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New to Prostate Cancer with a boatload of questions, but who to ask?
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Oct 10, 2023 | Replies (44)Comment receiving replies
I would recommend going to a center of excellence (such as Mayo-Rochester). Rural doctors just don't have the experience that is needed. Before I retired, I went to my local doctor (Davenport, IA) every year to have a physical. One of the tests they performed was PSA level. I was busy traveling for my job, so believed what they told me (everything looks good with your tests, good to go). After retiring, I wanted to more closely manage my health. Went to a cardiovascular team to change my diet so I could get off the statin I had been taking for a decade. The nurse practitioner was a friend of our, so she reviewed my entire medical file. At the end of my first meeting, she asked me if I was addressing my prostate problem. I asked, what prostate problem. She let me know that my PSA had been rising for over 6 years, doubling three time, with an increasing velocity. At that point, I went to Mayo-Rochester, was diagnosed with PC (Gleason 7-4/3). Being 56, I went with a radical prostatectomy and doing well now (10 months later).
Bottom line, these mid-sized practice doctors cannot be trusted. You must do your own research, manage your own health, and get to a center of excellence when there is a problem.
Best of luck,
Jim
Replies to "I would recommend going to a center of excellence (such as Mayo-Rochester). Rural doctors just don't..."
Wow hammer101, That is terrible that your provider was not addressing or concerned with the rising PSA.
My primary care doctor at Mayo did not like my rising PSA over the years even though was still in normal range. We thought it might me my long distant bike riding so we laid of the bike riding for a week prior to a PSA test and still rose. He said was not going to let a rising PSA not be addressed. He changed seeing him and testing to every 3 months and when still was rising (even though not that much) and don't like the rising rates consistently over the last couple of years.
He referred me to urologist and said the urologist will order an MRI. Then my journey began but my primary care doctor kept seeming and still seeing me every 3 months even after treatment ended to provide additional feedback and watch with me my results and recovery. Great doctor and not only sees me but is always available to me via Mayo portal.
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Thanks Jim: What really got me is that no doctor in the two years I was in trouble knew that lower back pain in an older man is a red flag for prostate cancer. None ever brought up my prostate? I diagnosed myself. It just infuriates me that I have been put in this situation because of doctors who failed at their job in every way. I’ve come to terms with this now so I’m okay. Thanks again. All the best to you.