Prostate Cancer - Biggest Killer of Men in Ireland

[lawnseed]

My father was diagnosed with it around 4 years ago at the age of 64, thankfully he recovered but went through a tough time along the way.  At the time, the consultant recommended that if he had any brothers that they also get tested.  His 4 brothers were tested, 1 was diagnosed at that time, I found that shocking.  Another one has been diagnosed since ... I guess I know what to be watching out for in years to come.

jez! what age are you now? tbh the age part of the equation doesnt seem to be paramount victoms are getting younger

[balladmaker]

36 now and counting ... Agree, age is not relevant, it's something that needs checked regularly

[lawnseed]

36 now and counting ... Agree, age is not relevant, it's something that needs checked regularly

and yet men dont look about it. how long does an examination take and do you have to wait for the results or can they tell at the time

[Hardy]

It's just a blood test. Have a medical check-up once a year and this (PSA) is one of the tests they'll do on your bloods. If the PSA reading causes concern they'll deal with it and prostate cancer is a doddle if it's caught early. So there's no reason to die of it if you take the basic precautions.

[Dougal Maguire]

My father has just been diagnosed with it. He's aged 82 but a very fit man. He's undergoing tests etc at the moment to determine the extent and therefore the type of treatment. We're all keeping our fingers crossed that it'll all be ok.

[Hardy]

Reading about your father, Dougal makes my previous post seem a little callous. That's not what I mean. i just want people to know how easy it is to have it checked and prevented. Best wishes to your father. His age may be to his benefit as I understand that, even if it's not at an early stage, it's a very slowly advancing cancer and the older you are the more slowly it develops.

[Paul Callanan]

My father has just been diagnosed with it. He's aged 82 but a very fit man. He's undergoing tests etc at the moment to determine the extent and therefore the type of treatment. We're all keeping our fingers crossed that it'll all be ok.

Best wishes to your father Dougal. Hopefully everything will be ok. And some great advice from Hardy there. I usually avoid check-ups as I'd always have said I'd prefer ot to know if there's anything wrong. But I've changed my mind after reading this thread.

[Dougal Maguire]

No, I don't see your post as being callous at all. You're quite correct about regular check ups and catching it early and I'm pretty hopeful that this will be the case with my da who does get himself checked out often. Thanks for your good wishes and again you're correct about his age which makes it much less likely that it will spread.

[SLIGONIAN]

No, I don't see your post as being callous at all. You're quite correct about regular check ups and catching it early and I'm pretty hopeful that this will be the case with my da who does get himself checked out often. Thanks for your good wishes and again you're correct about his age which makes it much less likely that it will spread.

My Dad is fit and healthy after his prostate treatment. He had a minor op of injecting seeds into his prostate a few yrs ago and goes for regurlar check ups. It was all done in Galway and i was with him every step of the way and there were great staff in UHG and Galway clinic. The only negative was the waiting times of a few months. You have to keep putting a wee bit of pressure on the HSE and UGH for reassurance mainly, i was worried that the delays could be fatal but they kept reassuring me. The good thing is its very treatable. I wish your Dad a speedy recovery.

[Lar Naparka]

No, I don't see your post as being callous at all. You're quite correct about regular check ups and catching it early and I'm pretty hopeful that this will be the case with my da who does get himself checked out often. Thanks for your good wishes and again you're correct about his age which makes it much less likely that it will spread.

My Dad is fit and healthy after his prostate treatment. He had a minor op of injecting seeds into his prostate a few yrs ago and goes for regurlar check ups. It was all done in Galway and i was with him every step of the way and there were great staff in UHG and Galway clinic. The only negative was the waiting times of a few months. You have to keep putting a wee bit of pressure on the HSE and UGH for reassurance mainly, i was worried that the delays could be fatal but they kept reassuring me. The good thing is its very treatable. I wish your Dad a speedy recovery.

I'm delighted with the news. Your dad is a lovely individual and please pass my best regards on to him. This condition is relatively easy to control once it is detected in the early stages.
THat's why I'd advise any man who is middle aged or older to have PSA checks carried out. Like me, I think most men would feel uncomfortable if they feel they need to discuss their intimate details with anyone else.
Some time ago, I realised that I was beginning to have difficulty in passing urine and found that I needed to get up several times during the night to do this. So I went to my GP and asked him to carry out a PSA test. No big deal. He drew the sample there and then and sent it off for analysis.  But he discussed the symptoms I was worried about with me and felt it would be advisable to have further checks carried out.
That made it easier for me to discuss the matter with him as he asked the questions so I didn't have to take the initiative and broach the subject with him.
He decided to have further tests carried out as a precaution and I was happy to agree with him. The PSA  level was normal but the additional tests showed I have an enlarged prostate.
Again no big deal; I take a few pills and have no major problems now. However, I was screened for prostate cancer and will have regular checks from now on.
I know I'd have let the problem deteriorate much more before I'd have gone to see my doc if I hadn't used the PSA check as an icebreaker. Of itself, the check doesn't prove anything definitive but discussing the symptoms with a medical person in conjunction with it can be a very good idea.
Good luck to your dad and to Dougal's dad also and I advise every man to have this elementary test carried out as a routine precaution.

[anglocelt39]

Get a blood test done, deal with it early, it's affecting an increasing number of men aged 40's or so. As the meathman said, can be dealt with if caught in time.

[laoislad]

My father has just been diagnosed with it. He's aged 82 but a very fit man. He's undergoing tests etc at the moment to determine the extent and therefore the type of treatment. We're all keeping our fingers crossed that it'll all be ok.

Best of luck to your Da Dougal.

[Dougal Maguire]

Thanks folks for all your kind wishes. From what I've read about it, it seems its pretty common in men of his age and the survival rate is pretty high. I'll keep you all posted in due course

[Tony Baloney]

My father has just been diagnosed with it. He's aged 82 but a very fit man. He's undergoing tests etc at the moment to determine the extent and therefore the type of treatment. We're all keeping our fingers crossed that it'll all be ok.

Best of luck to your Da Dougal.

+1.

[SLIGONIAN]

No, I don't see your post as being callous at all. You're quite correct about regular check ups and catching it early and I'm pretty hopeful that this will be the case with my da who does get himself checked out often. Thanks for your good wishes and again you're correct about his age which makes it much less likely that it will spread.

My Dad is fit and healthy after his prostate treatment. He had a minor op of injecting seeds into his prostate a few yrs ago and goes for regurlar check ups. It was all done in Galway and i was with him every step of the way and there were great staff in UHG and Galway clinic. The only negative was the waiting times of a few months. You have to keep putting a wee bit of pressure on the HSE and UGH for reassurance mainly, i was worried that the delays could be fatal but they kept reassuring me. The good thing is its very treatable. I wish your Dad a speedy recovery.

I'm delighted with the news. Your dad is a lovely individual and please pass my best regards on to him. This condition is relatively easy to control once it is detected in the early stages.
THat's why I'd advise any man who is middle aged or older to have PSA checks carried out. Like me, I think most men would feel uncomfortable if they feel they need to discuss their intimate details with anyone else.
Some time ago, I realised that I was beginning to have difficulty in passing urine and found that I needed to get up several times during the night to do this. So I went to my GP and asked him to carry out a PSA test. No big deal. He drew the sample there and then and sent it off for analysis.  But he discussed the symptoms I was worried about with me and felt it would be advisable to have further checks carried out.
That made it easier for me to discuss the matter with him as he asked the questions so I didn't have to take the initiative and broach the subject with him.
He decided to have further tests carried out as a precaution and I was happy to agree with him. The PSA  level was normal but the additional tests showed I have an enlarged prostate.
Again no big deal; I take a few pills and have no major problems now. However, I was screened for prostate cancer and will have regular checks from now on.
I know I'd have let the problem deteriorate much more before I'd have gone to see my doc if I hadn't used the PSA check as an icebreaker. Of itself, the check doesn't prove anything definitive but discussing the symptoms with a medical person in conjunction with it can be a very good idea.
Good luck to your dad and to Dougal's dad also and I advise every man to have this elementary test carried out as a routine precaution.

Thanks Lar, hope your keeping well, U are most welcome for tea in my house anytime, isnt it ironic that a mayoman was the first gaaboarder to sit in my home house. I mightin like mayo football but there some top people from there even if they are few and far between , however u are one.