Pst! Hey, you with the prostate! When was the last time you got it checked? Yeah, yeah, I know all about the jokes and the hiyucks (“… both hands on my shoulders!?”)
Here’s what’s not so funny. Just before Christmas my dear old (79 years and holding) Dad had a microwave procedure done to shrink his prostate. It was painful but he’s recovered and the procedure seems to have worked. He was luckier than my father-in-law, who battled prostate cancer for a decade before his heart finally got him last fall. And a lot luckier than his brother in law, who died the ugly death of prostate cancer in the late 1980s.
Here’s the thing: We pester and nag our lovely better halves to have themselves checked because everybody’s wearing a pink ribbon, and because, to put not too fine a point on it, we’re constantly aware of the jigglies, so constantly reminded that breast cancer is a real danger. Not so obvious is the little doughnut you have “down there” that can swell up and cause more pain than a recalcitrant mother-in-law.
So if you’re somewhere in the neighborhood of fifty, schedule yourself a full checkup and get that little dude checked out. You don’t have to tell anybody or share the intimate details – it’s just between you and your doctor and, frankly, you’re probably not his type. Do it now and maybe you can avoid having a miniature microwave shoved up your schlong, or taking pills that chemically castrate you so you can live longer, or even lying in a hospital bed wondering why your manhood is killing you.
Make the call today and you can make the jokes tomorrow.
Had one done at my last check-up. Just turned 50. Dr. asked if I had ever had a “digital” before. My responce was “Yes, but not one I had to pay for” Her comment was “Not funny, no lube for you” I love my Dr.
I used to work for a Member of the Victorian Parliament. He came back from an appointment and said "My Doctor did the usual and commented ‘this is called sticking up the local member’. We laughed for … minutes. If we (girls) have to have a smear every year, the least you boys can do is your share! Get checked fellas - it might be the most important uncomfortable moment of your lives that ensures you continue to have one. By the way the Member continues to have a happy retired life because one of his checks turned out to be the one that saved him.
My advice to all men of the proper age is to find a woman doctor to do the procedure. Not because it’s sexual in anyway but just because they tend to have smaller fingers.
I haven’t had one in several years (I’m 45) but I have had the PSA test within the last year. Does that count?
I was supposed to have one at my physical a couple of weeks ago but was having…stool issues…and so didn’t mention it. I have a follow-up appointment in a few weeks and assuming no repeat of the aforementioned issues I’ll have it done then. One of my dad’s many cancers was prostate, so I have a “family history.”
Just a quick note: my family has a long history of prostate cancer and my dad runs one of the biggest American Cancer Society-sponsored Support/Survivor groups in the country.
First of all - great thread, Sunrazor.
Second of all - recent research has concluded that what matters is less about what your PSA test reading is - it is more about the rate of change from test to test. So if you test one year, then test the following year and your rate of change appears to be accelerating - THAT’s when further testing is essential.
The point is - get tested regularly so you can monitor the trend. Obviously a DRE (digital rectal exam) is critical as another data point, too…
I’m trying to decide how I would feel about having a female physician do the digital. Or any really thorough examination, come to think of it. There was a quite attractive female technician involved in my lower IG exploration a couple of years ago, but she was working with a team that included several men (barium and X-rays were involved). But if it was just me and her and my skivvies are around my ankles, I gotta’ get the prostate checked, and the man-parts – well, it just dredges up memories of those dog-eared paperbacks that got passed around in 10th grade. I mean, I did not lead a sheltered life. I think it could get really awkward.
I’m sure the doctors, both men and women, have seen it all. After all, we’re talking about a physical reaction…some things you just have no control over.
Well, I *wasn’t * worried about it until **ivylass ** mentioned it. I mean, what if she can’t help but giggle at … it. I’d be scarred for life! No, no, I’ll stick with my friendly old family doctor, thanks. He’s a man’s man, and his guy credentials are all in order.
By the way, **Wordman ** has the right idea – get the PSA test at every opportunity and monitor the trend. Even in the DRE shows everything to be smooth and small, uncommon changes in PSA can be an alert that not all is well.
