Test Your PSA dot com

I was 41 years and 3 months old when I went to my doc for my cholesterol test...I went every three months. On that visit he ordered a PSA test and didn't even tell me....I had no symptoms....he called me at work a few days later and broke the news....It was 11....I didn't even know what a prostate did...he said only chance is if the lab screwed up so I raced back and gave blood and two days later - 11

I'm now 45 and 9 months old - I had to call my health insurance co. and while I was on hold for 36 minutes they provided all sorts of recorded reminders/suggestions. One of them which I heard 6 times was about PSA testing....they provided 3 scenarios where men should start testing at 50, 45, and 40 years of age. If I followed their advice I believe I would be dead or my cancer would be more advanced that it is today.

Since my Dx I have watched/followed the PSA testing when/yes/no/why debate. At first I thought costs were the primary reason for advocating against testing too early/young....I would frequently google "cost of PSA test" and never had much success....but yesterday I found two answers...one said $60-$80 and the other said $85. I was shocked it was so low..perhaps because I assume everything medical is expensive.

A year+ ago when I had a little more spunk I purchased the domain testyourpsa.com - about 3 months ago it expired....I just went back today and it was available and I have it again.

I am troubled at the belief that men should not be tested because it might lead to unnecessary treatments/surgery/medications/more Dr. Visits...etc. There is concern about unnecessary emotional stress/depression...etc. too. I know over-treatment is an issue but I see too many references that lack of education/information/resources is the problem and that shouldn't be one of the major reasons/factors for men not to be tested.

Don't test because you might be miss-informed and go through unnecessary surgery should be an unacceptable argument.

Question for the moderator - rules state

* Links promoting advocacy is not allowed
* Sharing of links helpful/relevant are allowed

If I do something with this domain it would be for men under 45 to share their stories and it would link here and other prostate cancer information - I'm not looking to be the voice but if the website helps 1 person detect prostate cancer earlier than if they waited it seems it would be worth the effort....on the flip side should I have concern a young 40's man might get tested because of the site and have unnecessary surgery?

Just tossing it out there...I can get a site up in a day...just to collect stories like mine or davidg or others...

Percy... I completely agree with you! You can find several sites online where you can order a PSA test for $49 and include PSA Free for $69. It makes absolutely no sense to test every 6 months to a year for men with identified risk of having PCa. I have heard arguments that a high level can be the result of a benign reason, so test again in 6 months. Yet, that next test could be high for another (different) benign reason.. so wait another 6 months? Instead, if you tested once a month you would get a more accurate trend. In addition, if you signed up with a lab to get tested once a month and purchased a 12 month "subscription" I am willing to bet you could get the test down to $30.

I don't know... maybe I am just out in left field, crazy, or lost too many brain cells from the activities in my earlier years...