To PSA or to not psa

nicely done! Thanks for writing that Todd. I'm pretty confident you speak for most of us here (and very well - love that "Don't Tell Me" checkbox). I struggled with my PCP on this point - when he said "that's why urologists shouldn't do primary care" I left him. It's so much a heads-in-the-sand POV.

Todd.
yes,yes yes and yes, on PSA testing, I could not agree with you more. Nice job, love the added graphics. I am trying to send a comment on the bottom of you, but I guess I need to get new Google+ account set up. Clicking those adds though for you!
From Dan, one of those Stage 4 upon discovery, with 71.4 PSA fellows

Todd - it's a debate that needs to still be talked about once in awhile. A friend of mine told me he wasn't going to get a PSA test because of 'over treatment' a couple of years ago. I tried to talk him out of that position to no avail. Two months ago he told me that he'd just been diagnosed with some skin cancer and after the surgery he finally got a PSA test.

Guess he's finally heard me...

Andrew

Hi Jim,
I won't name names even though I am certain i said nothing that would offend.
Thanks for the replies guys!

Valuable message Todd, well done.

In my opinion overtreatment is not a result of screening. Rather it is a result of under-education.

I place the education responsibility first on the doctor and then on the patient second.

There is no shortage of information and assistance, but very few men are encouraged, let alone required by their doctors to learn before accepting treatment. The learning includes second opinions. My doctor required me to complete some reading, research and a second opinion before he would accept me as a patient. I was fortunate to have the requirement to become educated before being treated.

Todd,

I agree. When I was first Dx I remember asking my uro how long he thought I had the PCa. He told me at least a couple of years. I have been thinking about when things started to change for me, and when I started to feel "off". Looking back I would say that the first time I noticed feeling less energetic back in early 2011 or late 2010.

For the longest time I though that it was some kind of stomach ailment that was the problem. I knew that something was wrong, but I just didnt know what. In late November of 2014 I went into an urgent care office in my town one evening. I was suddenly having trouble urinating. The very young doctor that saw me asked if I ever had a PSA test. I told her no. She ordered one that night and I went to the hospital in my town and got tested that very night. The next morning I called the lab at the hospital and they gave me the shocking news. My first PSA came back at an alarming 468.

If I had been getting tested starting at age 40, I would not be in this situation. I tell everyone to get tested. They don't want to end up like me with all the bone mets and a G10 score. I am doing pretty well though at this point. For that I am thankful.

That is how I see it,

C.G.

I'm pretty sure everyone knows where I stand on this one as this isn't the first time the topic has been aired out here. . . . My only input today is - "What JNF said" - like, time 10! Thanks for your insight / POV on this Todd, and also of course your amazing BLOG!