Follow up after surgery: How many years are you seen annually?

Posted by graybeard46 @graybeard46, Jul 29 6:26am

I am 2 yrs post prostate surgery ,radiation, and hormone shots . How many years do your doctors want to see you once a year ? When I saw my surgeon a year ago it’s a 2-3 hr ride into Boson . He spent 5 minutes and all he could do was give me a rectal exam . In 2 months it’s time for my 2 yr check up, my PSA is good.02 so I sent an email asking if I really need to see him , his PA said yes he likes to do a rectal exam each year , my question this time is can my primary care Dr do the exam , during upcoming physical? Who is half the drive? I don’t have a prostate so not sure the reason for this ?

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Jeff Marchi | @jeffmarc | Jul 29 11:45am

My urologist never did that in the 16 years since I’ve had surgery. I’ve had it reoccur four times but that wasn’t necessary since it was found in CT scans or PSMA PET scans.

Quite strange that this doctor wants to do that every year. If he’s got a lot of prostate cancer patients, it’s a profitable Part of business. The likelihood of finding something with a DRE is extremely low. It’s more likely to come back somewhere that you can’t feel.

You might look into another doctor for a second opinion.

TurtBean | @turtbean | Jul 29 12:11pm

Yeah, that’s really bizarre IMO - what’s he going to say, “Yep…your prostate is still gone, see you next time!” 😵‍💫

I’m with Jeff, easy way to ding your insurance for an office visit. That, or he just likes doing the exam - either way, I’d steer clear.

My prostate was removed in January, and all my follow-ups are either video chats or telephone calls, and with an NP, not the doctor who did the surgery. He did my first follow-up, then handed it off to his NP.

surftohealth88 | @surftohealth88 | Jul 29 6:23pm

I have to agree with above said. My husband never had rectal exam after surgery (he is one year out). He talks to his surgeon via Zoom every time as well as with RO and MO. He is now having RT so he meets with RO in the facility when RO is around and just to say hello.

bobbyjay54321 | @bobbyjay54321 | Jul 29 11:18pm

TOTALLY AGREE!.I go each 6 months to a sp cialist,am there for maybe 0ne or two minutes, Pay Aust dollars roughly $200 and thats it,,,+I have now started to get my reading each 6 months from a blood test by my G.P. Cost NIL. If she thinks I need to she books me into a uroligist specialist.

heavyphil | @heavyphil | Jul 30 6:21am

A lot of the older Uro’s seem to do this - and I know one person on the forum benefitted from it but that’s it.
But after all you’ve been through - and your total dissatisfaction with this whole experience - are you really going to do anything treatment wise if he thinks he ‘feels’ something??
In my layman’s opinion your surgeon has done you no favors up to this point!
Phil