Support "Call to Arms" & Prostate Cancer

[aceman]

Having just had surgery in the "nether region" for a certain 'Men's' problem, I urge not only people to support this cause but suggest to all Men 40+ to have annual checkups with your doctor for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

This is the term for an enlarged prostate and if left unchecked, can develop into much more serious forms including cancer.

The test initially is only a blood sample from which they get a reading of you PSA (prostate specific antigen), this gives an indication of the protein in your blood and when it is high, it normally indicates there may be an underlying problem.The normal ratio is less than 4.00.

There is nothing to fear in any of the testing, it is painless but it can make life so much easier if you are aware of your individual circumstances.

In my case, I had what is known as a T.U.R.P, a trans urethral resection of the prostate is the name of the procedure which is done under anaesthetic and involves reducing the size with a lazer instrument. To view, type in TURP to google, there is some video footage of the operation.

Please support the Call to Arms initiative and make sure you heed my advice, annual checkups for guys over 40 are a must.

[Psyber]

Please support the Call to Arms initiative and make sure you heed my advice, annual check ups for guys over 40 are a must.

I'll second that.
I've recently had a full Radical Prostatectomy for Prostate Cancer.

My PSAs had risen slowly over the years and it was thought to be just benign enlargement - TURP had been discussed for the near future.
However the PSAs jumped a bit in March, requiring further investigation, and biopsy in April indicated there was a localised low grade cancer in 2 of the 9 sites biopsied.
I had the surgery in mid May, and post-op pathology confirmed it was small, of low virulence and contained within the gland.
My surgeon rang me with the result as soon as he got it, while I was still in hospital, the second day post-op.

Preliminary scans suggested I had no secondary deposits elsewhere in my body, and my PSA is now "undetectable" which suggests I am "all clear" now.
Having reached that point I feel able to mention it here.