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Posted 8/16/2009 7:50 AM (GMT 0)
I realize that I am preaching to the choir, and this may have been addressed here before now. I wonder if there is any movement or similar to having a national campaign for fathers to give their over forty sons a PSA test for each birthday? I am appalled that there are doctors who advise men to not get this test at all. One man told me that his doctor said, "Oh, it just something else to worry about." This test needs to be each man's responsibility; not his doctor's. The cost is a nickel's worth of blood and some change.
Posted 8/16/2009 11:01 AM (GMT 0)

What father wouldn't have already mentioned this to their son(s)?

My dad and older bro are both cancer free..Yet my dad's twin brother died from intestinal cancer...We all keep an eye out for that...

Posted 8/16/2009 12:11 PM (GMT 0)
When My SON went to his GP for his annual checkup he asked the Dr about running a PSA. My son was only 31. He told the Dr why he wanted to start PSA testing. The Dr responded that yes he would start a yearly PSA on my son.

I told him if insurance would not pay I would gladly pay for the test. The Dr informed him not to be concerned that he would make sure the insurance payed for the test, due to family history.

Jeff
Posted 8/16/2009 1:05 PM (GMT 0)
Great idea about doing the PSA as a present. Just this Friday, had lunch with both my adult sons, we actually discussed some of the nuiances of PC. My oldest is 32, he wants to get a base line at 35. My youngest son, 26, said he will do the same.

David in SC
Posted 8/16/2009 11:36 PM (GMT 0)
My son is only 19 and I am beating it in his head right now. How many times have I wished I had been tested earlier. I think that would be the gift that keeps on giving. Great idea.

peace and love
dale
Posted 8/17/2009 12:00 AM (GMT 0)
My thought was to have free PSA and DRE tests on Father's Day at clinics across the US. I'll continue to plug away at it. I am currently working on an initiative started by a friend (Ed Randall) to do it at professional baseball parks across the US. If you get the tests, you get in to the games for free. We have tested thousands...

Tony
Posted 8/17/2009 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
One funny note...

You can get into Disneyland and DisneyWorld for free on birthdays. Stiff competition I think...no pun intended...

Tony
Posted 8/17/2009 1:09 AM (GMT 0)

Amen to that Brain Surgeon!  I made sure that my son had his PSA checked - age 38.  Now they have a base line to go by. 

Gene in Md

Posted 8/17/2009 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
We all would talk with our sons, son in laws, male friends, etc. The real value is something like Tony mentions. A more pro-active "get into the habit of..." sort of thing. You wear a rose on Mother's Day, so you get a PSA on Father's Day or birthday or yearly. With one in six men getting PC treatment in their lifetime, what about if that ratio was one in six HUNDRED?
Posted 8/17/2009 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
My dad died of aggressive prostate cancer. The family doctor suggested getting tested at 50! I'm like, yeah right! I follow Catalona and he suggested getting tested at age 35 if it runs in the family. I started getting tested at age 37. I've had take my brother to be tested, who is two years older. His reasoning not to go was about the "studies" that were in the media and national news regarding the PSA test being ineffective. In the end, I think he was just somewhat nervous.
Posted 8/17/2009 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
Great Idea, my oldest son who is 35 just got tested on his own. I'll pay for my youngest son who is 33 to get tested on his 35th birthday.

JohnT
Posted 8/17/2009 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
Greetings, everyone.  I have already had a talk with my 31 year old son.  Based on my doc's advise, he will be getting an initial PSA test at 35.  David

Posted 8/17/2009 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
I have 3 sons ages 43, 41 and 40. I've been bugging them about getting their PSA tested. The oldest two did and thank God both had a PSA of less than 1. The youngest hasn't done that yet but pormised me that he will do it soon.
Posted 8/17/2009 8:15 PM (GMT 0)
I've spoken to my 31 year old son. He will start before he's 40, as will my 33 year old nephew. They've heard it enough from me that they'll never forget. And if it won't be me keeping that conversation open when that time approaches, my wife certainly will.
Mike
Posted 8/18/2009 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
My 23 year old just got tested during his physical. I am still working on my 28 year old. I think regular testing is a wonderful idea.
Posted 8/18/2009 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
Geebra,
I bet that test came back microscopic. Unfortunately there are no standards for that age group other than near undetectable. Still I applaud the effort. I think for now one in evry 5 years is good until they reach 35. That stated, the youngest I have worked with in the advocacy was a lady whose son died at 36 from prostate cancer. So I won't argue against such early testing. I recently was interviewed and I mentioned that age 25 is when the girls start watching for breast cancer and that I thought that if we could reach out to the guys about prostate cancer at that age we would acquire useful information...I stand by it...

Tony
Posted 8/18/2009 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
My son said he thought his PSA was 52, but coupled with his physician's comment that all is completely normal, I assumed it was 0.52. I asked my son to get a copy of the test results.
Posted 8/18/2009 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
He does not understand it yet, but that's why he has you. Show him how it works. It's a very nice gift from you to him...

Tony
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