Prostate Cancer Forum - Has Anyone Ever Had a Problem Getting a Prostrate Exam?

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Q: Has Anyone Ever Had a Problem Getting a Prostrate Exam?

asked by: David37 on May 30th, 2007

New User

I turned 50 last year and was scheduled for my first prostrate exam during my annual physical in January of this year, however, the exam ended up being a little bit different than how I expected it to be. My doctor told me that he wasn't able to complete the exam because his finger wasn't able to reach far enough to exam my prostrate. Well, I was a bit confused by what my doctor had told me because I have never heard of that happening before. Also, my doctor told me that the blood test that I was going to take will reveal whether or not there's any indication of cancer in my body. Okay, I was a bit confused again. I'm thinking that if a blood test serves the purpose of revealing whether or not a man has prostrate cancer, then what's the whole point in men having to get prostrate exams when they turn 50 and what's the whole point in the medical community stressing the importance of a yearly prostrate exam? Also, has anyone else ever encountered this same problem when having a prostrate exam or heard of anyone else having this problem while having a prostrate exam?

Replies(4)

Llewellyn

replied on May 30th, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

Good question. The FDA recommends both the blood test (also called PSA test) and the rectal exam (also called DRE) because neither one by itself tells doctors everything they want to know.

The PSA test measures PSA in the blood. PSA levels can rise when prostate cancer is present, however it can also rise when cancer is not present, but benign conditions (such as inflammation or infection) are.

During the DRE, the doctor checks for lumps and abnormalities.

I think this site does a nice job of explaining it http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factshe et/Detection/PSA

David37

replied on June 2nd, 2007

New User

Anyone Have Any Opinions Or Persceptives On the Matter?

Llewellyn wrote:

Hi, Llewellyn. Thanks for the reply. That's exactly the type of information that I was interested in knowing. However, I also was looking for others' opinions as to what they thought about the doctor telling me that he couldn't complete the exam because he wasn't able to reach far enough with his finger(or digit) to touch my prostate. I have my opinion as to what was really going on, but my opinion isn't always right and I wanted to get other people's opinons/perpectives on the matter. Also, I wanted to mention that I'm not that big of man let's say like the wrestler Andre the Giant(may he rest in peace). I'm only about 5'10" and around 250 lbs. Addtionally, everything that I've every read about the prostate exam or DRE says that it is a very easy procedure to perform for a doctor.

Llewellyn

replied on June 2nd, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

Yeah, that part I am not too sure about. I don't know why he couldn't get in there far enough. Did he offer you any explanations, or tell you to come back another time, or anything like that?

David37

replied on June 4th, 2007

New User

Llewellyn wrote:

Did he offer you any explanations, or tell you to come back another time, or anything like that?

No, he just said that his finger wasn't able to reach far enough to complete the exam and that the blood test will reveal whether or not there was any cancer...which I now know is not correct and that both tests are needed. Personally, I have a feeling that there are some unspoken issues that exist with my doctor and now that I know the truth of the matter that both tests are needed, this has confirmed my feelings about there being some unspoken issues with my doctor. I also posted a version of this question in the "Doctor Question" section of this forum to get a doctor's perspective of this situation.

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