Thanks for the comments guys. I’m fortunate to have been given a very positive outcome but am certainly not complacent for the future and will make sure I get regular checks.

Barmybrummie wrote:

That is great news Rob. So now just relax and enjoy life knowing that you are in good hands and that they will be keeping a close eye on you in the future. Nice to hear that some areas are doing mobile walk in test centres for prostate cancer, let's face it we all say we are too busy to go to dr's for a test. Just glad my post is pricking up ears and guys doing something about it. You can read up on the symptoms but not always have any, I didn't have any at all. I seen an old medical documentary the other day where a 72yo man had it with no symptoms what so ever, his prostate cancer spread to all his pelvic bones. So the earlier you are checked the more chance you have. And thanks for taking note Rob and getting it done. Sorry for the sleepless night and worry, but it was worth it.
Well done kev, keep us all posted.

Andy S wrote:

Had my 6 monthly clinic appointment with the Urologist today. PSA down to 4.3, much lower than before. Outcome is the monitoring will be reduced to yearly rather than 6 monthly.

The reason for this dramatic change? About 18 months ago I was passing blood clots in my urine. That was linked to to having a very enlarged prostate gland - twice the ‘normal’ size (mine was 110cc, normal for a 50+ man is 55-60cc). I was put on a medication called Finasteride, which shrinks the prostate and that cured the blood issue. My urologist also explained that having such a large prostate would mean my PSA would be high - so a reading of 10 wouldn’t be unusual. As things are now though, he expects my PSA to stay low as the gland has shrunk to a normal size. .

Andy S wrote:

So, for those chaps out there contemplating getting their first PSA test, don’t be alarmed if your result is higher than the norm. It could very easily be just benign prostate enlargement. That will be confirmed with an MRI scan and can be readily sorted without any unpleasant procedures. .

Thanks for the idea, BB, but if the Man on the breathing equipment says that you are unlikely to survive, they will only have a go if you are on death's door, I asked. It also depends if the surgeons are all on a big road accident, and up all night nailing bodies back together, and, most important, if you are nearing the cut-off age of 82, money, budget, savings policies, and of course, local politics. Hospitals vary on policies, and today's government are not too user friendly to the elderly, it seems.

That is good news Andy, at least they keeping a very close eye on you. PSA levels do rise and fall, it's just when it gets a fair bit higher they get concerned.
Thanks for that info Rob, I've sent them an email asking if they are prepared to go to truck stops. As an hgv driver some truck stops have a mobile drivers wellness clinic, but they only usually do healthy eating, diabetes, blood pressure etc etc, but never seen any they do prostate cancer blood tests.
So thought I would ask them if they it's possible. I know it's in the south east, but maybe they could branch out a little further. I shall await their response.
Jagracer, that's the problem really, if the anaesthetist thinks you wouldn't get through the op then they won't do it. Sorry about the unfortunate news on that front. 82 is a good age to reach, my mum died last year, she was 84. She had COPD for the last 30 years of her life and even caught COVID, how the hell she overcame that I'll never know considering she was on oxygen 24/7. But sadly she just died of old age, plenty of life in you yet.

How are you getting on BB?
Must say I was a bit shocked at all your punture wounds.

Hey Kevin I'm doing great thanks, pain more or less gone, still having trouble sleeping on my sides as that's painful. Oh yes, those puncture wounds, 6 of them in total, I wasn't expecting that many but it's for the robot to do it's work. Nearly healed over now, just bruising around them. Kids think they are fascinating lol. Belly looks fat in the pic and it is, as they pump you full of air. 3 days it was like that and it felt awful, you feel so bloated and belly rock hard, it affects your shoulders too. But got better after I expelled it bit by bit. Now just to rest up and take it easy.