Being sent for blood test then maybe a DRE

User

Posted 02 Feb 2018 at 21:51

My father was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer a couple of years ago.
Because of his diagnosis ( and having done the L2A bike ride last year ) I am a lot more knowledgeable about Prostate Cancer than ever was before my Dad was diagnosed.
I’m a 50 year old bloke and have noticed over the last few years ( or more ) that I have to get up in the night to take a pee. Just put it down to getting old.
But recently ( last couple of months or so ) I’ve noticed that any time I felt the need to pee ( day or night ) I had to do it immediately or I got some leakage.
This is definitely something that I’ve never had before and after a lot of dithering I made an appointment to see my GP.
After having explained my symptoms and the situation with my Dad he is sending me off for a blood test and explained I may possibly need a DRE too.
I have no problem with the blood test but the thought of having a DRE is something that I just couldn’t go through with.
I have thought of nothing more since I went to see the GP two days ago and there is no way that I could go through that procedure.
I’m a very private person and the thought of going through that ( even knowing as I do these people are doing these procedures on men day in and day out ) is something that I cannot do I’m afraid.
My question is , if from the blood test I do find out I have a high PSA count is there any other way to confirm a cancer diagnosis apart from having a DRE ?
Thanks in advance for any help given.

User

Posted 02 Feb 2018 at 23:31

A DRE does not diagnose prostate cancer, it simply helps a doctor to assess how concerned they should be. If your PSA came back as normal and your prostate felt soft and of normal size, the doctor might conclude that you don’t need to be referred to urology while a normal PSA with a prostate that feels hard and lumpy needs an urgent referral.

If you tell the GP that you are not prepared to have a DRE s/he will make a decision based on your symptoms and the PSA result about whether to refer you to the hospital anyway. If you are referred, a urologist may agree to a scan instead.

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

User

Posted 02 Feb 2018 at 23:37

Just reading your post again, I wonder if you have confused the DRE with a biopsy? The DRE is a doctor putting a finger up your bum to feel the prostate - and as I said before, it does not diagnose cancer.

If there are concerns about your PSA and a scan suggests problems you would need a biopsy - prostate cancer cannot be diagnosed without a biopsy (well there is an exceptional case where it has spread to bones and is obviously prostate cancer on the scan but that is a rare situation). No point worrying about having a biopsy until you know whether there is a high PSA level.

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

User

Posted 03 Feb 2018 at 08:17

I've had a couple of DRE in the last couple of months. Just look away and go to a happy place. The DRE is over in seconds and you hardly feel a thing.

Good Luck

User

Posted 03 Feb 2018 at 10:00

My husband has fissures as well as being a very private person too in respect of having a DRE.

He coped because he had to and now he accepts that it is part and parcel of having PC.

I do hope that they can work round your fears

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails

User

Posted 03 Feb 2018 at 17:02

Hi KeefJ
As others have said about the DRE it's more embarrassment than anything else,I have had several over the years,I had one with my wife sat on the other side of the bed facing me, I don't who was more embarrassed.
You will be fine and it will over in seconds.

Good luck with everything.

Regards
Alan

KEEP POSITIVE and CARRY ON

User

Posted 03 Feb 2018 at 18:33

it is nothing to be worried about, realy. Doctor is so proffessional , you lay on a bed on your left side, pull knees up to your chest and pull your pants down at the back. 10 seconds later, pull them back up. You are never naked in front of the doctor. Definately does not hurt, and may help a diagnosis. It is not though required. My DRE was declared normal, not enlarged and felt fine, but my PSA came back high, and was promptly sent off for a biopsy, which was positive.

All the best with the results. If the PSA is high, it looks like you will have discovered it early, which is good.
toad.

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