prostate cancer screening

DH, mid-sixties, has had a lot of trouble in this department in recent years. The NHS has been at their best in their treatment. He has had regular blood tests and scans and biopsies when needed. Thankfully, he does not have cancer but is still being regularly monitored as his PSA count is higher than it should be. We are in England.

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I find it hard to believe that JB didn't have full medical checkups at least twice a year. Top to bottom. Inside and out.

In fact, I don't believe it.

2507C0

David49

I did wonder why Bidens aggressive cancer wasn’t picked up earlier

Is it deliberately not treating elderly men for prostate problems
Is there an age where women don’t get screened?

Yes there are. Women do not get automatically asked back for mammograms and cervical smears when they reach certain ages. Women can request a mammogram but not a smear. It's ageism isn't it?

No. It's the most efficient and effective use of the limited funds and resources the NHS has.

My husband had the test, slightly elevated. Could have just monitored. But his GP was uncertain and sent him to a specialist. Result, cancer, and he finished a course of radiotherapy last month. Haven't had the latest bloods back yet but fingers crossed it's been fixed.

Biden's case does sound very strange, most presidents have regular very thorough medical check ups.

David49

I did wonder why Bidens aggressive cancer wasn’t picked up earlier

Is it deliberately not treating elderly men for prostate problems
Is there an age where women don’t get screened?

Yes there are. Women do not get automatically asked back for mammograms and cervical smears when they reach certain ages. Women can request a mammogram but not a smear. It's ageism isn't it?

JennyCee

Women over that certain CAN receive Mammograms every three years. You only have to ask. I have to wait until July now.
I am almost 81

You only have to ask.

It's not that simple.

N4nna

Jaxjacky there are Lions Club few clubs that do it. Out of curiosity (I belong to a Lions Club) which club was it?

This was in Hampshire, a lot of the clubs here do them.

Rules for screening for cancer differ from country to country.

Women in Denmark are not regularly scanned for mammary cancer after the age of 70, but can apply for a scan if they wish.

I think most countries have one or more kinds of cancer they focus on, here it tends to be bowel cancer in the elder age group for both sexes and mammary and uterine cancer for women of child-bearing age.

Men should be aware of prostate cancer as there are advertisments all over the place, but these do little good, as any wife knows who has ever tried to persuade her husband to consult a doctor about anything at all.

It may be that all countries have some kind of cut-off age for preventative medicine, as we all have to die sometime.

And ask yourself, do you really want to spend the last decade or two of your life going for check-ups all the time?

Personally, I would rather not, even if it does mean I don't live as long as I perhaps could, because I have seen relatives battling cancers, which were said to have been found in time, with no good results and treatments that made the last years of their lives hard to get through.

Following recent campaign with Sir Chris Hoy I wrote to MP highlighting the differences in how men with family link to prostate cancer in Scotland and England. DH had surgery in 2006 (removal) and died from disease 2022. Twin son in Scotland GP refused test as only 48 and not showing symptoms. Other identical twin son in England no problem, test done. Both wanted a test as a baseline to use for monitoring purposes. I paid for test in Scotland. Family history also includes late DD who died from Triple Negative breast cancer. There is a link between Prostate and Triple Negative, discovered this just before DH died. Just couldn't tell DH as I knew he would feel ridden with guilt thinking he had been cause of DDs death. So folks, shout as loudly about testing for men as we do for women.

Women over that certain CAN receive Mammograms every three years. You only have to ask. I have to wait until July now.
I am almost 81

Jaxjacky

MrJ had his latest test organised by the local Lions Club (a charity) they set up in the nearest town and do this regularly.

There are Lions Club few clubs that do it. Out of curiosity (I belong to a Lions Club) which club was it?

My husband had no big symptoms and was given a random PSA test by a GP when he saw him about something (not prostrate related) . Turned out he had an aggressive type of fast growing prostrate cancer which was already a Gleason score of 7. He had his prostrate removed 4 years ago and thankfully it had not spread outside the prostrate. No further treatment needed. He was 59. He is 4 years cancer free. A random PSA test saved his life.

After increasingly frequent trips to the loo in the middle of the night, insisted DH went for testing. This was in France. Biopsy found 5 out of 12 random screenings positive so off for a radical prostatectomy a couple of weeks later. Since then PSI annually and now 11 years in remission. Nothing but praise for the French health system, including follow up by district nurses and six weekly visits back to urologist - who has since been poached by the Swiss just across Lac Leman!!!

Jaxjacky there are Lions Club few clubs that do it. Out of curiosity (I belong to a Lions Club) which club was it?

How sad grandMattie. My friend's husband died of prostate cancer aged 65. He has a son who was in his 40s whose GP refused to test him as 'he was too young.'. My DH cannot understand why men are afraid of and examination that could save their lives. He said it was literally seconds.

My husband has prostate cancer, thankfully 11 years in remission now. He had no symptoms apart from going to the loo a lot in the night, which he put down to his diabetes.
He only went to the GP after a campaign on TV. There are very few symptoms of prostate cancer in the early stages.

DH had the test (the finger one). GP said his prostate felt normal but sent him for a blood test as a precaution. Thank goodness he did. There followed a biopsy, scans and 37 days of radiotherapy which thankfully worked. 🤞

Some 25 years ago, I insisted that my 56 yo DH had a PSA test, despite being symptomless, while I had a (very invasive) cervical cancer test.
DH’s test came back dodgy, retested then sent packing. After about 12 months, I again insisted on retesting… high Gleason, biopsy, finally invasive cancer diagnosis.
After the operation, radiotherapy, etc., he lived for about 18 years on hormones.
It was the death of our son that sent the cancer spiralling and he died 10 months later.
I was very glad I had been so insistent, aggressive even, on his testing otherwise he would have died within a couple of years.
He died nearly three years ago.
Have your husband tested, your sons once they reach 40.

My husband died twenty or so years ago, in his 50s, of aggressive prostate cancer. There was little awareness then, and he had no idea what his symptoms were indicating and, due to his lifestyle, delayed consulting his GP. Earlier diagnosis, even by months, may have saved his life. Before his death he helped raise awareness by speaking publicly about the disease. Since Prostate Cancer UK was set up in 1996 (I think) there has been growing public awareness, increased funding for research and more treatments available (though it remains a postcode lottery).
Urological Consultants have spent much of their free time supporting prostate cancer awareness and raising funds for research that definitely has made a difference to men now diagnosed with cancer.
It remains that PSA screening is not reliable, as someone mentioned above, her husband has a false negative, this isn't uncommon, not are false positives. Many men have non aggressive cancer which does not require treatment, just monitoring, but they may live less stressful lives not knowing they have cancer at all. A hard dilemma to consider.
Any male with a close relative that had prostate cancer should ask for screening from aged 50. Black men are also at higher risk (as are some Jews).
Living with prostate cancer (and various other prostate conditions) is challenging, on hormone therapy (which he hated but it kept him alive) my husband looked younger, healthier and fitter than he had for years - it certainly didn't reflect how he felt and the pain he was in.
Apologies for long post, it's close to my heart.

For at least 10 years now my dh (now 77) has had an annual PSA test done on the NHS. I think he has to request it though.

I do often wonder why there isn’t nearly as much awareness/fund raising etc. for prostate cancer, as for breast cancer.
In the past decade or so we have lost 4 good friends to prostate cancer, dh has lost a former colleague he was close to, and a BiL is in the later stages of it.

David. Yes the Dr said no caffeine, he asked if he was drinking squash, we both drink Ribena, but no more, we didn’t realise it contained caffeine.
DH can manage around 90 mins now which is a bit better. The Dr said he must drink 2 litres of water a day so of course that means more toilet trips. He’ll have to reduce that though if we’re ever going to travel anywhere. It is a difficult to manage.

David49

Erica23

My DH 72 has a PSA score of 4. He is having urinary urgency problems at the moment. The Dr has prescribed him two different tablets to help, he’ also examined his prostate, says it’s enlarged but feels okay.
The tablets are helping but not very much to be honest. He’s having a bladder scan and flow test next week. His brother had prostate cancer at 65.
It seems a very common problem we know of four men that have sadly died with this, all in their early seventies. I don’t know why the Drs are refusing to test, must be down to funding.

Same here, especially in the mornings I have to be careful not to drink too much, decaffeinated tea and coffee helps a lot, I have to plan car journeys with stops around 2 hours that’s about my endurance. As far as I know there is no time limit on PSA tests I get one at 76 as part of my annual health check. Benign prostate conditions are more common than cancer, several of my friends have had various surgery successfully.

It’s not only women that have problems, men sometimes need pads too, despite the adverts

It’s not only women that have problems, men sometimes need pads too, despite the adverts

Thank you for saying that David49.

... I have to plan car journeys with stops around 2 hours that’s about my endurance.

My 53 year old son has the same problem as you, these 'benign' conditions are indeed quite common. Benign they might be but they can be very uncomfortable to live with.

Erica23

My DH 72 has a PSA score of 4. He is having urinary urgency problems at the moment. The Dr has prescribed him two different tablets to help, he’ also examined his prostate, says it’s enlarged but feels okay.
The tablets are helping but not very much to be honest. He’s having a bladder scan and flow test next week. His brother had prostate cancer at 65.
It seems a very common problem we know of four men that have sadly died with this, all in their early seventies. I don’t know why the Drs are refusing to test, must be down to funding.

Same here, especially in the mornings I have to be careful not to drink too much, decaffeinated tea and coffee helps a lot, I have to plan car journeys with stops around 2 hours that’s about my endurance. As far as I know there is no time limit on PSA tests I get one at 76 as part of my annual health check. Benign prostate conditions are more common than cancer, several of my friends have had various surgery successfully.

It’s not only women that have problems, men sometimes need pads too, despite the adverts

My DH 72 has a PSA score of 4. He is having urinary urgency problems at the moment. The Dr has prescribed him two different tablets to help, he’ also examined his prostate, says it’s enlarged but feels okay.
The tablets are helping but not very much to be honest. He’s having a bladder scan and flow test next week. His brother had prostate cancer at 65.
It seems a very common problem we know of four men that have sadly died with this, all in their early seventies. I don’t know why the Drs are refusing to test, must be down to funding.

silverlining48

Gillgran sorry to hear this, hopefully the hormone treatment will work. Take care if each other,
Just want to say that my dh had a very low psa score (4!) but he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had his surgery 7 years ago. He is still being checked, but annually now. Unfortunately he has been diagnosed with another cancer elsewhere so we are back on the treadmill again.

Sorry to hear this Silverlining. The problem with the PSA test is it produces false negatives and false positives, hopefully a more reliable screening test will be available soon. All the best to you and your husband.