What is PSA?
I've had several health issues in the past including testicular cancer.
Medical support
I have been seeing a urologist, oncologist, and primary care physician every year. The urologist that monitored my PSA left the practice in 2013. He always checked my PSA once a year and it was less than one. His replacement never checked it when he took over my care. Neither did my oncologist or primary care. I had given my urologist symptoms of difficulty urinating. He did not do an exam or a physical inspection. Just prescribed Flomax.
Why PSA checks are important
I really didn't know what a PSA was for. Finally, my primary care noticed I had not had it checked for five years! He drew labs and PSA was a 30! Biopsy was an 8 and 9 on the Gleason scale. I was an emotional mess. The cancer had plenty of time to metastasize and I thought I was going to die soon.
Treatment
The prostate was removed and ten of the twenty-five lymph nodes that were removed had cancer in them. So now I am a high-risk patient. The PSA started to register again three years later when I took a break from lupron. I then had seven weeks of radiation and take a pill and monthly firmagon. They want me to do this for three years and maybe forever.
Hindsight and words of caution
If I had been at paying attention to my own health and asked about PSA tests four years ago, this would have probably been easier to control. Ask your male friends over 50 if they know what their PSA is? If they don't know what a PSA is, tell them!
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