FrankTalk.org

I am a 44 year old guy from Buffalo, NY.
Although I don't have ED, I am interested in my health, and when I came upon this site, what I liked about it is exactly what the name is. Frank talk. It's nice to see that there is a place to go to ask questions and get information on topics that truly affect a man's life.
I see my doctor regularly, but since I am not yet 50 he does not do a DRE, but I do get the ever-controversial PSA test, which always comes back with good results. One of the reasons that I have been searching for a site such as this one, is that I want to know what warning signs to look for, what other guys experience, and where I can go for answers. Frank Talk seems to be the place.
I am looking forward to exploring the site and to interacting with other member.
Good health to us all!

-Andy

Have you asked your doctor to do a DRE? I had my first when I was in my 40s. I found this on WebMD:

For most men at average risk, screening is started at age 50. However, some doctors recommend that men at higher risk of prostate cancer -- African-American men or men with a family history of prostate cancer -- start screening earlier.

The American Urological Association recommends a first-time test at age 40, with the schedule of follow-up testing to be determined on an individual basis.

If you ask you doctor for a DRE and he says no, I would look for a new doctor.

JJ

The best thing you can do proactively to prevent ED is to get and stay healthly. Eat less, move more. Learn about the causes and predictors of Type II diabetes and cardiovascular diseases and then act accordingly. And finally, whether by yourself or with somebody, have all the sex you possibly can while there are no performance issues. Keep the little man strong!

Greg

buffalony wrote:I am a 44 year old guy from Buffalo, NY.
Although I don't have ED, I am interested in my health, and when I came upon this site, what I liked about it is exactly what the name is. Frank talk. It's nice to see that there is a place to go to ask questions and get information on topics that truly affect a man's life.
I see my doctor regularly, but since I am not yet 50 he does not do a DRE, but I do get the ever-controversial PSA test, which always comes back with good results. One of the reasons that I have been searching for a site such as this one, is that I want to know what warning signs to look for, what other guys experience, and where I can go for answers. Frank Talk seems to be the place.
I am looking forward to exploring the site and to interacting with other member.
Good health to us all!

-Andy

Hi, I'm about 90 miles east of you, south of Rochester.

FTR: I have no family history of PC. I had a routine physical last February; I was 61. My doc felt a node on one side of my prostate. My PSA was 1.98; biopsy showed a Gleason 7, surgery in June.

So my point is: I wouldn't put much faith in family history or PSA numbers.

Hello from Italy !
The 'American College of Physicians' has recently published In the Annals of Internal Medicine, (http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1216568) that the PSA test is not recommended for screening of prostate cancer.

I am not at all agree with this because the test discovered my illness, which was already quite invasive, though I had no symptoms.

Accordingly, I benefited from this test. However, many men have a positive test but will never be sick or have a minimally invasive prostate cancer. In these cases, biopsies or surgery that will be submitted will create unnecessary suffering or actual damage to health. It 'a very sensitive issue and there is no right or wrong choice. It is necessary to trust their doctor and hear the advice of a urologist.
If you have a doubt or if you want to feel safe is better to do the PSA ...

mim51

mimmo51 wrote:Hello from Italy !
The 'American College of Physicians' has recently published In the Annals of Internal Medicine, (http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1216568) that the PSA test is not recommended for screening of prostate cancer.

I am not at all agree with this because the test discovered my illness, which was already quite invasive, though I had no symptoms.

Accordingly, I benefited from this test. However, many men have a positive test but will never be sick or have a minimally invasive prostate cancer. In these cases, biopsies or surgery that will be submitted will create unnecessary suffering or actual damage to health. It 'a very sensitive issue and there is no right or wrong choice. It is necessary to trust their doctor and hear the advice of a urologist.
If you have a doubt or if you want to feel safe is better to do the PSA ...

mim51

Yes, this is all true. The PSA is notoriously unreliable with many false positives and false negatives. The guy who invented it now says that he's sorry that he did. However, it is a tool, one tool. Only because my doc was unhurried and very thorough with the digital exam did the problem get caught. But continuously rising PSA numbers over a period of time are certainly a red flag. A biopsy then tells the true story.

But once the prostate is removed, the PSA test becomes very accurate as to a recurrence of cancer cells. Why this is is a bit complicated, but if you read about it, it does make sense.

The PSA test is one of those things that may or may not help, but when it does can be a life saver. For me, the DRE's were negative, but PSA was up to about 4.0 and then went to 4.5. With a family history of prostate cancer we were checking closely. Had an ultrasound of the prostate, another DRE, and a biopsy. Ultrasound looked negative, DRE showed slightly enlarged prostate, but biopsy showed invasive prostate cancer. Thankfully, surgery got it all before it spread. The PSA is not the best tool but combined with others can save lives. I do not agree with the study! Without the PSA check the cancer wouldn't have been found until much later.

Dave

hryqwert wrote:Have you asked your doctor to do a DRE? I had my first when I was in my 40s. I found this on WebMD:

For most men at average risk, screening is started at age 50. However, some doctors recommend that men at higher risk of prostate cancer -- African-American men or men with a family history of prostate cancer -- start screening earlier.

The American Urological Association recommends a first-time test at age 40, with the schedule of follow-up testing to be determined on an individual basis.

If you ask you doctor for a DRE and he says no, I would look for a new doctor.

JJ

Thanks for all the replies, guys. Actually, hryqwert, I have asked a couple of times for a DRE from other PCPs that I have had. I have been going to my current PCP for two years. It is always kind of uncomfortable to ask, since they know that I am gay. One of them told me that my prostate "feels small", so I figure that I can put it off for another year or two, since I am not in a risk group.

buffalony wrote:

hryqwert wrote:Have you asked your doctor to do a DRE? I had my first when I was in my 40s. I found this on WebMD:

For most men at average risk, screening is started at age 50. However, some doctors recommend that men at higher risk of prostate cancer -- African-American men or men with a family history of prostate cancer -- start screening earlier.

The American Urological Association recommends a first-time test at age 40, with the schedule of follow-up testing to be determined on an individual basis.

If you ask you doctor for a DRE and he says no, I would look for a new doctor.

JJ

Thanks for all the replies, guys. Actually, hryqwert, I have asked a couple of times for a DRE from other PCPs that I have had. I have been going to my current PCP for two years. It is always kind of uncomfortable to ask, since they know that I am gay. One of them told me that my prostate "feels small", so I figure that I can put it off for another year or two, since I am not in a risk group.

Heh, last February my GP said my prostate felt small for my age, he felt around a little more then felt the node. So just having a small prostate doesn't mean anything, and I have no family history of prostate cancer.