PSA tests

Can I ask the age of these men? Only DBH has started to go to the loo more often, he is nearly 50. Last weekend I brought up the subject and he quickly changed it. But I am going to keep a close eye on him.

niggleynellie Glad to here your DH is ok.

How often should men be tested ? DH is diabetic so has blood tests on a regular basis. I will tell him to ask for this.

Difficult one that tanith
How do you get a GP who doesn't believe in PSA testing to do it? Ours is the same, yet other practices do them routinely

No they're not, as I've said, the first brush OH had with urology problem was a benign tumour which was removed successfully. What seemed a bit cavalier at the time was the fact of not having a blood test perhaps once a year just to check that things stayed ok. Had this been the case, the recurrence of the same problem a few years later which was malignant would have been picked up much earlier and perhaps been able to have been treated less radically. Having said that, we are both extremely grateful for the hospital and surgeon concerned who probably, a bit by the bell, saved O.H's life.

How do I get an OH who has needle phobia and absolutely will not submit to a blood test over it, and go for this test? Our GP has tried to persuade him but he hasn't had an injection or a blood taken since he was a child and I really don't know how he's survived this long without a tetanus but he has. He refused to have his blood sugar tested when the surgery wanted to do it... he doesn't even like to talk about it . Sorry I don't mean to hijack the thread.

Totally agree with the routine testing.

Can I just say that prostate problems are not always cancer. Don't be afraid to see your GP. DH had an operation last year for an enlarged prostate which turned out to be completely benign.

I simply can't understand why a simple blood test is not routine for men over a certain age in the same way as a smear test is available for us ladies. Many years ago my O.H had waterworks trouble which turned out to be a benign growth. Fast forward a few years and no follow up checks!! the problem re-immerged only this time the growth was malignant. This resulted in a complete removal of the prostate, which so far seems to have done the trick without the necessity of followup treatment. We now, four years along the line, have a check up every six months and so far so good. It's one of the few cancers that can be picked up by a blood test, so why the reticence goodness only knows.

Our surgery will only do them if you ask! DH asks every time he has a routine blood test! It does, however, yoyo a bit so it could be a worry if you were of that disposition!

Mishap feel free! Spread the word and save a lot of pain and even death.

I'm glad our GP is more sensible.

I wish they would do them routinely. Last year my DH was having problems getting up in the night several times to go to the toilet. He went to see his GP who sent him for a blood test. The test showed his PSA levels were raised and after a biopsy we were shocked to learn he had prostate cancer. He had no other symptoms and there is no cancer in his family. We were devastated. He is 68. However, after hormone injections and 37 consecutive days of radio therapy the cancer is in remission. There was no spread. He had no side effects from the treatment. How fortunate that he went to the GP when he did. From our experience last year, we have realised that prostate cancer is very treatable if men get the test early. 42,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, most have no symptoms until the later stages. Sorry if this sounds like a sermon but we have been so lucky and I worry for others.

Our surgery will not do them - the senior doc does not believe in them and thinks they cause more trouble and unnecessary worry and surgery. I feel like sending him your post about your friend.