I’ve had the PSA blood test twice March 2025 Prostate-specific antigen level 0.33 ug/L March 2023 Prostate-specific antigen level 0.27 ug/L But my peeing habits have changed, my flow rate is down, I often don’t empty my bladder properly and I’m up 3-4 times a night. In July as my HbA1c has come down to 50 I stopped taking Empaglifloxin which works by excreting glucose through urine. Previously stopping Empaglifloxin reduced the number of times I needed to pee in the night. Yesterday I asked the diabetic nurse if I could change my blood pressure tablets as it’s now 117/71 and get a proper prostate examination, so I’m off to see my GP for digital intrusion. I have two close friends who are going through prostate cancer journey and PT at the gym has recovered from it. This is just a reminder to many of you to stop putting it off, if nothing else try the risk checker, link below. https://prostatecanceruk.org/risk-checker
OP...thanks for posting. I don't know why the medical community is moving away from PSA testing as a matter of routine. But in your annual physical, please ASK for this if it's not part of the routine panel. Furthermore, isolated PSA levels are not worthwhile, it's the trend that has to be monitored. I just don't see the downside to screening.
controversially it's the cost factor here in the UK texasdw - i am living with deep vein thrombosis after an accidental discovery (!) when a physiotherapist insisted i have it checked despite several earlier refusals. Do you think i can get an ultrasound review to see how bad it is now 5 months later under our NHS? (no chance..).
I see. Things are different in the UK then. I suppose we'll all eventually move to cost-based algorithms. But I think the US will only slowly lurch toward that model. Good and bad though. Lots of futile care being shoveled out in the US, with absolutely no concern for cost. There's probably a middle ground somewhere.
My strategy is to ask/insist for the test during my annual check when blood is taken, the clinician has always been happy to add it to the list of checks to be performed at the lab. It's only GPs' that have been resistant IME.
regarding the UK, all the details are here in this thread, If you have enough relevant concerns that are prostate specific, then I'm sure a GP will test further. I had blood in my urine for over three years and they never found the cause. going by the checklist, the way my prostate is behaving (again for several years) I ought to be asking for a PSA test regularly!
The general consensus in the medical world is that the PSA test is a very poor test. Digital insertion is a better test but its one of those things the medical science has not yet found a definitive way of finding the problem early.
I shall be getting a PSA blood test next week. This is to see whether a metastasis from my cancer, removed surgically several years ago, is growing significantly or not. A digital insertion test would be utterly useless, and would prove nothing.
need to add, my "agree" was with the first sentence, even the "puncture" test is not that reliable but it did find cancer immediately with one of my family.
Sometimes it depends on how you get on with your GP. My father died from an aortic aneurysm, another ailment afflicting mainly us blokes and it’s very likely to be hereditary. There is now, in the UK, a screening program in place. However before this was implemented I had discussed this with my GP and he said to me “if you were to come to me complaining of pains in your upper body I would send you for an ultrasound examination” so this is what I did until the screening program caught up with me. FYI this ailment, when the aneurysm bursts, they have 20 minutes to get you onto the slab. If you have no sign of an enlargement or swelling of the aorta by the time you are 60 it is highly unlikely that you will develop it in the future.
Neither PSA or DRE will confirm prostate cancer but they will indicate whether further examination should be undertaken.
There are two types of biopsy for prostate cancer. The most common one at the moment, in the UK, is transrectal. However transperineal is becoming more common. If you Google them it will tell you that the transperineal biopsy can be performed under local anesthetic, whereas the transrectal biopsy is the traditional and more common method. Having had both my personal experience was the complete opposite. during the transrectal I don’t think the surgeon allowed enough time for the local anesthetic to act and I was uncomfortable to say the least, whereas the transperineal was done under a general. I also understand that the transperineal allows access to more areas of the prostate which together with the reduced infection risk is why many hospitals are starting to use it in preference. See the diagram that comes up with the hyperlink and you can appreciate the easier access.
This thread was supposed to encourage others to think about getting tested and sharing knowledge and experience with them to demonstrate the huge benefits that come with catching it early. NOT for name calling and sarcasm. If you are totally good with Prostate stuff why do you even bother with following this thread?
I had never heard of the term puncture test and wanted to confirm that you were referring to a biopsy. Therfore, as no one, to my knowledge, has so far identified on this thread the two different methodologies for taking the tissue samples I thought I would share some knowledge in order that other forum members are better informed, not “hang you out to dry”. As you are totally good with the Prostate stuff you will already have known that, but what you wouldn’t have known is that Google would appear to be giving duff information in respect of anaesthesia usage if my experience is anything to go by. Unless you also have experienced both methods? And perhaps now you might explain to me and all of the other members of this forum why you needed to resort to name calling?
It looks like my mistake was in replying to another post. In future when I have any useful information to impart I will just post it, not reply. The thread is fortunate that members who have been through this life changing ordeal are willing to share their experience with information that Google is incapable of. None of the other bike forums that I visit have such a thread as this, yet.
