Advice to your sons?

No kids here, but when I need to get a guy's attention to the risks of ignoring PCa, I loan him my copy of "A Private Battle" by Cornelius & Kathryn Ryan.

He was the author of "The Longest Day", and other significant WWII books. He died a long and brutal death from mets.

My son turned 35 last October. My birthday present o him was a certificate saying I would pay for his PSA test.

So far, he hasn't gotten around to it. I'm going to have to push harder.

Mel

My understanding is that your brothers and sons are a bit over 2x more likely to develop PCa because you have it. That is not necessarily a large difference, but I'd rather be safe. I was planning on buying my son a PSA test when he turns 40, but I think it will be 35 now. He has a way to go (19 now). I don't want him to excess over it, but I do want him to respect the need for a PSA test.

My son is now 47 and has been having an annual PSA Test and DRE

every year since I was diagnosed with PCa in January 2004.

All test results have been good to date.

Bob

 

I have suggested age of 40 for all three sons. They are currently 37, 35 and 35. All are very active, fit and light weight They eat very little red meat, dairy or eggs. All that should help reduce their risk, but they have to be aware of the added risk my dx brings.

As Purgatory said above we have discussed this topic before.

The forum link below, for a thread begun December 2012, is to a good exchange of ideas which we had on this topic and which is still relevant.

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=2576600

As a number have already said, maybe by that future time when our sons need to begin thinking about PSA tests in earnest, perhaps there will be such successful PCa treatments available by then, that PSA tests at that time may have even become unnecessary.

One can hope.

Every time I see my sons I ask them if they had their PSA tested. So far 2 of the 3 have.

I recommend my sons get tested at 40 for a base line and then every 5 years. My oldest, 40, got his psa last year. My youngest, 38, has not gotten one yet. I see no evidence that suggests a psa in one's 30s increases detection by any degree. Early to mid 40s is most likely the sweet spot to start having an impact.

hello there. I'm here on behalf of my father as one of his caregivers. I'm 35 years old. My father never got tested and didn't get diagnosed until he was 73. I went and got a PSA test right away. I have added it to my annual physical and gladly pay the additional charge as it is not covered at my age. I'm not gonna lie. It was scary. I never even considered prostate cancer as a thing until my dad got it. Now I realize how massive and wide spread it is and also how treatable it is if you're on top of it.

Yep, I know 30 is way too early but I appreciated my son humoring me and doing it anyway. Now he has a baseline and can wait until 35, then 40 to test again. My son's father, grandfather and uncle all have or had PCa so better safe than sorry!

Lupron Jim, I bet if you got your son's wife in there, both of you could take him for sure!

Thanks, Lisa

My son turns 28 this year. I am petty much the only father he knows but he is my step son so my case does not really apply to him as far as heredity. But because he has family history with PCa from his grandfather, and has unknown information about his paternal father or side of the family, I have told him that eventually he would be a candidate for earlier screening. The AUA Statement 2 has outlined that men as low as age 40, after discussion, can begin screening when they have high risk factors such as heredity or race. The NCCN says 45 is better. The ACS also says 45. MSK says 45, and others say in the 40's for a baseline. I would tell him that I'm good with the age of 40 the AUA suggests for his demographic. And since he is well educated about the disease through my own experience that he should be able to do well with that suggestion.

I would tell any man at any age about the pros and cons and about the controversy but that it would ultimately be their decision and how they can find information would also be important to give them along with the suggestion to read it. Guidelines are all over the map and no matter whichever you may follow someone gets missed. However, on the other hand, no matter which one you may follow, other than the USPSTF, the vast majority of men at risk are covered by recommendations that span their lifetime. I would also tell them that if the physician they ask for the testing says the government (USPSTF) says it should not happen, or if they suggest they are too young, that they can remind them that guidelines do indicate that if a man is educated about screening that this is not to be solely at the physicians discretion. Rather, it's an individual man's choice and the physician is not paying for the visit. If they still push back again then remind them the denial of service is also a good reason for the patient to not pay for his portion of the visit either.

Edit:BioSketch added. Spelling corrections and a clarification.