The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: billt on March 31, 2011, 03:32:11 PM
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This is just something I thought I would share with you guys. A couple of months ago my primary care doctor was a bit concerned with my PSA level. (Blood test that indicates of possible Prostate Cancer). It was showing a slow, but steady rise. He told me of this new fangled blood test that actually tested for Prostate Cancer and suggested that I have it done. I agreed. The test came back positive for Prostate Cancer with an 85% accuracy level. However being as this was a new test, they would not treat for Prostate Cancer based on the results of this test alone. They required a actual biopsy to confirm it.
So off to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale I go to consult with the best doctors in the land, and let them have at actually stabbing my a$$hole for samples. If you guys have never had this done before, it ranks right up there with having a Pit Bull chew on your nuts while you are laying naked in a cactus patch! So I walked out of the Mayo Clinic 2 days ago with blood dripping out of my ass from the 16 stabbings I endured, (Oh yes, I counted every one!), pretty much convinced I'm going to be dealing with a Cancerous Prostate.
Well just a few minutes ago Dr. Cheney called me, (a super nice young doctor), to tell me the biopsy WAS NEGATIVE! All of this worry was for nothing. I learned from this......Don't worry about ANYTHING until you actually have something to worry about! An 85% "accuracy" just meant I had to sneak through a smaller 15% window. Until I'm John Wayne heading into the Metropole for my final shootout, I ain't going to worry about dieing anymore! Now I'm going to have a few, (many), glasses of wine with Melanie, who said from the get go this was all bull$h!t, and never believed anything that these guys were saying. I got to start listening to that woman more. Bill T.
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I got to start listening to that woman more. Bill T.
With age (and a few new holes in your delicate bits) comes wisdom. ;D
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Yeah, Bill, watch for those accuracy measures. I had a thalium stress test and the cardiologist said I was clear, no problems, 85% sure.
A month later I had a quad bypass. Upon grilling by nurse ex-GF, the "85%" shrank to 25%.
Good news on your test, my friend. Endure the pain - and the good-natured jabs by folks here, and maybe even Melanie, and savor every damn day regardless of your health. Each day is a blessing from the Lord, and no one is promised tomorrow.
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Yeah, Bill, watch for those accuracy measures. no one is promised tomorrow.
Damn, have you got that right! Bill T.
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First, and most importantly, I'm really glad the test was negative for you Bill.
I hate you had to endure that type of ordeal to find out.
Secondly, I am totally convinced (from dealing with a lot of doctors over the last ten years or so) that many have turned more toward the 'business' side of the equation than the 'healing and medical' side. It seems that many like to run as many tests as possible (especially if you have good insurance).
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First, and most importantly, I'm really glad the test was negative for you Bill.
I hate you had to endure that type of ordeal to find out.
Secondly, I am totally convinced (from dealing with a lot of doctors over the last ten years or so) that many have turned more toward the 'business' side of the equation than the 'healing and medical' side. It seems that many like to run as many tests as possible (especially if you have good insurance).
Its a meat market out there. But don't get me wrong, most medical professionals are good folks.
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http://www.carislifesciences.com/
This is the blood test that is supposed to be "85% Accurate". It very well may be, but thankfully not in my case. If you take it be advised, and DON'T GET WORRIED!
" This drives everything we do, from developing a dynamic new cancer blood test for prostate cancer"
There had to be some satisfied Yugo owners out there as well. I mean, if your only batting for 15%..... ::) Bill T.
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Its a meat market out there. But don't get me wrong, most medical professionals are good folks.
To clarify, my original statement wasn't a widespread condemnation of the profession.
I'm sure there are way more good docs than bad out there....I guess it only takes a couple of bad'uns to ruin it for a lot of folks.
My wife and I have personally been fortunate to have great doctors.
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First Billt - Glad to hear the good news!
Second - My brother-in-law has had biopsies done three times. Last time he was here I told him to just have the damn thing removed! They are concerned because his psa is up (only about half way on the scale below the cancer concern level) and he has "a slightly enlarged prostate." Nothing has changed in ten years except they have done three biopsies.
He was whining, and I pointed out it is his decision. If nothing is changing and you don't like it - Just say no! If you enjoy the pain let them keep doing it ever couple years. However, if I were that concerned about their warnings I would just tell them to take it out. Damn - One or two more biopsies and they will have it all anyway.
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Even some of the most reliable and oldest tests produce false results sometimes. Some of us have chemistry's that don't match the norm. All they can do is go for the center of the bell curve. Better to have a false positive than a false negative, though. Glad everything check out alright.
Not "human", but my recent experience with medical tests is with my dog who is suppose to be dying of severe liver failure....according to the blood tests (plural).....but guess what, nobody told her or her liver. She the most healthiest and active 12 yo dog the vet has ever seen.
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One of the most important things is to have a doctor you can trust! If you don't have that you have nothing.
My PSA went from 1.8 to 2.3 from one annual physical to the next, my doc wasn't alarmed but said we need to watch it. Over the second year it continued up to 3.3. My decision was to have a biopsy about half way thru that period. Twelve samples and all were negative. The biopsy is not that painful it's more the idea of what they are doing to you. Of course I had something similar done numerous times at work with no anesthetic so maybe I was just use to it. :)
Nine months later with the PSA rising another biopsy. This time 2 of the 12 samples showed cancer but the percentage of cancer cells in those samples was down in the single digits. The cancer rating was a Gleason score of 3+3=6 which is pretty much the lowest cancer rating they give. This is considered a non aggressive slow growing cancer, one that might never cause you a problem.
I opted to have the prostate removed. When the lab examined the whole prostate the Gleason score was then revised to 4+4=8, an agressive fast growing cancer. The good news was that they found no sign cancer had spread outside the prostate. Next month I'm due back for my 6 month post op PSA test, keeping fingers crossed.
Sorry for the long post but the bottom line is get a good doc and have your PSA checked annually if you are relatively young. If you are 85 don't screw with it, you'll out live it
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How did the prostate removal surgery go, and what is the downside to it? Bill T.
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Dieing ain't sh!t, any body can do it.
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Dieing ain't sh!t, any body can do it.
Pretty much sums it up. ;D
Came too close to call once. Trauma and blood loss almost done ol' Peg in. I had one foot in the grave and one on a banana peel for about a week. I guess the one in the grave is the one they cut off 'cause I managed to stick around. After considerable thought (I had plenty of time to think it through), dying ain't a big fear...(how may be a concern from time to time ;) )...but not a fear....just another step in life.
;D
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How did the prostate removal surgery go, and what is the downside to it? Bill T.
Surgery went smoothly. Midsection was very tender for a week and had a catheter for a week which wasn't fun! The down side to prostate surgery is overcoming incontinence and natural erections are slow to return.
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To clarify, my original statement wasn't a widespread condemnation of the profession.
I'm sure there are way more good docs than bad out there....I guess it only takes a couple of bad'uns to ruin it for a lot of folks.
My wife and I have personally been fortunate to have great doctors.
It's similar to what they say about lawyers: It's just 99% that ruin it for the rest of 'em.
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had a catheter for a week which wasn't fun!
This is one of the main reasons men refuse to go to Urologists. Unlike machinists for example, they have a very poor concept of size. If there ever was a profession that required the miniaturization of the tools that go along with it, this is it! For example, a mans pee hole is very small. Let's say 3/16" under "maximum flow". These guys have no trouble shoving a 3/8" to 1/2" catheter up it. And you know what, they'll get it in. They'll push, shove, and twist until that sucker goes all the way up.
It's much the same with the "back door". After I "assumed the position," the first thing he told me he was going to "insert" was the "probe". It felt like he was ramming a beer can up my ass! Then, all of his other "tools" go in through the I.D. of the "probe". When he was done I felt like I could pass a Cantaloupe with zero issues. These guys have only 2 ways to reach the places they need to go, and neither one is very big, but they'll give it their best shot, that's for sure. Regardless of size, they will make it fit every time! I'd hate like hell to fire a gun any of them ever built. It would most likely be safe however because the damn ammo would be 3 times as large as the chamber!
It was kind of funny when Melanie and I were leaving, she said out in the parking lot, "I didn't want to ask while we were in there, but how did it go?" I told her, "Babe, if you ever want a divorce all you have to do is walk into the bedroom wearing a strap-on and I'm Gone!" She laughed all the way home. Bill T.
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My FIL had his Prostate removed thru a small incision in his groin. Same day surgery...no big shakes. Until then I didn't know it could be done that way.
FWIW
Richard
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My FIL had his Prostate removed thru a small incision in his groin. Same day surgery...no big shakes. Until then I didn't know it could be done that way. Richard
I discussed this with my doctor. It is some kind of new "Micro Robotic Surgery" procedure that is similar in nature to Arthroscopic Knee Surgery. They make 3 small holes and very precisely remove the bad Prostate. The largest incision they are required to make is at the end to get the Prostate itself out. I gather it's about the size of a large Walnut. This procedure is very non invasive, and makes regular Prostate surgery of just 10 or so years ago primitive in nature. Back then, depending on how good and careful your surgeon was would determine if you had bladder control or not afterward.
With this new Micro Surgery it is all but assured all normal functions remain after the patient recovers from the procedure. If down the road I need to have this done, it is for sure the way I want to go about it. My primary care doctor says he's had several men patients go through it and all of them were very happy with the way it went from a pain and recovery standpoint. This kind of thing is constantly improving. Bill T.
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Pretty much sums it up. ;D
Came too close to call once. Trauma and blood loss almost done ol' Peg in. I had one foot in the grave and one on a banana peel for about a week. I guess the one in the grave is the one they cut off 'cause I managed to stick around. After considerable thought (I had plenty of time to think it through), dying ain't a big fear...(how may be a concern from time to time ;) )...but not a fear....just another step in life.
;D
Ditto here though I still have both feet! Livin' is a bit of work, dieing is just permanent!
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glad you are all ok Bill
It was kind of funny when Melanie and I were leaving, she said out in the parking lot, "I didn't want to ask while we were in there, but how did it go?" I told her, "Babe, if you ever want a divorce all you have to do is walk into the bedroom wearing a strap-on and I'm Gone!" She laughed all the way home. Bill T.
bhwaaa that is soooo funny
could of been worse, while they were "checking" it all out the Dr could of grabbed you with his hands on both of your shoulders
lol did you say what happened to dinner and flowers before it all started
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This article arrived in my email just yesterday( 4/4).
(NaturalNews) Don't let anyone from the cancer industry lie to you about PSA screening: The test is completely bogus and offers zero improvement in your lifespan. That's the conclusion from a 20-year study that followed over 9,000 men. After 20 years of follow-up, guess what the results were? No significant difference in the rate of death between those screened for prostate cancer versus those who weren't.
In other words, prostate cancer screening is really a bogus test used to exploit men's fear and recruit them into unnecessary and potentially harmful cancer treatments. That's why the cancer industry uses the PSA test, of course: It's a powerful recruiting tool! It scares men into agreeing to expensive, high-profit treatments which are then billed to their insurance companies, Medicaid or Medicare. (Gee, no wonder our health care system is bankrupting the nation...)
This study, by the way, was published in the British Medical Journal (http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj....). I don't personally trust the BMJ on most issues, since it seems to so strongly favor vaccines and pharmaceuticals in its selective publication of research. But that's what makes this so remarkable: Even the BMJ is effectively admitting that PSA tests don't work!
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/031950_prostate_cancer_screening.html#ixzz1IheiQS6D
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The thing is Prostate cancer is the slowest spreading of all cancer. Men can have it for 20 years and die of something totally unrelated. My doctor told me if I had it and I was 70 years old, he wouldn't do a thing because chances are something else will kill me first. He also told me if they performed a biopsy on the Prostate of every man in this country who died 90 years of age or older, 99% would have Prostate cancer. Bill T.
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My Father in law, at the age of about 70, was talked into the seed implants for his prostate. The injected him with radioactive seeds to try and kill the cancer. It caused so many problems. pain, urinary problems, stones, dysfunction, etc...that he knew he'd made a mistake. I tried at the time to tell him that he'd probably die of some other illness before he ever died from prostate cancer but he'd made his decision and paid dearly for it. It made the last ten years of his life miserable and he died at the age of 80 of bone cancer anyway with three of his four daughters at his side.
I'm going to be 54. I've had my prostate checked at least every other year for nearly 15 years. At this point in my life, with my other maladies, I just don't give a shit anymore. I've been convinced for some time that physicians don't have my best interest in mind and their own self interests are all that drive them.
My prostate is the least of my worries but I'm glad Bill, that yours is healthy...
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I'm 58 and hopefully we still have a ways to go. Prostate cancer at our age could kill us, so it is best to keep an eye on it. With that said I sure as hell am not getting another biopsy for a while! If mine ever did go cancerous no way I would "treat" it. That sucker is coming out of there! Bill T.
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I read that many men die WITH prostate cancer, but not FROM it.
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Personally, I think that urologists and proctologists put us through ringer because their pissed they couldn't get a better gig out of medical school! Probably last in their class so they have to mess with piss, poop and limp dicks......
jeez, every time I see my urologist for my kidney stones, I get a thumb up my butt. Last I checked, the kidneys ain't connected to the colon...
;D
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The doctor stuck his thumb up my butt too. I don't know what that has to do with an eye exam. ;D
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;D
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My doctor tells me to do a bunch of fun things ;D
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billt, that's just it...he had his surgery at least 10 years ago! The procedure has been around that long and at a smaller hospital, not a large well known hospital.
Richard