Speaking of DRE exams...

Once your prostate is removed (ie: surgery), is there still a need to do a DRE?

If so, is it more or less painful?

(I never found DREs to be too bad)

Mel

I have had several DRE since the surgery. It usually happens when I go into the office to get the results of my PSA.
Supposedly they are checking to see if there is anything "unusual". The first one was a little sore.

I'll admit it, I am a skeptic. The method seems so crude how can it be useful? To me it seems like it is the only way the Uro can justify having me come to the office to get my results. Maybe it's a quick profitable item that they check off on the insurance reimbursement form. A quick poke around and they paid for a tank of gas. (I know that is not fair to say.)

Has anyone ever had their Uro found something by DRE before the PSA showed it?
(Maybe that should be a new question.)
Jeff

Mel, our urologist hasn't done a DRE since surgery. However, when we thought we were facing a recurrence, the radiation oncologist (a woman, no less!) did a DRE on John...

I get one each visit. I asked him why, he said it was to feel for any unusual growth, changes internally in what is left of the prostate bed and the rectal wall. Any of these areas, which were involved in being cut out, could have abnormal tissue regrowth or incorrect healing, scaring, and other issues, so the exam let's him check that things are healed and staying in good condition. Just because the prostate is cut out doesn't eliminate other things happening in that area. His statement....

I think this gets back to the conversation yesterday, about the need for them in general. If I hadn't had one after surgery, I'd ask for one. Men do tend to avoid them, and I am sure guys here breathe a sigh of relief, thinking they never have to have them again, but that's a mistake. DRE's are a central part of men's health and shouldn't stop being done. You are cutting yourself short on maintaining good health by avoiding them or not asking. Just my (strong) opinion, of course. A man should never get old enough or have enough removed to stop the need for them.

As far as differences, the only one I notice is I no longer feel the massage impulses when he does it.

You can't help but wonder about who did them first and what the patient thought.

Mel,

Beating a dead prostate here but yeah ... everyone I know loves to give them (the gift that keeps on giving) -- even after prostate is long gone -- no one likes to get one!

But no big deal.

Just make sure he takes off his class ring! Tim

Mel,
Neither my urologist nor my GP has done a DRE since surgery.