because I have my own blood test in January; this Monday, an annual event for me.

PSA, Prostate Specific Antigen, is a very simple test and a useful one for men over 40-50, and even younger, if they have had any prostate issues earlier in life or have a family history of prostate problems.

One reason why it is good to have one after a certain age, whether or not you have any issues, is that it gives you a base marker which you can compare with later reads as you age.

A tip: For three days prior to the blood take, don’t have sex or masturbate; even edge. All cause PSA from the prostate to rise and that will give you a “false” high read.

I had mine last Tuesday.

I also hope that when you do get your PSA checked that you all get a prostate exam as well. I know, the “finger wave” is no fun (to have or to do). The results from both a prostate exam and PSA are extremely important to monitor and maintain normal male health.

When you reach 40, you need to do this every year. The life you save may be your own.

I get the finger wave, annually. I am fortunate to have a savvy, Asian Uro with very small fingers. I can’t even say the digital is uncomfortable.

Thanks for the reminder avocet8. VERY important!

Just something to add here,

I’ve had both the PSA and physical prostrate exam done each year for the last 5 years. PE does not have any negative impact on the results.

Falcon

I do this every year as well. One important note: be sure to have the PSA test done BEFORE the digital prostate exam. The pressure exerted on the prostate by the doctors fingers is enough to elevate the PSA results and give a false positive reading.

It also follows that any sexual activity involving pressure on the prostate (dildos, fingers, other weapons, objects, etc.) must be avoided for at least three days prior to having the PSA test done.

-damfino

Part of the package of blood tests that I have done every year at the VA.

Good points, Damfino.

It’s amazing to me how many doctors are not aware of this stuff. I had raging bacterial prostatitis years ago. The doctor I saw then insisted on a PSA test that day. Of course, the result was very high. Once the prostatitis was handled my PSA was way down and safely in the normal range.

After 40 eh? Dear me, this summer I have to start.

In Sweden the medical authorities are reluctant to recommend a check for men over a certain age, claiming that it probably causes more anguish than it helps with, due to uncertainty about high PSA values etc. Weird, considering mammography is offered and recommended to all women over a certain age.

That’s why it’s best, if you (or your insurance company) can afford it, to go to a urologist for your annual. My doc (in a university hospital setting) has his staff do the PSA during the preliminary work up (blood pressure, temperature, urimetry) before they even put you in the exam room.

We all take it for granted that women go to gynecologists for their “annual,” but we let relatively inexperienced generalists (or internal med docs) do this very important exam on us. I don’t know too many women who would let a generalist do their pelvic. Why should we be any less picky? Just my opinion (or rant).

Careful now, we have a member who is an internal med type doc.

And it’s that crazy attitude follows the oft used statement in medicine that, “Most men die with prostate cancer, not of it.” That’s total bullshit. The pain and suffering from the spread of the cancer beyond the prostate to the bone is so easily averted by early detection, triggering a further workup to determine whether cancer actually exists.

It’s been said that if all men lived long enough we’d all get prostate cancer. We should all get checked to make sure that “our” case gets caught early.

If your health system considers age as a reason to deny health care, you’re going to see this attitude continue and get worse. If we in this country don’t wake up soon and see the primrose path we’re being led down regarding “free” nationalized health care, we’ll all be dying with prostate cancer as well.

First, you saw I said “relatively”. (As you probably have already noticed, I qualify just about everything I say).

Second, I’d be the first to tell you that I’m “relatively inexperienced” myself and would not do the exam. I would send patients with elevated PSA’s or any other prostate problems to a urologist.

You’d be surprised what other docs say about my specialty.

pud,

you have something against Sweden’s national healthcare system, or just “free” nationalized health care in general?

Do note that mammography is offered to all over a certain age - so it doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with “‘free’ nationalized health care” but rather with gender (and quite possible the male uncomfortableness to talk about prostrates, impotence etc).

I was merely pointing out the shit in the path, so you didn’t step in it.