Good news / bad news

[Skully]

Went to the Doc today for the semi-annual check-up. Lab work the same (actually pretty good), weight unchanged, yada yada. Asked when the dreaded prostate exam would be done. He said, don't worry at your age, you would have gotten colon or prostate cancer by now and we rely on PSA readings (excellent) and the colonoscopy is more dangerous at your age than what we might find unless there have been previous pre-cancerous polyps (none). So the good news is no more tests and the bad news is I'm probably going to die before any of those tests could help. Can't say I'm going to miss either test though.

At my last physical, my doctor told me they don't do the digital exam anymore unless the patient asks for it. They've come to the conclusion that it's simply not a good diagnostic tool. So I said, "No, thank you."

 

[CharlieO]

At my last physical, my doctor told me they don't do the digital exam anymore unless the patient asks for it. They've come to the conclusion that it's simply not a good diagnostic tool. So I said, "No, thank you."

My doctor didn't do it at my physical last year, so I asked for it this year. I have had an enlarged prostate for at least 20 years, and my PSA tests are always fine, but I think that someone should be keeping track of whether or not it is getting bigger.

 

[Skully]

My doctor didn't do it at my physical last year, so I asked for it this year. I have had an enlarged prostate for at least 20 years, and my PSA tests are always fine, but I think that someone should be keeping track of whether or not it is getting bigger.

Yes. But I think one of the reasons for not doing the digital test as a matter of course is the fact that an enlarged prostate is not necessarily a cancerous prostate. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but the non-cancerous enlargement of one's prostate becomes an issue, there will be readily apparent symptoms, right?

 

[archetype]

OP unless your doc can articulate specific reasons why a colonoscopy is not indicated and why it is dangerous at your age... I'd get a second professional opinion.

 

[Knows3Chords]

Digital exams are only good at finding tumors on the back of the prostate. The blood test is a much better way of checking for them.

I think the biggest thing about your docs hesitancy in you getting a colonoscopy in the anastesia. For that procedure it's usually what they call a "twilight". Unless you have other medical factors, I would not rule one out completely. I would discuss it further.

I am a stage 4 colo/rectal cancer survivor. I wish everybody would just get one done. If I had waited any longer, I'd have been dead by now.

Guys, don't ignore any symptoms. Don't keep putting it off. Get it done.

 

[rcole_sooner]

The Gatorade and miralax prep is the easiest I've tried

 

[telleutelleme]

Just so everyone know, I had my last colonoscopy last year and every 3 years prior since I turned 50. The most polyps I had were 2. Non were precancerous. I have enough colon pictures to create an album. I am sure at 75, he feels the risk of age is greater than the risk of whatever might be discovered. Didn't mean to indicate I was gladly skipping something needed. Everyone should get colonoscopy checks past age 50.

 

[teletail]

Your doctor may be mistaken when discussing no need for Colonoscopy. Good luck with his misguided approach. A colonoscopy is a very simple procedure. My nurse wife worked in a GI lab, they did upper and lower procedures all day long and they saw lots of bad outcomes due to lack of preventative colonoscopy's.
True after 70 most guys will deal with prostate issues, so a simple digit test is nothing, really its nothing. Colon tests should start at 45-50 depending on family history.
Read about Dave Alvin's current medical issues to see what can happen if you forgo routine tests.

+1

My mother just got a colonoscopy at 90. The doc said it’s her last one. I would have said, “You think you might not be around for my next one?”

 

[aging_rocker]

I have the PSA test every 2 years, so far so good.

Over here we get the 'poop in a bag' bowel cancer test sent in the mail every 2 years to us over-60s. Again, so far so good.

While nothing is guaranteed, any kind of testing is better than no testing.

 

[CharlieO]

Yes. But I think one of the reasons for not doing the digital test as a matter of course is the fact that an enlarged prostate is not necessarily a cancerous prostate. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but the non-cancerous enlargement of one's prostate becomes an issue, there will be readily apparent symptoms, right?

Yes, there are symptoms of a non-cancerous enlarged prostate and I am beginning to experience them. My question is when and if I should do something about it, possibly medication.

 

[MarkieMark]

Me? I do both and the digit is awkward because my Doc is a woman. But better safe than sorry.

Eh, no big deal.
My first visit with a new female primary care physician and she is the one a little shy about the DRE.
Right in the middle she dryly cracks (No pun intended): "Hey, this is a heck of a way to get to know each other isn't it?"
I answered, just as straight: "Eh, no big deal. Just take your time"

 

[Vibroluxer]

Eh, no big deal.
My first visit with a new female primary care physician and she is the one a little shy about the DRE.
Right in the middle she dryly cracks (No pun intended): "Hey, this is a heck of a way to get to know each other isn't it?"
I answered, just as straight: "Eh, no big deal. Just take your time"

That's a cool Doc.

 

[Twofingerlou]

A long time ago, when I was working for a Trucking company, they sent me over for a physical. The doc looked me over, then told me he was going to have to give me a rectal exam. I said, no, that ain't happening. He looked a little taken aback and said, well it's part of the exam. I said, it's not part of MY exam. He said I can't sign off on your physical if you don't let me give you the exam. I told him you do what you have to do. He stood there for maybe a minute or two, and finally said, well you look pretty healthy to me. I never heard anything else about it.

He must of thought you were cute or something, I’ve been through a handful of DOT physicals and that’s never came up. My biggest issue was them hassling me about my blood pressure at these low rent clinics work would pay for. One gal told me one day it was 230/200 and I laughed after she used one of those electronic cuffs.

I said I’m no nurse but my mom is and I know damn well if it was that high I’d be having other issues probably about now, do you know how to do it with a regular cuff and stethoscope? She got huffy puffy and pissed at me and walked out.

Another time they had me drag the sled back and forth ten times, then climb all these stairs up and down then lift the 50 pound box doing reps. Then…. they wanted to take my blood pressure and fail me because it was elevated. Well no S%#^ Sherlock maybe you should of taken it before you had me go at it hard like Rocky in the ring with Apollo.

I told work I’ll no longer go to their rain man ran clinics and just pay for it myself somewhere that knows what they’re doing.

 

[Toto'sDad]

He must of thought you were cute or something, I’ve been through a handful of DOT physicals and that’s never came up. My biggest issue was them hassling me about my blood pressure at these low rent clinics work would pay for. One gal told me one day it was 230/200 and I laughed after she used one of those electronic cuffs.

I said I’m no nurse but my mom is and I know damn well if it was that high I’d be having other issues probably about now, do you know how to do it with a regular cuff and stethoscope? She got huffy puffy and pissed at me and walked out.

Another time they had me drag the sled back and forth ten times, then climb all these stairs up and down then lift the 50 pound box doing reps. Then…. they wanted to take my blood pressure and fail me because it was elevated. Well no S%#^ Sherlock maybe you should of taken it before you had me go at it hard like Rocky in the ring with Apollo.

I told work I’ll no longer go to their rain man ran clinics and just pay for it myself somewhere that knows what they’re doing.

I don't know what his motive was, but I wasn't going to let someone I had never seen before do any inspecting like he had in mind. I think we only had one other time they sent us to one of those things, and come to think of it, there wasn't any hanky panky at the other one. The rest of the trucking jobs I had, I got my own physical when my license required it, and that was that.

 

[MarkieMark]

Well @Toto'sDad lets hope neither of these two are your doctors names, just to be safe-

 

[trapdoor2]

I've been getting poked and scoped since I turned 50. Scope every 10yrs. Last one turned up my first polyps (benign). Now I'm on the 5yr track. It is no big deal, really. The new cleanout routines are easy-peasy.

My Urologist still gives me the finger once a year, regardless of the bloodwork (my PSA levels continue to be excellent). Yah, sometimes I get the female NP. Meh.

I get more grief from the Dermatologist. She carves off chunks of my face for testing nearly every visit. Only one precancerous spot found...so far.

 

[posttoastie]

^^^^^^^^ trapdoor2 Does the Dr. say "it's time to check trapdoor2"

 

[trapdoor2]

^^^^^^^^ trapdoor2 Does the Dr. say "it's time to check trapdoor2"

I find Urologists particularly business-like. I imagine they've heard everything...probably from every old man that has ever walked in for an exam.