What did you know about screening?

You didn't ask me the DRE question, Tony, but will answer it to make my story more complete. My same PCP did a yearly DRE with me, starting at age 40, when I finally took enough personal health responsibility to start having yearly exams. Always hated them, but never asked why they were being done. So I had DRE's for 10 years before my first PSA test, and all of them came up negative, right up to my actual dx. at age 56.

david

Tony, you said much earlier in this thread:  "Clock Bill,
Your answer says you didn't know your doctor initially screened you at 50. That he did in fact NOT tell you that you were screened until after the fact."

No, that's not exactly true.  Sorry if I didn't explain well, but I knew what the test was for, and I knew why it was being done.  I also should have mentioned that he always included a DRE as part of the physical, so I knew early on that I had an enlarged prostate.  He definitely always told me what blood work he was requesting and why.

I just always felt absolutely "bulletproof."  I didn't think there was a chance in the world I would ever have cancer.

Hubby and I were having 'physicals' for insurance our business was buying for us.  Everyone thought I might have problems - I have asthma, weight issues, etc.  Instead Hubby's came back with a 81 PSA.  Mine was fine. 

But it probably saved his life.  He just hated going to doctors.  The last time had been more than 10 years ago when he was bitten by a tick and got Rocky Mt. Spotted Fever. 

Tony, Thanks for this thread!
I don't recall ever hearing about PC even though I had 2 brothers-in-law that had "seeds". Wife and sister told me later--they didn't "pay it forward. My "comedy of errors" screening journey:
1. 2007--My trusted pcp of many years--assume the position and 2.72 psa..Never did tell me the # or what he was looking for--lol
2. 2009--New pcp (old one had retired)--4.89 psa ordered by old pcp and no dre--"psa high and rising-monitor"..did not tell me that a test was run or anything regarding pca--comments are f/his records.
3..2009--pcp unavailable--PA..psa 4.7 and no dre--"less than last test--monitor". From her records.
4. 2010--pcp unavailable--PA again--no psa--urinary frequency--symptoms of "old age".
5. 2010--urinary emergency--psa 4.86 and dre--hard as a rock and to urology--140 miles away.
6. 2010--Urology consult--"Patient had a history of elevated psa's for over 11/2 years" followed by biopsy and ct & bone scans. Requested my records for my RO and discovered the above information.
Comment: My anger has diminished somewhat, but I feel that my new pcp violated his oath of doing "no harm" by failing to do anything; the worst harm of all!
Bill

I knew nothing about it.

Ten years ago as part of a routine physical workup at age 45, my doc ordered PSA among other tests. I didn't know anything about it until his office called me saying the number was 5, and should be 2 or less, and I should go see a urologist they set me up with. I knew nothing about it at the time, though I'd heard of PSA before. It had no meaning, though of course very shortly I was painfully aware of exactly what it meant.

I was freaked out for about 3 years as test after test, and biopsy after biopsy, turned up negative. They weren't reassuring, they were frustrating. With continued elevated PSA and single-digit free PSA it seemed almost certain I had it but just couldn't find it.

Having finally found inflammation and doing aspirin therapy, over 3 years or so it came down below 2 and stayed there, so I quit looking. Nobody seemed to know what a good strategy was other than repeated PSA tests and biopsies, but the stats on repeat biopsies say it's extremely unlikely after 3 negative ones to have a positive one. So, easy to just let it go and avoid all the annual test anxiety.

My history makes me pretty sensitive about screening, and I really understand both sides of it. I've been on both sides of it, and am definitely in favor of at least annual screening beginning at least by age 50.

My urologist recently told me that I'm the kind of case they're trying to catch with screening, though a year earlier would have been much better.

i was getting them in my 20s in NYC. Every time I returned from India with parasites.

Tony, I sense that what happened with Gunfighter, was more the exception, not the rule. Do you have a low esteem for doctors in general, or am I reading too much into what you are saying?

david

I knew what a PSA test was and my Uro told me when I was 50 it is just a rite of passage to get one as part of a yearly check up. 

Tony/Purg,
I had "complete" trust and confidence in my old PCp of 12 years. He discovered my DB11 through a routine physical (labs) although-at5'10" & 175# I was surprised. His job was to keep me healthy & recommend any lifestyle or other changes. He did his job regarding screening me (psa 2.72) and a Dre and scheduling me for a psa test at my next appointment. Screening for both diabetes and PC involve a simple blood test and neither should involve shared decision making or education prior to the test.. I expected my Dr to do his job!:
Unfortunately, I transferred my trust for my old pcp to the new pcp with disastrous results. 142 should coin a new phrase--"wall of anger". I was seriously considering meeting with him for a discussion but he had been reassigned ; it is probably for the best since it could easily have gotten out of hand. Life goes on and I probably should be ashamed of my feeling after reading what many members are going through but I'm not; It's pretty much in the rear view mirror now..Has "anger" ever been mentioned as a "harm"? Lol
Bill

My doctor had my PSA tested with other blood work at my annual physical exam. I don't know if it was included because of my age or the fact that my grandfather had died of PCa (whcih my GP was aware of). My PSA was the first test that I had and it came back at 3.4. He referred me to a urologist because of my grandfather and the fact that I told him I was having some minor urination issues. Glad he did.