Short story even shorter:
Jan '10 - aged 50.5 decided to ask for a PSA test at the doc. June 10 go to doc on unrelated issue, and she spots high test result. Test repeated, 25% higher. Two weeks and I'm with a urologist who sees enough to order a biopsy five days later.
Bit painful, some after effects (look 'em up), but two weeks later I'm told I have prostate cancer, at the upper end of moderate. Since then I've had MRI scans to check on possible spread (unlikely, but possible), awaiting results for that, which is not nice.
I have since done loads of reading - risk factors are out of our control, and include familial prostate cancer and also breast cancer.
My top tip - get a PSA test if you are 45 or above. Even if it's normal it will establish a benchmark, and an increase at a later date can then be spotted. Caught early it's completely treatable.
Facts are that it's close to breast cancer in terms of numbers diagnosed per year, and fatalities from it, but I bet you didn't know that. It is often, as with me, symptom-free in the early and middle stages - many don't find they've got it til they are peeing 3/4x a night, or suffering bone/back pain.
More at www.prostate-cancer.org.uk/
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