Went To Urologist today for a Checkup

911

911

Well-known Member
Location
USA
I have recently (in the last year) met 5 of my friends and acquaintances that are dealing with bladder and prostate cancer. After thinking about them and what I can do to make sure I don’t have anything like that I decided to call my Urologist and ask if there is an exam they can do to check me to make sure I’m clean.

I had my exam this morning. It wasn’t what I was expecting and not very pleasant, but I got through it and was given a clean bill of health for the organs in that area.

I asked the doctor if he finds many men with cancer issues and he told me that about one-fourth of his patients have some form of cancer. I was somewhat taken back by that number and thought it may be a good idea to advise the men on this forum that maybe they should at least have their family doctor do a rectal exam.

It’s important to treat any cancer as early as possible. By doing that, the patient increases their chances of survival.
 
911 said:
I have recently (in the last year) met 5 of my friends and acquaintances that are dealing with bladder and prostate cancer. After thinking about them and what I can do to make sure I don’t have anything like that I decided to call my Urologist and ask if there is an exam they can do to check me to make sure I’m clean.

I had my exam this morning. It wasn’t what I was expecting and not very pleasant, but I got through it and was given a clean bill of health for the organs in that area.

I asked the doctor if he finds many men with cancer issues and he told me that about one-fourth of his patients have some form of cancer. I was somewhat taken back by that number and thought it may be a good idea to advise the men on this forum that maybe they should at least have their family doctor do a rectal exam.

It’s important to treat any cancer as early as possible. By doing that, the patient increases their chances of survival.
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My ex husband has recently undergone treatment for prostate Cancer, and is recovering from that now... it's worse for him because he also suffers terribly with COPD.. so he's having no life of value at only 68 years old.. but fortunately he did have the sense..as you did to go and be tested, and it was found early... Many men suffer and die from prostate cancer because they're too embarrassed to go and have the examination done by a doctor... very sad... much more could survive if they didn't leave it until the symptoms were so severe nothing could stop it...

very happy to know you're clear of it my friend... (y)
 
I've read that autopsies revealed that most men of 80 years and older have prostate cancer cells. But since in most (but not in all!) cases this is a slowly growing cancer, most men die of other reasons. Yet there are few young men with very aggressive forms of prostate cancer. Especially this group should be monitored carefully.
I don't have a familiar risk, thus I am not going every year to the urologist for a checkup. I have no problems with the palpitation of my prostate via the rectum. It's not unpleasent for me.
 
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I wonder if you exam was as uncomfortable as having one's breasts smashed under a machine (at least) once a year. Unfortunately, some of the things we have to go through to check on our health statuses are not pleasant. :confused: I forgot what age they say men should start having checkups for prostate cancer, but your post is a reminder that I meant to mention it to my son who is 56. I'm glad you were proactive 911 and got it done. Some men procrastinate when it's time to go to the doctor.

My husband and my sister's S.O. both had prostate cancer, right around the same time. My husband just had radiation treatments, the S.O. had what they call "seeds" implanted. My husband passed almost six years ago from a completely different set of issues. My sister's S.O. is still alive and kicking and he's in his mid 80's at least.
 
I have been on meds for enlarged prostate foe about 10 years or more, went to Urologist every six months and had a PSA test done before seeing him. PSA tests have always been good and the physical test as well. He is happy so for the last two years I only see him once a year.
Another nice thing is that I am not getting up 4 or 5 times a night since I have been taking the medication. At least it's not this that keeps me awake.
 
A side benefit (one of the few) of having bladder cancer is confrmation that my prostate is healthy. Of course I've already passed the age at which routine prostate exams are no longer done.
 
OneEyedDiva said:
I wonder if you exam was as uncomfortable as having one's breasts smashed under a machine (at least) once a year. Unfortunately, some of the things we have to go through to check on our health statuses are not pleasant. :confused: I forgot what age they say men should start having checkups for prostate cancer, but your post is a reminder that I meant to mention it to my son who is 56. I'm glad you were proactive 911 and got it done. Some men procrastinate when it's time to go to the doctor.

My husband and my sister's S.O. both had prostate cancer, right around the same time. My husband just had radiation treatments, the S.O. had what they call "seeds" implanted. My husband passed almost six years ago from a completely different set of issues. My sister's S.O. is still alive and kicking and he's in his mid 80's at least.
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It’s embarrassing and degrading.

Tomorrow is my Colonoscopy. Another fun day.
 
911 said:
It’s embarrassing and degrading.

Tomorrow is my Colonoscopy. Another fun day.
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Hopefully they'll put you to sleep; then it will be over before you know it. They always do for me. I'm actually more apprehensive about the prep than the procedure. I hate needles and if they don't go where I tell them and do it right, I have to get stuck twice. :cautious:
 
BeefStu said:
I have been on meds for enlarged prostate foe about 10 years or more, went to Urologist every six months and had a PSA test done before seeing him. PSA tests have always been good and the physical test as well. He is happy so for the last two years I only see him once a year.
Another nice thing is that I am not getting up 4 or 5 times a night since I have been taking the medication. At least it's not this that keeps me awake.
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I have known men to have good PSA scores, but had prostate can. My PSA runs between 1.1-1.4. The acceptable level is 4.0. I sometimes get up once during the night to use the bathroom, but so does my wife.

The only reason I had the exam was because I know 5 other men that have bladder or prostate cancer. The testing of the prostate and bladder is a challenge to get through it. The worse part was putting the catheter up my you know what and then also inserting a camera up there and up the bum to take pictures of the prostate.
 
OneEyedDiva said:
Hopefully they'll put you to sleep; then it will be over before you know it. They always do for me. I'm actually more apprehensive about the prep than the procedure. I hate needles and if they don't go where I tell them and do it right, I have to get stuck twice. :cautious:
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Yes, I’m going to sleep for this one. They use Propofol, so I wake up pretty quick. When I had the Sigmoid or lower bowel, I was awake and it was very painful.
 
911 said:
I have known men to have good PSA scores, but had prostate can. My PSA runs between 1.1-1.4. The acceptable level is 4.0. I sometimes get up once during the night to use the bathroom, but so does my wife.

The only reason I had the exam was because I know 5 other men that have bladder or prostate cancer. The testing of the prostate and bladder is a challenge to get through it. The worse part was putting the catheter up my you know what and then also inserting a camera up there and up the bum to take pictures of the prostate.
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Hi 911. Yes I realize that good PSA numbers aren't everything that needs to be considered. Mine usually runs between .9 and 1.2 over the last 5 years or more. I have never had the camera test offered but I have had several ultra sound tests as well as the physical test. I may ask about that the next time I see my Urologist. Thanks for mentioning it. Beyond that I pay attention to my daily water intake and urinating routines. Being as I am Diabetic, I also try to do a pretty good job of managing that.. I have an appointment with a doctor tomorrow to go over those numbers. I know Diabetes puts me at risk for a multitude of other problems.
One of my Brothers in law died a few years ago with bladder cancer. Thought he had it beat once but it came back.
He was as good a brother as anyone could ever want.
 
911 said:
It’s embarrassing and degrading.
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Been there, done that. Snaking the camera up into the bladder is bad enough, but then I was given the tour on a monitor along with a blow-by-blow narration of the journey.

Somewhere along the line they topped up the bladder pumping water the wrong way up, followed by "gonna hurt a for a while afterward but now we want it back out to measure the volume excreted. Here's a pan for you to fill while we turn and hum The Star Spangled Banner."

Yup, not just the Doc but also 3 students there the entire time observing. Good thing I'm not shy.
 
Prostate cancer is very tricky! Most types of it (in much older men) are fairly harmless and in fact many older men have it and die from other causes. But even the aggressive types show virtually no symptoms until it metastasizes and then options are limited. The key is to detect it and then monitor it with PSA tests and MRI scans.

Then, know your options. Many Urologists will push you (or scare you) into surgery. Other options include radioactive seeds and proton beam therapy - my previous urologist talked these down but they are good options so you will want to consult radiologists.

A very good book (maybe the best) to read on this is

The Key to Prostate Cancer: 30 Experts Explain 15 Stages of Prostate​

 
OneEyedDiva said:
I wonder if you exam was as uncomfortable as having one's breasts smashed under a machine (at least) once a year. Unfortunately, some of the things we have to go through to check on our health statuses are not pleasant. :confused: I forgot what age they say men should start having checkups for prostate cancer, but your post is a reminder that I meant to mention it to my son who is 56. I'm glad you were proactive 911 and got it done. Some men procrastinate when it's time to go to the doctor.

My husband and my sister's S.O. both had prostate cancer, right around the same time. My husband just had radiation treatments, the S.O. had what they call "seeds" implanted. My husband passed almost six years ago from a completely different set of issues. My sister's S.O. is still alive and kicking and he's in his mid 80's at least.
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My brother had the radioactive(?) seeds implanted. His prostrate cancer has disappeared / shrunken / become non-life threatening.
 
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