A LIFE SAVED BY HAVING ANNUAL PSA SCREENINGS

By CommunityMember123

1 min read

After having a continuous rise in my PSA level in 2018, my urologist recommended that I get a prostate health index blood test. The results indicated that I had a high probability of having prostate cancer. A subsequent needle biopsy confirmed that I had prostate cancer.

Recommended prostate cancer treatment

My recommended treatment plan by my urologist and radiation oncologist was 18 months of hormone therapy, 25 sessions of external beam radiation therapy and LDR brachytherapy. It's a little more than three years since my treatments ended and my PSA level as remained at <0.01 ng/mL (undetectable).

Side effects gone

All my side effects are gone with the exception of having dry orgasms. I am so grateful that through annual PSA screenings my disease was caught early and was very treatable.

Annual PSA testing

I highly recommend that all men get annual PSA screenings and digital rectum examinations. According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 9 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. When caught early, prostate cancer is very treatable. When symptoms appears, the disease is far more advanced and very difficult to treat. So men, please keep on top of this and get your screening.

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Sue Franke Moderator & Contributor
Kudos to your recommendation that al men great checked annually for prostate cancer. Our son didn't go to the doctor very much, especially for preventive and testing, but since his Dad's prostate cancer diagnosis, he's checked every year too. Fortunately, he's been clear each time. Wonderful for you that your psa is undetectable. Wishes for continue health.
Gogs Moderator & Contributor
That's awesome you are doing well after treatment. And great advice about not waiting for symptoms to get a PSA test. I had absolutely no symptoms, even though cancer was already in the final stage before spreading. Had I waited for symptoms, cancer would have already spread. I know too many men in stage-4 who wish they knew about PSA testing before their terminal diagnosis.
Dennis E. Golden Moderator & Contributor
It is so easy to get a routine blood test and why guys do not is just beyond belief. Then there are those who get checked regularly and do not keep track of their numbers. Instead they put full faith in a GP who may or may not be the best action hero you hope s/he will be. Get checked, know your history and if you are seeing a steady increase in your numbers make an appointment with a urologist - It is that simple guys and it can save your life. Dennis(ProstateCancer.net TEAM)
Dennis E. Golden Moderator & Contributor
It is so easy to get a routine blood test and why guys do not is just beyond belief. Then there are those who get checked regularly and do not keep track of their numbers. Instead they put full faith in a GP who may or may not be the best action hero you hope s/he will be. I have known way too many guys whose GP just kept waiting for some base line number (magic number) to be reached before suggesting a visit to a urologist. Get checked, know your history and if you are seeing a steady increase in your numbers make an appointment with a urologist - It is that simple guys and it can save your life. Dennis(ProstateCancer.net TEAM)