Early Diagnosis from an Unexpected Test

Hello all, I was at my local surgery for a ‘Wellman’ check, or MOT as I call it. The nurse did all the usual checks, and as an afterthought, decided to do a PSA test (I hadn’t asked for one), it came back as 4.55, and marked ‘no further action’, as it was within the ‘normal’ range.

The following day, I got a call at 09:00 from my GP, which is highly unusual. He explained that he had been double checking results and found that my previous PSA was less than half of the current score and therefore of concern, so he referred me to the cancer pathway at my local hospital, and I was sent straight for a biopsy.

This came back as this came back as a moderately aggressive locally advanced prostate cancer. I couldn’t have it removed, owing to other health conditions, so I was offered Radiotherapy and Hormone Therapy.

The cancer had broken through the capsule but had not spread at that time. The consultant said, had my GP not been so diligent in double checking results, it would have very likely been too late.

Treatment reduced my PSA to 0.03, but it has risen on every test since, and is currently 1.14. I have side effects from the treatment, and the consultant believes the cancer has returned, so the journey continues.

It has been impressed upon me, that the PSA alone, is not the whole picture, the rate of rise is also highly relevant. In my case, the PSA is relatively low, but the rate of rise is quite high.

I wish all men who are members of this club that no one wants to be in, all the very best on their journeys, and to all men reading this that have not yet been tested, to please GET IT DONE! Early detection may save your life.

Key Messages: