Movember

[DaveB]

Exactly

Incidentally.. I passed a lorry on the M40 yesterday with a huge Movember sticker. The things you see on the M40



ATB
DaveB

[DelP]

Eighty quid so far, online and sponsorship

I'd post a photo but......please choose from the following:

a) it's a very distinguished silver so doesn't show so much.

b) I'm at the age where my hormones are past their 'sell by' date so it isn't growing anyway.

Derek

[DaveB]

Well Done that man

ATB
DaveB

[speedbird591]

Speaking of prostate cancer, which men of a certain age should be doing, I've got something that may be useful.

After my dad died of it, after living with it for a number of years, I found out a bit about it and discussed with my doctor the advisability of having a PSA test. What I discovered was quite surprising so in case any of you have been lucky enough not to have been close to it, I hope you don't mind if I run off a few facts.

Prostate cancer is part of the ageing process for men and virtually all of us will develop it as we get older. It is present in 50% of 50 year olds, 60% of 60 year olds and so on until if you live to 100 you're almost certain to have it. However, the older you are when it develops the slower it grows and there is a good chance that you won't see any symptoms. It will generally only kill you if you outlive all the other things that are trying to get you, which is what happened in my dad's case at 92.

It is most dangerous when contracted by a younger man as it often grows very quickly and may be more aggressive. My doctor's advice is that you should not have a PSA test unless you already show symptoms of an enlarged prostate. This is because a raised PSA is very likely amongst older men for the reasons I've mentioned and a raised PSA is really only indicative of the natural ageing process. She said that if, as was likely, my test result was raised then she would be obliged to send me for intrusive and painful tests which could actually trigger a response from the prostate. Her advice was to wait until the symptoms started to show before going into unnecessary tests which might cause fear and stress for no reason.

The symptoms of an enlarged prostate are quite simple and she gave me a self-assessment form to allow me to mark the severity of the symptoms. I've scanned a copy of it and if any of you want to have a look you can download a pdf from here: http://www.speedbird747.com/downloads/IPSS.pdf

Good luck with the collection, Del

Ian

[DelP]

Many thanks for that Ian

ATB,

Derek

[DelP]

Can you tell what it is yet?......apart from a tatty mess



....one-hundred and fifty quids worth of tatty mess that is

ATB,

Derek

[Airspeed]

Hi Guys,
This is evidently world wide, as we have it in Australia too.
I can confirm what Derek's told you. I've had elevated PSA for a few years and they check progress by blood test every few months. I have had two biopsies, which are done while you're fully awake. If your mind tends to wander, this procedure will focus your attention. It is rather confronting having traffic going against the usual operating conditions, but it's worth getting the more accurate assessment. My elder brother, who still lives in the UK, when he's not on holiday cruising Europe on his motorbike with his wife, had the actual operation two years back, and is having a PSA clearance blood test when he gets back from his latest trip.
I'm OK discussing this either "on air" for the benefit of others, or via pm.

Don't be scared - do not avoid finding out!

WHY?.....

The specialists tell me that this type of cancer is "OK" when it remains in the prostate, but if it breaks out and goes to other parts of your body, it becomes very aggressive, and is then virtually impossible to deal with. If you haven't had the painless blood test, just do it.

And many thanks to Derek for his involvement
ADDED BY EDIT 21/11/11
I forgot to mention that both biopsies confirmed that I actually have the cancer. We have been on the "Watchful waiting" approach, monitoring with the blood tests mentioned above.

[speedbird591]

That's starting to look rather good, Del. And still 10 days to go.

Nice one!

Ian

[DaveB]

Well done mate.. your total has just gone up by another tenner

ATB
DaveB

[DelP]

Thanks for the comments folks and even more thanks for the donation Dave, much appreciated

ATB,

Derek

PS, Mike: the idea for Movember started in Australia in 1999