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Old 16th Mar 2005, 00:22
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Irish Steve
 
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Ashbourne Co Meath Ireland
Age: 73
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Absolutely, without doubt, do NOT ignore anything prostate related.

I was in Denver in 2002, and had just hit 50, I went for an FAA renewal, and (luck) decided to do the class 1, even though I only needed a class 2 at the time.

Final part of the check was the gloved finger. "Hmmm, your prostate is slightly enlarged, it might be an idea to get a PSA check done when you get home".

I did.

A few months later, after some scares and at times worrying procedures, I'm out of hospital having just parted company with a cancerous prostate.

As far as I know, I'm clear. 2 years down the line, the PSA is still undetectable, which is as good as it gets.

Now, here's the important part. Prior to that medical, I had ZERO ZILCH NADA symptoms of any sort, no getting out of bed in the night for a pee, no indications of any sort that there was any problem.

So, if the FAA medico had not given me the gloved finger, there's a very strong liklihood that the first I would have known about prostate cancer would have been when I would have had to go to casualty to get a nasty discharge from the back passage checked out, and by that stage, there would have been no way back, as prostate cancer once it escapes from the prostate is extremely unpleasant.

Now, I can look back over the last 2.5 years and be very happy that it was found when it was.

The best option for me was removal of the prostate . If it's done right by a competent surgeon, then the long term effects are a lot less serious than doing nothing.

I'm continent, unless I crouch down on my haunches for too long, and if I do that, there's a very minor leak. For 12 months after I'd recovered from the surgery, I was able to still work as a ramp grunt at DUB, and that's one of the most physically challenging jobs there is, a full charter 757 flight to turn in an hour means some serious work, however you look at it. OK, I'm not working on the ramp now, but that's not because of prostate cancer, but another issue altogether which need not be part of this thread.

If the surgeon is able to do "nerve sparing", then the plumbing will still respond to appropriate stimulus, but if the prostate and seminal vesicles are no longer there, you'll be firing blanks. So be it, firing blanks is a lot better than pushing up daisies. I will comment that full recovery takes time, and can't be rushed.

Last thought. If there is any history in your family of prostate problems before the age of 60, start gettting PSA checks, ( the blood test) in your mid 40's to be on the safe side, as a family history of problems can mean that 50 is tight for safety.

Above all, do NOT ignore this. caught in time, it's not all that serious, ignored for even a little too long, and it's not good.

So, and I understand that this may be more detail than some people are comfortable with, that's the bottom line of prostate.

If me posting it saves one life, because someone decided to go get checked rather than bury their head in the sand, I'm happy.

If you want or need more details or help, PM me, and I will try to provide whatever answers I can.
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