Prostate Cancer

I have a family history of prostate cancer, so I had regular check-ups and PSA tests (a blood test for the "prostate-specific antigen") for many years. At one of the check-ups, my urologist felt something "he hadn't felt before" and requested a biopsy.  The biopsy showed a developing cancer.  After much research I selected prostatectomy as my choice of treatment and the operation was scheduled as quickly as was possible.  The cancer was in stage 1, no lymph nodes were cut out, no chemo or radiation followed, and I have been free of the disease for more than five years now.

If you have a family history for a particular cancer, consider the likelihood that the cancer may appear at an earlier age in your generation and have check-ups early.

Prostate cancer forces you to confront some very personal questions, and the love and support of your spouse and family is a big help.  I am fortunate to have this support.

Prostate cancer has symptoms that arise from the tumor growth restricting the passage of urine.  But there are also benign conditions of the prostate that generate such symptoms, so it is necessary to have regular check-ups.  Two tests ought to be done: a blood test for the prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and a digital rectal exam (DRE).  The PSA alone is not reliable and the DRE is unpleasant.  In my case the DRE, done by a highly skilled urologist, was the key.  At the time of diagnosis, my PSA was only 1.7.  Most urologists will not have any concerns when the PSA values are under 3, some even wait until the PSA approaches or exceeds 10.  Current thinking is that the rate of change in the PSA, rather than the absolute value is important.

When you are old (80+ years of age) it may be that the growth of the cancer is so slow that there may be no need to do anything about it.  In all other situations it seems unwise not to address the condition.  Prostate cancer tends to jump directly to the bones, and once nested there is very hard to bring into remission.