Sophia wrote on Mar 31
st, 2023 at 8:10am:
Carl D wrote on Mar 31
st, 2023 at 8:00am:
Bobby. wrote on Mar 31
st, 2023 at 7:54am:
Hi Lisa,
you could have had an asymptomatic case where you were infected but showed no symptoms.
Only a blood anti-body test could confirm it.
That's an excellent point, Bobby.
As far as I am aware I haven't had Covid yet but I'm planning to go to my GP and
request a PSA blood test in July because my next 'official' one isn't until November but I want to have it checked earlier for my own peace of mind (everything is OK at the moment as far as I know) and while I'm there I might also ask my GP to get my blood sample checked to see if I ever have had Covid.
You haven’t had the latest medical news on PSA tests?
I’m a little shocked since my hubby has just recovered from prostate surgery recently how they’re all saying PSA tests are useless.
Because I always thought it was a good measure if it was too high re: cancer etc
Be interesting to see what you get told.
Let me know.
Hope your husband is OK after the surgery, Sophia.
I had shingles in September 2019 which made me go to a doctor for the first time in my life (at the age of 62).
I had 2 blood tests a week and a half apart which showed my PSA was 67 for one and 69 for the other. Anything above 4 (or 4.5?) is considered suspicious for my age group.
Had CT and bone scans in late September 2019 which showed the prostate was enlarged and contained "multifocal calcifications" but there still wasn't any definite proof it was cancer. Even my GP said that he believed it wasn't anything to worry about after seeing the images and reading the accompanying report.
Had the 'finger' test in late November 2019 and the doctor said he could feel "hard spots" inside the prostate but still no proof it was cancer.
Had a MRI scan done in December 2019 which showed these "hard spots" more clearly than the CT and bone scans but
still no definite proof it was cancer.
It was only after having a prostate biopsy done in March 2020 that I found out it really was cancer.
Went on 3 monthly Lucrin injections for 2 years from June 2020 (to stop or almost stop testosterone production which 'feeds' the cancer), had a PSMA PET scan in May 2020 to see exactly where the cancer was and to also see if the cancer had spread to other parts of the body (it hadn't apart from a small spot in one of the lymph nodes outside the prostate) and I then had 39 radiation sessions over 8 weeks from mid October to mid December 2020.
I did ask about surgery to remove the prostate but because of the lymph node involvement the doctor said that if the cancer was still there after surgery I would still need to have radiation treatment and he also said that radiation was just as effective as surgery these days (and normally has less side effects as well).
I've had several follow up PSA tests since then and so far, so good. Last one in February was 0.52ug/l. I've been told by the doctor that as long as it doesn't go above 2 then I should be OK.
As I said last week, my next 'official' PSA blood test is due in November but I might get my GP to do one earlier (probably July) just to be on the safe side. Especially since my testosterone level has started to rise again because my final 3 monthly Lucrin injection was last June.