Prostate Cancer - useless PSA Blood test

[Morrison10]

Hi, know this isn’t about lungs etc! It would have been my late husbands birthday today, he was day older than me. Since he was killed by prostate cancer, I’m on mission to warn that the PSA blood test is very unreliable, but NHS, GPs etc are reluctant to treat people with low PSA. Happy Birthday! x

[Alberta56]

Thank you for the warning. My husband is currently going through a battery of tests for prostate/ urology problems. He's having so many scans and other tests that I hope they will pick up anything amiss. Off to the hospital in an hour for a CT scan. So sorry you lost your husband.

[Morrison10 in reply to Alberta56]

Good luck xxx

[peege in reply to Alberta56]

Good luck to him today Alberta56, thinking of you. Shoukd it be the diagnosis, prostate cancer is very treatable nowadays and PSA is usually a very useful tool (speaking from my family's experience). Also my boss was diagnosed last year, had a trial treatment and is now absolutely all clear. Hugs 🤗 P ××

So sorry for your loss Morrison ××

[Alberta56 in reply to peege]

Thank you, They seem quite happy with his prostate, but are checking his bladder and kidneys. I'm surprised how quickly they've organised this after reading so many horror stories.

[peege in reply to Alberta56]

That's good, I really hope it went well today 🙏 ××

[Alberta56 in reply to peege]

It went well on Saturday. There is a lot of building work going on at the hospital so half the car park was missing (😱😱) and we went into the wrong building at first, but otherwise it was all plain sailing.

[sassy59]

Pete has also had tests for his prostate but doesn’t have cancer. So sad about your husband and happy birthday to him and to you too Jean for tomorrow. Lots of love Carole xxx❤️

[Cloudancer]

Thinking of you and sending gentle hugs.Will raise this with hubby x

[Morrison10 in reply to Cloudancer]

Thanks xx

[MoyB]

I always wish my departed nearest and dearest folk a happy birthday on the day, wherever they may be and I expect you do the same for your husband. It's good of you to also mark the day by telling us all about the dodgy blood test as it's something people need to consider.

You have reminded me that they were supposed to be following up my husband annually with that test but it hasn't happened, so I'll nag him to get on to them about it. They keep moving his urology appointment and I'm going to write to the consultant this week to bring it to his attention, so with my husband's permission, I'll raise the issue of the blood test too.

So you've already done a good thing for my husband by reminding us both about this! Even if the test isn't as reliable as it could be, it's better to have it done than not.

Thank you!

xx Moy

[Morrison10 in reply to MoyB]

Good luck,thanks,

[Izb1]

My son law was treated for prostate cancer a while ago and luckily he has a good gp where they live in Wales so was treated quickly and has been clear since, fingers crossed he stays that way. Good that you are on a mission to warn people and happy birthday to your late husband and if i am reading your post right happy birthday to you too x

[watergazer]

Happy birthday to you Jean and your late husband. X

[Superzob]

I used to volunteer for Prostate Cancer UK and it was well known that the PSA test was inaccurate, and a lot of research is going into improved testing. The problem is twofold: the PSA test is usually over-sensitive and picks up cases which are due to BPH or, in my case, prostatitis - consequently, medical professionals would be unlikely to act on a low PSA in the absence of any other symptoms (which, unfortunately, tend to mirror BPH or prostatitis). Secondly, any test needs be able to be conducted in a clinical setting, and most of the more accurate tests are only available in a laboratory setting.

Biopsies have a low, but definable risk, so they tend not to be undertaken lightly, and can also miss anterior cancers because they are on the wrong side (like the dreaded “digital rectal examination”, for which no analogue version is available!).

My father and several friends died of prostate cancer, often because they ignored symptoms before they were tested. Fortunately, early detection improves the outlook tremendously so, however inaccurate the PSA test is, I would definitely advise taking one if you’re over 50 - it costs the NHS £12, and at least gets you on the road to treatment if necessary.

[Morrison10 in reply to Superzob]

Hi, thanks for your interesting post. My husband had 14 years trying to overcome prostate cancer. We live north of Birmingham, On a weekend away he couldnt pee, was taken to Wakefield hospital. The consultant there was horrified that he wasn’t getting any treatment and wrote to consultant at our big local hospital, but nothing happened. This was third time he had this problem, another was when riding motorbike in southern Spain, had to go to local hospital who again expressed surprise at lack of treatment. He rode bike with catheter under leathers, thank goodness we had spare belts braces etc with us. To resolve issue went and sat in Consultant waiting room until he agreed treatment. Went for daily radiotherapy at QE hospital Birmingham, but machine broke two ore three times each week, hence it took longer than expected. The waiting area was very good, comfortable, so was shocked when learnt that money was being spent on refurb, had to vote on which new chairs etc we preferred! But no money was available to buy new radiotherapy machine! Bad management hardly describes it. Jean.xx

[Superzob in reply to Morrison10]

Truly awful experience

[blackbird65]

Hi I have prostate cancer.gleeson scale now 15.had cancer.for 5 years..PSA test not good.they have another test but can't rember name? Your loss is great.rember the special moments.and pick one that make you smile.take care.Me john.68.years young.By the way I feel not enougj explenation.or time given about .PSA or the gleeson score and how to go forward.to what should happen next.I have Also got COPD. Emfersema..take care care everyone.try and be your own doctor.its your body.not the doctors?sory about the spelling.have dyslexia.and mental health issues.

[Morrison10 in reply to blackbird65]

Good luck, hope you get good treatment for all health issues, especially prostate cancer. I was born with rare condition PCD, children usually died. I’ve taken part in research, hope it helped others.x

[blackbird65]

Thanks for reading.Be kind to yourself.mr john.

[Burbagegran]

I am very sorry you lost your husband to prostate cancer. Like your husband my husband PSA blood results were getting lower and lower but when a biopsy was done he had a lot of cancer cells in the prostate. We opted to have it removed straight away and ,fingers crossed, he has been well since that operation 17 years ago. We were wary about the PSA blood tests because of another’s sad experience, otherwise I think the cancer would have taken him. Yes, beware!!