Hey All You Old Farts---Go Get Checked!!!

I finally went and and had a complete physical early last month, after a 12-year procrastination. Turns out I have prostate cancer, and I'm scheduled for surgery next week for prostate removal. Had I not been such a dumbass and waited so long between checkups, I probably could have gotten away with non-invasive radiation seed therapy instead of a major cut-'n'-sew job. Luckily, all the cancer appears to be still within the prostate, so removal of it should mean all the cancer is gone.

So get out there and make an appointment- and look for a doctor with slim fingers!!!

...and not the doctor with seven knuckles!

Great advice, Ken. Really glad you caught it when you did! We want you around for a long time to come!

Hi, Ken:

Sorry about your situation - but glad you apparently caught it in time. I just had a colonoscopy about a week ago and they found nothing. I also get a PSA test every year.

Ken, I'm sure glad they found it at the stage they did. Now a little funny for you:

Several years ago after one of the hubby's physicals he and I went back to the doctor's office to hear the results. The doc gave all the good news first and then told the hubby he had an enlarged prostate, how serious it was, and that he would have to take medicine. Hubby's response was "well let's get Na's checked now"!

Honest to God he said that. He had always been in good health up to that point and didn't even know what a postrate was. He does now --checked every six months and full time medication for it.

Take care of yourself Ken :)

I get a digital exam once a year. After a while, you start to look forward to it ;-)

Naomi, that's a scream!!!


So didja get yours checked?

Take care Ken. Hope it all turn out for the good... Do what the doc says... Got to stay around for that little one of yours...

I had a lady doctor at 50 check up. ;)

Montrose Wrote:

Good Luck with your surgery Ken. I'm going for a colonoscopy in a couple of weeks. Last one was 5 years ago and every thing was OK. Hoping for the same this time. Just had my annual physical as well complete with digital exam. I hate having to do all this stuff but I hate my wife's nagging more even though I know she does it for my own good.

Well, being one who always looks for the bright side, from now on when I go for a physical and the doc snaps his rubber glove in place, I can tell him to fuggedaboutit!!! I'll admit, this is an extreme method of avoiding the exam, though!!
Blake, that little one was my biggest concern, for sure. But it looks like I'm gonna be around for a good long time, God willin' and the creek don't rise.

Montrose Wrote:

Good luck with the surgery. Glad they caught it when they did

Hope it turns out well-I know several guys that have had successful operations. i had a prostate biopsy last year due to a sharp increase in psa but it turned out neg thank God. I was sweating bullets for a while!

Good luck - I have mine checked digitally and PSA fairly regularly. All's well so far.

Ken - I went through it in Feb. 2006. Had the surgery and now have a PSA of 0.04. Will you be having the laproscopic robotic surgery with the DaVinci robot? I highly recommend that approach. It is minimally invasive and quick recovery. PM me if you have questions.
I wish you best of luck with the surgery and a speedy recovery.

Ken. My husband is a 4 year survivor. We opted for the aggressive approach, surgery, and have never second-guessed that decision. If you and/or your wife have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to email me.

Good luck and say ADIOS to Dr. Ben Dover!

Best of luck on you surgery Ken. Keep us up to date.

Good luck Ken - Glad to hear it's confined. Be sure to have then put it in a jar for show-n-tell! You know how we like pictures around here!!

Thank heavens for Prostate Specific Andegens. It's a good substitute for the digital exam.
Good luck to you Ken. Thinking about you.

you hang in there ken,good luck next week,you'll be in my thoughts and prayers

Glad to hear that you found it and can get it fixed. I just got the results from my ever PSA today and it was good, 0.04. That was the one test that I was crossing my fingers about. Good luck with the surgery. I know what surgery is like, I had 4-way bypass less than a year ago.

Cheers - Dennis

Glad to hear you're getting it fixed..I've gotta go do it but keep putting it off...

Don't put it off, Tony!

My brother has to undergo radiation treatment for his. That's why I get a yearly examination.

Good luck Ken!

My story was similar, but it was colon cancer - thankfully all removed by the surgery.

There is a reason my Doc. is a lady! Perhaps us guys should insist on examining the size of the doctors hands BEFORE we sign up with them!

Get checked guys - no, it isn't pleasant, but the prostate "prod" only takes a couple of seconds, and the PSA is a blood test! Prepping for a colonoscopy is the worst part, the procedure itself you don't know about (but you do get a day off work)!

Ken - keep us posted. My thoughts go with you.

Robert's absolutely right, Tony. A bit of time can make a HUGE difference in treatment options, if needed. And without exception, the earlier it's detected, the less radical the treatment. That's the whole point of posting on this subject; trying to get you guys' butts off the MG seat and into the examining room. I KNOW how we all are about this subject, obviously I was the same way.

I truly appreciate all your support and thoughts. I'm very confident of a positive outcome!!

In Chuck's case, his PSA level was STILL well within the normal range, but had risen significantly, nearly doubled, since his last exam. Being overly cautious (or so we thought) Dr. Raza sent Chuck to a urologist, a biopsy. When a doctor calls your house at 9:30pm, it can't be good. Prostate cancer. By the time we met with the urologist a week later, I had a long list of 20 or more questions covering everything. I couldn't stand the doctor, still can't - BUT the man answered EVERY one of my questions before I had a chance to even ask them. It was as if he had the list right in front of him.

We opted for surgery over the seed implants. We were informed at the time that if the seed implants *failed* - surgery may not be an option for Plan B. And with Chuck's age, the "wait and watch" option was instantly ruled out.

The surgery was scheduled for 3 months later. YIKES! Seems I was the only one concerned about the wait. We told our mothers and our kids a week before the operation. There's a lovely 8 or 9" vertical scar down Chuck's belly. The cancer was confined totally to his prostate. Four years later this Halloween he is fine. In every sense of the word.

HAD his doctor not been so cautious, had we waited... I may not be able to say that. He may not be here.

If you haven't had a baseline PSA - DO IT. And stop being sissy girly men about the digital exam. I'd rather have a finger prodding around in the Netherlands once a year than be wormfood.

Put it off too long Barnhill and we won't have to worry about Bailey beating Will in a road race. Because you might not be around for me to gloat to afterwards.

Call the damned doctor, don't be such a baby.

jaybird Wrote:

Any rust?
:D

Gee Eric, when you were dancing on the table that evening in Grand Rapids with your shirt off and your Union Jack boxers on I didn't even notice the scar.

Suppose I'll have to get the pictures out and look again...

jaybird Wrote:

I'll be glad to. Soon as I get my camera back from the FBI.

Excuse my ignorance, but define old fart please. I am 43 & have not been to the doctor in at least 20 years. Never had a reason, which I guess is a good thing.

Ken, hope everything goes well.

Monte, the starting age for the digital exam USED to be 50. Now it's 45, 40 if you have any family history, or if you're of African descent.

EVERY man, if they live long enough, will get prostate cancer. 3 out of 5 men are the odds. Might even be higher. Look around. BUT, 95% are *cured.* It is the #1 cancer in men, but the MOST treatable. With family history, our son plans on getting his baseline PSA at 35 years old. Next year.

I find it ridiculous that some men will not get this simple test. A baseline PSA, an annual digital exam. It's rather selfish if you ask me. Have a mammogram, have a pelvic and rectal exam, have a pap test. Have a kid. This medical exam has nothing to do with your sexuality, it doesn't have anything to do with anything but staying healthy. I do not get why men have any qualms. Bend over.

How many of you would be put off if your wife, daughter, mother significant female didn't take care of themselves?

It's just selfish.

It's been 40 here, well, since I was 40, thirteen years ago. :-)

Digital! HA! It's about as manual as you can get! My last one was with a new doc as my old family doc moved to a different town and heck, I didn't even kiss on my first dates way back when.

I know it's necessary. At least the doctor could finally prove to my wife that my head was indeed not there. :)

Meantime Ken, all the best to you. Keep taking care of yourself, so you can take care of your family.

Just had my check up last week. So far so good, Doc hasn't called.
Will be thinking of you Ken. As has been pointed out already,there is a high probability you will be just fine after the surgery.

Hey Tony, get down to that Doctor before I call Jerri and get her to nag you about it.


Stuart.

WOW!! Thanks, guys...I recently had every test except drink the nasty tasting stuff test (& my doctor also is a woman with tiny fingers, thank goodness)...PSA, finger test - everything was normal except an enlarged prostate....I actually scheduled the test but that clinic called to reschedule & I've just not gotten around to it yet.

Ken, good luck,a good friend had it and came out well.

I'll be 60 next year,.. haven't had a check up or physical since I was 21.

They'll just find something wrong. Then I'll have to argue with them.

They have their opinions,...I have mine.

I wish you well Ken. I received the seed implants in January of 2004.

All joking aside, Ken, I wish you the very best. Some of you guys (and gals) in your 40s, 50s, and 60s who haven't seen a doctor for many years...you need to get checked out every couple of years or so; get some bloodwork done just to make sure everythings OK. I've been told that the prostate should be checked periodically once you're 40, if you have no family history; and the colonoscopy once you're 50, if there's no family history....I'm not quite 50 yet, but my wife will arrange that appointment if I don't. Like Naomi said, these exams are about staying healthy; they're too important to overlook, avoid or procrastinate about...

God Bless you!!