Which way do you prefer to be notified of your PSA test results?

As the above survey indicates, there are several different ways we can get the word from the testers about what our results are, whenever we get our PSA tests done.

No one of the above ways is the "right" way, and not only is it possible that different doctors' offices and/or testing labs have different policies on how to notify their patients of test results, but we ourselves as patients likely have different preferred ways of being told, depending on our own personalities.

And the survey above is really pretty theoretical. What I'm asking for is your preferred way of being told your result, how you would like it done, which may or may not be the actual way you are getting the result now.

Might be interesting to see what people's preferences are. And feel free to comment below on why you like the way you prefer.

i've decided to change my process going forward. i'm entering year 4 and I've decided to skip having my surgeon do it for me and call me with results. I've spent enough time here to understand what to do with the results if they're mailed to me. I don't like the feeling of waiting for that call so I am eliminating it from the process. Anyway, if the number spikes it wouldn't be a surgeon that I'd need.

Mine have always been by phone, usually left as a voice mail.

My medical center has finally gone online. Huge improvement! I can now get my results as soon as they are posted without having to be sent to voicemail and wait for a call back, or worse, have to fight with whoever answers the phone wanting to tell me she can't tel me.

I get a call from my PCP's office when they get the results. My doctor looks over the results from Labcorp then has his office call me. By now they know I want to know ASAP!

I have just moved out of the undetectable range to 0.1 so the next test in September will be a nail biter!

Bill from Florida

Previously I got the test about three days prior to my Uro appointment. I could pick up the results from the lab same day, but I always told them to email the results to my doctor and I would let my Uro give me the news. Have no idea why I have done it that way but even with coaxing by wife I have refused to change that routine. However with all that has happened and with a Uro appointment and PSA a month away I am strongly considering revisiting that way of thinking. Who knows maybe my luck will change.

Currently, I get a call from my doctor with all of my lab work from my annual physical including the PSA. I like this as he gives me the music with the words concerning all of the results. However, I chose on-line for this poll because I would like that option in addition to the call so I could print out all of the results w/o making a special trip back to his office to pick up the copies for my records. In fact, I think I will suggest this to my PCP.

Jim

81GyGuy said...
As the above survey indicates, there are several different ways we can get the word from the testers about what our results are, whenever we get our PSA tests done.

No one of the above ways is the "right" way, and not only is it possible that different doctors' offices and/or testing labs have different policies on how to notify their patients of test results, but we ourselves as patients likely have different preferred ways of being told, depending on our own personalities.

And the survey above is really pretty theoretical. What I'm asking for is your preferred way of being told your result, how you would like it done, which may or may not be the actual way you are getting the result now.

Might be interesting to see what people's preferences are. And feel free to comment below on why you like the way you prefer.

A great poll, but wouldn't the answer depend on the reason for the PSA testing(ie post treatment, active monitoring, routine checkup). For me, post treatment, I go to my family Dr every 6 months(for the next 5 years) and have my blood work done one week and my Dr appt the next, where I sit in his office and wait(and think) for that opening of his folder. So for me, I don't have a choice.

Phone call from or appointment at doctor's office

I have to agree with Fox Run on this. "It depends on the reason for the testing". I'd like to add to that the frequency and importance of the testing. I get my blood work done every month as my PSA has been steadily rising around 4.3 points a month for 9 months after Provenge. Since I am always scheduled for an appt. with my med. Onc. 3 days after I like to let her tell me the news so we can go over our strategy. I'll be on a new therapy next month depending on CT and bone scan results.
After going back and rereading this thread it seems that there are as many preferred methods as there are stages in PC . . . Q

When I see my MO to get a Lupron shot they always do blood work. So I get to see the results with in an hour. So no nervous wait time. They also post them on line.

GOP said...
Along those lines, I was going out of town for a mini vacation right after my first biopsy. I asked the doctor's office to please NOT notify me while I was on my trip. Whatever the situation was, it could wait til I got back. Hlf way thru my vacation, the doctor called and told me that I had pc. Kind of put a damper on the rest of the trip. No matter, it has worked out fine, just didn't start well.

Really?.....that seems a tad unprofessional.........my call was "you should bring someone with you"....which pretty well says the same thing.

Hi

I get a blood draw 1 hour before appointment.
Doctor has results at start of appointment.

Best wishes

Gerry

Not unusual, just nice. I wish my cancer center was equipped with a full lab like that. I go in 3 days early for a draw and they have it ready for my MO appt . . . Q