I am just starting a health thread since there does not appear to be one and I want to start off with a post about something. 

 

Anything health related, questions, discussion, etc. can go here.

*Yeah this is a bit long....

 

I want to encourage everyone to get any health screenings that may be appropriate for them. Things like regular Dr. visits, labwork such as a Men's Health Profile that covers a number of things and costs only about $100.00 with no insurance at OSU, PSA antigen tests, Colonoscopies/feces testing for occult blood, etc.  Insurance coverage of course should help.

 

I am 59 now and I have been getting all of these tests done. I had a colonoscopy last year- it runs in my family. I also had a PSA antigen test for Prostate Cancer, even though I am not high risk and it has never been in my family. 

 

This year I had another PSA test, and the level was suddenly much higher(ten times higher). I had an MRI  and yesterday a biopsy(horrible experience since they have a large ultrasound instrument shoved up your butt when they stab into you with needles). I have a pretty large tumor that based on the MRI, has the worst rating(a 5 out of 0-5, with 5 being worst). I am waiting on the pathology reports  and treatment options, etc. I have no symptoms, and the digital rectal exam initially done did not find anything as the tumor is located where it cannot be felt in such an exam.

 

This all blew up in one year-from normal to very not normal, and I have no symptoms.  This appears to be aggressive and if I was not getting regular PSA tests I would never have been able to catch it.  I am hoping for the best with this.

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There are mostly men on this board, and men tend to not take care of their health, get screenings, etc. compared to women.  I know my mother would push my father to get these things done. 

 

-Have a primary care physician. If nothing else, see about a basic men's health profile-covers the basic stuff.

-get routine screenings that are appropriate for you, your age, your medical history and family history.

-Don't necessarily wait until you have symptoms. If it is recommended for you or appropriate for you, get it done.

 

Please use my example(I did everything right by getting the tests and hopefully have caught this in time to save my life)and do what you can to be healthy and monitor your health and health risks.

 

*I am only sharing this here on this board because it is a well run board with mostly decent people posting(as compared to many which are cesspools) and if it helps one person it will be worth it. 

Edited October 20, 20222 yr by Toddguy

1 hour ago, Toddguy said:

*Yeah this is a bit long....

 

I want to encourage everyone to get any health screenings that may be appropriate for them. Things like regular Dr. visits, labwork such as a Men's Health Profile that covers a number of things and costs only about $100.00 with no insurance at OSU, PSA antigen tests, Colonoscopies/feces testing for occult blood, etc.  Insurance coverage of course should help.

 

I am 59 now and I have been getting all of these tests done. I had a colonoscopy last year- it runs in my family. I also had a PSA antigen test for Prostate Cancer, even though I am not high risk and it has never been in my family. 

 

This year I had another PSA test, and the level was suddenly much higher(ten times higher). I had an MRI  and yesterday a biopsy(horrible experience since they have a large ultrasound instrument shoved up your butt when they stab into you with needles). I have a pretty large tumor that based on the MRI, has the worst rating(a 5 out of 0-5, with 5 being worst). I am waiting on the pathology reports  and treatment options, etc. I have no symptoms, and the digital rectal exam initially done did not find anything as the tumor is located where it cannot be felt in such an exam.

 

This all blew up in one year-from normal to very not normal, and I have no symptoms.  This appears to be aggressive and if I was not getting regular PSA tests I would never have been able to catch it.  I am hoping for the best with this.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are mostly men on this board, and men tend to not take care of their health, get screenings, etc. compared to women.  I know my mother would push my father to get these things done. 

 

-Have a primary care physician. If nothing else, see about a basic men's health profile-covers the basic stuff.

-get routine screenings that are appropriate for you, your age, your medical history and family history.

-Don't necessarily wait until you have symptoms. If it is recommended for you or appropriate for you, get it done.

 

Please use my example(I did everything right by getting the tests and hopefully have caught this in time to save my life)and do what you can to be healthy and monitor your health and health risks.

 

*I am only sharing this here on this board because it is a well run board with mostly decent people posting(as compared to many which are cesspools) and if it helps one person it will be worth it. 

Hey Todd - we’ll be thinking about you as you go through this health challenge. Thank you for thinking of others in a difficult time for you. It is an important reminder. I wish you the best as you fight this tumor. 

2 minutes ago, Boomerang_Brian said:

Hey Todd - we’ll be thinking about you as you go through this health challenge. Thank you for thinking of others in a difficult time for you. It is an important reminder. I wish you the best as you fight this tumor. 

Thank you. My main point in posting this is to get everyone to get the proper screenings. People need to know their family histories, what they may be susceptible to getting, and to get any and all health/preventative screenings. I am lucky that my PCP was ordering the PSA Antigen tests frequently since I was about 50, even though I would normally not be getting them that often-maybe two to three years apart for my situation normally.

 

Screenings and preventative medicine is so important and I want people on here to be proactive about this. There are a lot of smart, interesting, and valuable guys(pretty much all guys lol)on here and guys tend to not follow through with this stuff so much-but they should.

 

Also this thread is for any general health postings, questions, discussion, etc.

 

I made this thread because apparently there is no thread for health related posts. Now there is, so people can use it if they so choose.

 

 

*I am doing this on several boards-at least the ones that are not trash. If one person benefits, the posts are worth it.

Well Since I did start this I will update my status at least. My cancer has not metastasized as they thought it might have. I can be cured. I have a minor surgery in 6 days and then start radiation therapy. I am very grateful. My cancer was not quite as aggressive as it appeared fortunately, and several different CAT/PET scans and MRI's along with bone scans cleared me. 

 

I wish everyone on the board good health, and again, get your preventative tests and screenings. By ordering that PSA test my doctor may have saved my life. 

I'm hoping for great health for you going forward!

43 minutes ago, Toddguy said:

Well Since I did start this I will update my status at least. My cancer has not metastasized as they thought it might have. I can be cured. I have a minor surgery in 6 days and then start radiation therapy. I am very grateful. My cancer was not quite as aggressive as it appeared fortunately, and several different CAT/PET scans and MRI's along with bone scans cleared me. 

 

I wish everyone on the board good health, and again, get your preventative tests and screenings. By ordering that PSA test my doctor may have saved my life. 

While I don't know you personally, I am glad you are going to be OK. 

 

23 hours ago, ColDayMan said:

I'm hoping for great health for you going forward!

 

23 hours ago, freefourur said:

While I don't know you personally, I am glad you are going to be OK. 

 

Thank you both for your kind words.

following this thread. Stage 3 12 years ago. No symptoms. No reoccurrence after surgery. Psa test every 6 months.  Good luck!

On 12/10/2022 at 10:30 PM, Wtd7575 said:

following this thread. Stage 3 12 years ago. No symptoms. No reoccurrence after surgery. Psa test every 6 months.  Good luck!

Thanks! Glad you are doing well.

Yay my last treatment is tomorrow! I will be celebrating this weekend. I feel very fortunate to be able to put this mostly behind me now.

That is awesome!  CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Well just to update I have no side effects of the radiation treatment anymore and my penis is still working so far. I did have problems with not being able to control urination for a while. Biggest side effect was a very sudden and severe depression-but I seem to be over that now(Thank God) and am feeling good. 

 

They did not tell me that was a possible side effect but depression and fatigue was very strong. They just recently sent me tons of info on survivorship and there are all kinds of support groups and resources. They also sent me a list of side effects expected after radiation and the first ones were depression and fatigue lol. Yeah I can vouch for that.

 

First PSA test is coming up soon. I am very grateful to be feeling better and I love Spring so much-I have been out in my yard already working on things and it feels good to still be among the living.  :)

 

*If your PSA doubles in a year's time it is considered "aggressive"-especially if it is running a little high to begin with. My PSA in 18 months went from 1.4(normal is 1-4) to over 10. So it was pretty aggressive and ready to spread outside the Prostate. There is not history of this cancer in my family and I have certainly thanked my doctor for being on top of this and ordering these test-he probably saved my life.

 

Get your screenings, Get a GP and have regular checkups, get a men's health profile blood work done once a year(it does not cost that much).  If you have things that run in your family, watch for that stuff showing up. 

Also if your are black you have a much higher risk of aggressive prostate cancer, and a higher risk of it happening earlier in life. Please get your PSA tested if you are over 40-especially if it runs in the family. Prostate Cancer is the second leading cancer killer of men-don't be a statistic.

49 minutes ago, Toddguy said:

They also sent me a list of side effects expected after radiation and the first ones were depression and fatigue lol. Yeah I can vouch for that.

 

 

I had long covid symptoms through the entire second half of 2022.  It hit on the Friday after the Fourth of July and didn't relent until this past January.   I had an almost non-stop headache for more than six months.  I also had brain fog and irritation from noise and light.  

 

A big problem that I discovered about five years ago is that when you feel chronic fatigue, dizziness, noise/light irritations, etc., is that you start tinkering with "healthy" foods.  That effort can make things worse because you might hit on food allergies that you didn't know you have, which causes things to spiral into worse territory.  

 

 

 

17 hours ago, Lazarus said:

 

I had long covid symptoms through the entire second half of 2022.  It hit on the Friday after the Fourth of July and didn't relent until this past January.   I had an almost non-stop headache for more than six months.  I also had brain fog and irritation from noise and light.  

 

A big problem that I discovered about five years ago is that when you feel chronic fatigue, dizziness, noise/light irritations, etc., is that you start tinkering with "healthy" foods.  That effort can make things worse because you might hit on food allergies that you didn't know you have, which causes things to spiral into worse territory.  

 

 

 

Well just make sure you get any and all preventative testing based on family history, age, race, sex, certain exposures, etc. You have already been dealing with long Covid and you don't need any other health problems, right?  Good luck and I hope your long Covid is gone for good.