There are several factors that can lead to a false positive PSA.
Inflammation of the prostate or having sex (or in Kierland's case, flogging the dolphin ) too close to the test can give an abnormally high reading.
Also, inaccurate test results, or some dufus at the lab switching results by accident.
Given my profession in the statistics world, I always question such a high variability in a health test in a short period of time.
Is that accurate? Excessive masturbation causes higher PSA levels?
Yep, it's one of the factors that can cause an inaccurate PSA test.
Before having a PSA test, men should not have ejaculated during the previous 48 hours. Semen released during sexual activity can cause PSA levels to rise temporarily, which may affect the test results. For the same reason, before having a PSA test men should not have: exercised vigorously in the previous 48 hours.
I actually tagged the wife right before my annual physical, so that may have explained it.
My PCP directed me to a urologist immediately upon getting my results.
I did research and decided to hold the phone on the biopsy and got another test, which turned out to be in normal range.
Who knew? I guess the lesson is to have blue balls before your next PSA test. :x
Had my first (and only) day of treatment yesterday. Barely any side effects at all at this point but I need to take it easy for a week.
Mikey wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 1:45 am
Had my first (and only) day of treatment yesterday. Barely any side effects at all at this point but I need to take it easy for a week.
JPGettysburg wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 2:58 pm
You opted for the radiation?
Why not get the advanced robotic surgery?
It's extremely precise, which means you will still be able to enjoy all the pleasures of sex, and not have to rely on a "strap-on"
The surgery is fucking barbaric. Even today there’s months of recovery involved, a 30% to 40% recurrence rate, and many end up with permanent incontinence and/or ED. No thanks. External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) would require two to three years of hormone therapy, which is essentially chemical castration that usually causes hot flashes, complete loss of libido, loss of muscle mass and bone density, increased risk of cardiovascular problems and other metabolic stuff. So no thanks to that, either. I went with HDR brachytherapy, which concentrates a high dose of radiation on the lesion in a highly accurate manner and leaves nothing behind. The focal therapy leaves the rest of the gland alone and I expect no significant changes in any of the functions. I was supposed to go back for a second treatment next week but it went so well the radiation oncologist said I don’t need it.
Mikey wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 1:45 am
Had my first (and only) day of treatment yesterday. Barely any side effects at all at this point but I need to take it easy for a week.
JPGettysburg wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 2:58 pm
You opted for the radiation?
Why not get the advanced robotic surgery?
It's extremely precise, which means you will still be able to enjoy all the pleasures of sex, and not have to rely on a "strap-on"
The surgery is fucking barbaric. Even today there’s months of recovery involved, a 30% to 40% recurrence rate, and many end up with permanent incontinence and/or ED. No thanks. External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) would require two to three years of hormone therapy, which is essentially chemical castration that usually causes hot flashes, complete loss of libido, loss of muscle mass and bone density, increased risk of cardiovascular problems and other metabolic stuff. So no thanks to that, either. I went with HDR brachytherapy, which concentrates a high dose of radiation on the lesion in a highly accurate manner and leaves nothing behind. The focal therapy leaves the rest of the gland alone and I expect no significant changes in any of the functions. I was supposed to go back for a second treatment next week but it went so well the radiation oncologist said I don’t need it.
The team at UCLA is probably the most experienced in world at this procedure.
Did you say barbaric?
What decade are you stuck in?
Do me a favor and look up the new advances in computer guided robotic surgery.
No long recovery period whatsoever.
The surgery you described is from the 1960's and 70's for christ's sakes!
I've been studying this in depth for four months to the exclusion of almost everything else, read several recent books and spoken to some of the top experts in SoCal. Believe me, even with today's (actually more like 15 or 20 years old) "advancements" it's major surgery and a roll of the dice as far as long term side effects. It all depends on the skill of the surgeon (yes even "robotic" surgery requires a skilled surgeon to operate), and the nerve sparing part, no matter what they tell you, is basically a roll of the dice depending on what they find during the procedure and whether or not they can work around the nerve bundles. As far as incontinence, the urethra goes through the prostate and needs to be severed and reconstructed as part of the surgery. In the process you lose the sphincter that normally controls the urinary function. There's no way to avoid that. I would suggest that you actually do some research on this if you're really interested in it. Starting, if not into reading, with some of the videos available from PCRI.
Because of its prevalence (250,000 cases per year in the US) prostate cancer has become a really big business. Most are initially diagnosed by a urologist, and urologists are surgeons. They are also some of the highest paid specialists and need to keep up a steady flow of business to pay for expensive equipment and staff. Surgeons want to operate and will usually recommend that as the "gold standard." They almost always minimize the potential risks. Radiation oncologists want to do radiation therapy, and usually gloss over the side effects of hormone treatments. I'm consulting with a medical oncologist who has been in practice for over 30 years and doesn't do any of the procedures himself, but specializes in prostate cancer and has connections with all of the top specialists, and can recommend the best course of probably 2000 choices of individual or combined therapies based on each person's unique case. Most of these procedures have similar statistical outcomes as far as "cure" or recurrence and the choice often comes down to quality of life issues and the age of the patient. I could go on but I'm not going to, and don't fucking tell me I don't know what I'm talking about.
This guy is my doctor, BTW. I'll take his advice over yours any day.
kcdave wrote: ↑Sat Sep 09, 2023 8:05 am
I was actually going to to join in the best bets activity here at good ole T1B...The guy that runs that contest is a fucking prick
Derron wrote: ↑Sat Oct 03, 2020 3:07 pm
You are truly one of the worst pieces of shit to ever post on this board. Start giving up your paycheck for reparations now and then you can shut the fuck up about your racist blasts.
Screw_Michigan wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 6:45 pm
Sorry to hear this, Mikey. Best of T1B luck.
Thanks! :grin:
Hopefully I'm done with the whole thing, though I need to be tested regularly. There's a good chance of never needing any additional treatment. Right now I just have a pretty sore butt.
Screw_Michigan wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 6:45 pm
Sorry to hear this, Mikey. Best of T1B luck.
Thanks! :grin:
Hopefully I'm done with the whole thing, though I need to be tested regularly. There's a good chance of never needing any additional treatment. Right now I just have a pretty sore butt.
Thanks.
I'm going to watch this video.
My older brother in Connecticut went thru this ten years ago. His doctor is based out of Yale University. I understand they are also at the top or near the top as far as this type of cancer is concerned.
Best of luck to you.
The Da Vinci robotic system was definitely the state of the art 10 to 15 years ago. But it hasn't changed much if any since then. Other treatments and visualization technologies have been improving in leaps and bounds, especially in the ability to apply radiation accurately to a well defined target. Also the PSMA PET scan, only approved in the past couple of years by the FDA, is a whole body scan that allows them to see any metastatic spread down to like a couple of millimeters. Truly revolutionary in the diagnosis part.
My PSA numbers actually dropped a little in a recent check…not that that’s the end all way of keeping up with the cancer. Since mine was found via biopsy in May, I’ve barely given it a thought. Numbers are so low it’s not a concern. We’ll continue to check things periodically. I can’t remember the terminology right this second, but I was a 3/3 on the scale they utilize. As of now, if any treatment is ever required, I’m leaning toward the radioactive pellets. Seems like the best way to hit the target.
JPGettysburg wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 8:37 pm
I just had that petscan you spoke of.
He ordered it after the biopsy revealed the cancer.
The news was good and it hadn't spread.
Now on Tuesday, he will explain the options going forward.
Thanks, my brother is doing very well.
After my urologist gives me the options, my brother wants to ask his doctor at Yale his opinion.
Hopefully we'll make the right choice for my situation, as you said, every case is different.
Your urologist will recommend surgery. I can almost 100% guarantee it. It's what they trained for and it's what they do. Most of them are very good at it. But because of this they don't necessarily know that much about the alternatives and are usually biased. Take your time. Do your research. Get a second or third or fourth opinion. It looks like you're heading in that direction but if you brother's doctor is also a urologist, you need to talk to a radiation oncologist and, preferably, a medical oncologist who will have no "skin in the game" because he doesn't do any of the procedures. My urologist told me I was making a mistake by not going with surgery. My medical oncologist did not agree.
Jsc810 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 05, 2023 12:42 am
Get a 2nd opinion from MD Anderson, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, or some other world class facility.
So what sort of baked goods do you bring to those office visits? You don't dare walk in with some half-assed toll house cookies or cheap Betty Crocker brownies.
Screw_Michigan wrote: ↑Fri Apr 05, 2019 4:39 pmUnlike you tards, I actually have functioning tastebuds and a refined pallet.
Jsc810 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 05, 2023 12:42 am
Get a 2nd opinion from MD Anderson, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, or some other world class facility.
So what sort of baked goods do you bring to those office visits? You don't dare walk in with some half-assed toll house cookies or cheap Betty Crocker brownies.
One of the nurses the other day told me they have a hard time watching their weight because they get so many piles of cookies and cakes and stuff. I could tell she wasn’t lying.
) too close to the test can give an abnormally high reading.
