Prostate
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Join Date: Jun 2004
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Prostate
Do you guys have the blood test for Prostate Cancer at your medicals?Being a female,this never is necessary.A friend,whose husband was a pilot,died of Prostate cancer,and it is her belief that if he'd been checked and tested during his medical,it might have been picked up earlier.
Cancer checks are the responsibility of the individual,I know,but when you are having the blood test,why not ask for any other test that might save a life.We are paying after all.
Cancer checks are the responsibility of the individual,I know,but when you are having the blood test,why not ask for any other test that might save a life.We are paying after all.
Join Date: May 2004
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All men should get their prostate checked regularly once they are over 40 anyway.
Why wait for a company or licence medical? If you're worried about it, get it checked immediately.
Some men are scared of the rectal exam. There's an ad on Australian TV right now urging men to "Pull yer finger out - go get tested!".
Great advice. It's a medical procedure for chrissakes, it doesn't threaten your sexuality!
If you're worried about the medical glove procedure, you should see someone who's dying of prostate cancer. A few minutes of discomfort versus months of agony probably ending in death.
Hmmm, let me see now - No contest!
Why wait for a company or licence medical? If you're worried about it, get it checked immediately.
Some men are scared of the rectal exam. There's an ad on Australian TV right now urging men to "Pull yer finger out - go get tested!".
Great advice. It's a medical procedure for chrissakes, it doesn't threaten your sexuality!
If you're worried about the medical glove procedure, you should see someone who's dying of prostate cancer. A few minutes of discomfort versus months of agony probably ending in death.
Hmmm, let me see now - No contest!
jedda,
The rectal exam just isn't that big a deal ( unless you feel BOTH the doctor's hands on your shoulders ).
I will admit, it's a bit humiliating, but think how the doc feels...doing this year after year. Can't be too much fun.
I always get a PSA blood test once a year in addition to the "finger wave". Foolish not to, but you have to ask in the States as no blood work of any kind is required. It is a separate test from general blood testing.
Tell your male friends to do it. Prostate cancer is 98% cureable when caught early enough...and there's only one way to do that: get tested.
The rectal exam just isn't that big a deal ( unless you feel BOTH the doctor's hands on your shoulders ).
I will admit, it's a bit humiliating, but think how the doc feels...doing this year after year. Can't be too much fun.
I always get a PSA blood test once a year in addition to the "finger wave". Foolish not to, but you have to ask in the States as no blood work of any kind is required. It is a separate test from general blood testing.
Tell your male friends to do it. Prostate cancer is 98% cureable when caught early enough...and there's only one way to do that: get tested.
Join Date: Mar 1999
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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.
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.
