Do you tell others now to get a PSA?

No problem, I sometimes forget I've been on this journey ten plus years so the language is 2nd nature to me..

This is a good question. As others have said, it's not a great opening line, but could easily find its way into a conversation (depending upon relationship, context, etc...). I am amazed at how many men STILL don't know about this. Even more surprising is that some men, who do have a family physician, are not cued to do this! It should be part of annual screening (blood/urine tests for cholesterol, etc.). Most friends know that I have gone through PC and sometimes that is enough to make them consider/get checked.

It’s my opinion, it’s not straight forward on how to encourage others to get their PSA checked. Most people I’ve talked to act indifferent, like that’s what happens to somebody else. In my situation, my PSA doubled in one year to 4.2. My government doctor told me not to worry about it. However, I’m grateful to my wife for encouraging me to get a second opinion. I got the same PSA result from a civilian doctor; however, this doctor was concerned. A biopsy test was requested. The results showed 6 out 12 samples with Gleason scores of 3+4. Ugh.

TRUS: Trans-Rectal Ultrasound?

FWIW: I do recommend that men get the PSA regularly. Despite the ( dated) advice suggesting less testing (seemingly with the result of more men being diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer) The idea was too many men were undergoing unneeded treatment.
With better diagnostic tools today, I suspect less over treatment. (I do believe that some men react to a CANCER diagnosis and opt for treatment (typically prostatectomy) and…. Some urologist surgeons are happy to do so, since it is a money maker for them.)

The trending of PSA is somewhat ‘telling’. Mine was going up about 1.0 per year. It may also be important to say that my rising PSA suggested ‘something is going on’. My multi-parametric MRI showed a tumor in the front of my prostate - which was undetectable by DRE.

I might mention also that my urologist’s office seemed a bit sloppy- at some point he asked (not the medical assistant) if I was on Finasteride. I was and had been from age 60 to my diagnosis of PCa at age 69. (He did not prescribe). Apparently Finasteride cuts one’s PSA by ~50%.

So my PSA increasing annually was important info. Getting a PSA every 5 years would not have been as clear.

So I was told by my Gp that getting a PSA test my just worry me so several years later having nite pain in my bones , some weight loss and a rising ALP number a PSA test was done the results were 1319 rising to 1665 three weeks later at the start of treatment a loading dose of degarelix . My dx was 1/6/22 now over2 years later I am leading a normal life with a PSA of 0.014 for well over a year, my only treatment has been monthly injection of degarelix and a daily 1000mg of abiraterone with 5 mg of prednisone.I feel very fortunate this has been working so well. My PSA is done every mouth so yes I do worry .

Whenever I can. I try to read the person after I tell them I am cancer free (which I am not). It seems to open the conversation.

I don't tell other guys to get a PSA. However, I've documented my own journey on Facebook and some guys will IM and ask for more details. My main point is that I was lucky that I changed to a new PCP last year who ordered my very first PSA test at the age of 58. Fortunately, or not, it was determined that my cancer was 3+4=7, Intermediate Unfavorable due to the number of cores showing evidence of the disease 10/14. There was no spread found after a PSMA PET Scan, and I'm in the process of getting ready for five rounds of SBRT-TrueBeam STX treatment, after a couple of months on Eligard. Fortunately, the ADT piece hasn't really been an issue, aside from minor hot flashes at times. I also tell them I had no symptoms and that many PCa patients don't know they have it until it's already spread. So I suggest they bring the matter up the next time they see their Dr, even the younger guys in their 40s. Just my .02. 🙂

Yes, I would definitely encourage male friends and family to have their PSA checked. I am 74 yo. Mine was slowly rising over 3 years from about 3 to 5.3. My GP then suggested that I see a urologist. I had absolutely no symptoms suggesting PC. After a biopsy, he found PC in more than half of the 12 cores. Had 28 rounds of IMRT and a year of ADT with orgovyx. Just finished ADT and my PSA is undetectable. Will see what happens in 6 months. Had I not had my PSA checked the result could have been much worse. PLEASE ENCOURAGE men to have their PSA checked. This could ultimately save their lives.

I'm an introvert also and told my nephew about my PSA and benign Biopsy results. I told him due to the history of cancer in our family. I've discussed this with some of my male coworkers around my age as a "Heads up" kind of thing. I didn't feel obligated to tell anyone (except my nephew). I told my male coworkers because I wanted to share information and encourage them to start getting a PSA test.