My Dad survived but can i get checked?

User

Posted 19 Dec 2014 at 20:54

Hi All,

A couple of years back my Dad was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and luckily enough got through it and seems to be doing well now. Not only did my Dad have it but 2 of his brothers too. My Dad has suggested that I and my brother get checked for it ASAP but having spoken with my GP they refuse to do it until I'm 45-50. This may sound stupid but I'm only 32 and my brother 33 but i just think its something that needs checking, are there any options open to us or do we need to seek a private check and if so where?

Thanks Guys.

Joe

User

Posted 19 Dec 2014 at 23:08

Joe

It's only.my opinion and I'm not medically qualified but I think I would try and push it to one side for now. But insist on a PSA test when yiu reach 40

Take care

Bri

User

Posted 19 Dec 2014 at 23:42

Hi Joe,

I must admit I agree with Brian, you are to young to burden yourselves with this stress and worry, get out and enjoy your lives just now and forget this for the moment.

As I myself was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer at 56 I asked my specialist nurse when my son should be checked and she said 50. I don't agree with this as I know men who have it in their early forties. I have since spoken to another Prostate Cancer UK nurse, and she said as the son of a man diagnosed with PCa he is 2 1/2 times more likely to get it than normal. She has therefore recommended he gets checked from the age of 40. which he is going to do, they currently test men for it at this age in Canada. I would suggest you and your brother go and get checked when you are both 40.

Good luck and best wishes to ALL who are fighting or affected by cancer.

Regards,

Gerry.

User

Posted 20 Dec 2014 at 00:01

Hi Joe

My son is the same age as you and was given a PSA check, at least it will give you a baseline to work to at a later date.but as others have intimated it is very unlikely you will have it, but not impossible, so if you are worried insist on one.

Roy

User

Posted 20 Dec 2014 at 02:06

Hi, we took advice about checks as my husband, dad and father in law all have PCa. We were told that our son should have PSA tests from the age of 40 onwards, and our daughters should have breast screening at 40 as well.

What you can do in the meantime is think a little about your diet. Research suggests that a prostate healthy diet can protect you from ever developing prostate cancer - lots of tomatoes (cooked or processed, including ketchup and tomato based sauces), garlic, broccoli, soya and oily fish, for example. You could also consider reducing your dairy intake a bit and maybe cut down on processed meats.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 20 Dec 2014 at 02:23

Hi Joe,

I agree with the others about getting checked when you reach the age of forty. The thing that has really bothered me since my diagnosis is that my son is at greater risk of developing the disease. Hopefully by that time there maybe better treatments.

I would also agree with Lyn and her excellent advice about diet. I think this was one way I may have avoided both my cancer and heart problems. I was always a big fan of diary and processed meat products. I don't think you should cut them out completely but certainly try and eat a balanced diet with everything in moderation.

Have a good Christmas.

Steve

User

Posted 20 Dec 2014 at 09:28

Hi Joe,
I'm going to go against the flow a little with my comments.

When I was going through my diagnosis this was discussed with my oncologist for my two sons who are in their thirties.
I do have history of PCa in the family so the onco suggested that my boys did have a test, which they did.
It then turns out there is no guideline value for people of their age groups, so we felt in the first instance that it was a waste of time.
However, we now have a very useful baseline for both the boys for comparison against their next test in the future.

On hindsight I'd also council waiting until the fourties but getting the first one as a base line guide.

All the best

Kevin

User

Posted 20 Dec 2014 at 15:28

Archies dad

If I were in your position I'd be asking for a test too, I wonder what age is it you have to be to get prostate cancer

a simple blood test would put you at rest, I dont think given your circumstance its an unreasonable request

User

Posted 20 Dec 2014 at 17:30

Hi Joe,

40 is considered the right age to start testing by most pro-active people for higher risk men. A few say 35 with known high risk.

Some GP's are getting notorious for refusing some men tests even at forty. I understand this may be at least partly because the NHS doesn't fund the test but it comes out of the GP budget .

This might be of interest as the results may well help determine the way forward with testing.

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/trials/a-study-looking-at-screening-for-men-who-are-at-an-increased-risk-of-developing-prostate-cancer

Certainly agree about the diet angle. I'm sure I ate too much animal fat in my earlier days & this didn't help me.

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