Thanks RFDC!

I haven't heard of that but it's an interesting concept. I assume it's kind of like an AFLAC type of insurance that supplements your normal insurance plan? How much to they cover for that 40/month? I recall there being some sort of genetic test to see if one is predisposed to getting certain diseases. Maybe get that and then perhaps get the cancer program if your family is predisposed, assuming coverage is worth it.

I had a high deductible plan with HSA that covered 80% once I hit the deductible, which I blew through easily. The HSA paid for the rest of it. Of the ~25k I had in it; I think I'm down to about 12K. We have liquidity in the event of something like what happened to me but it's nice using the HSA and not pay out of pocket. I wouldn't have needed a supplemental plan (I don't think) but the older I get and the more crap that is happening to me, I might consider it, if offered in the future.

Yeah it is a supplemental type of insurance plan. I haven't researched as much I need to, but it has a 2.5 page list of services and things that are covered including any type of developmental programs that they say many regular insurance won't cover. I am going to look more into it.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I'm pretty sure it's better to get supplemental plans prior to something happening.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Good to hear, The Division!

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Thanks Peeps!

Met with my surgeon yesterday. He was pleased with the way things are going so far. PSA test required every three months for the time being as well as office visit.

Incontinence seems to be getting better. Gave me a prescription for Cialis. Will see how that goes…

Good news, Division...hang in there.

Thanks Matt! It’s a process, that’s for sure!

Congrats man. Prayers that things continue to trend in the right direction.

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As with any other ailments, i plan on dying

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

Thanks TEIA!

I’d say it depends on the ailment…I will say that I’ve had an awesome life, better than I ever imagined so if something took me like a heart attack, I’d be content with my life. But not prostate cancer.

Could be I misunderstood your comment so…

I think those are the things my dad does not want to talk to me about.

Yeah, I get that. ED isn’t a comfortable thing to talk about, regardless of who’s talking and listening. When I was in the info gathering stage, I talked with my uncle, who had his prostate removed 15 years ago or so. We didn’t talk much about the ED portion of surgery other than for him to say that since I’m still a young man (relatively speaking, of course!) that sex was probably still important to me and that I should make sure that my surgeon was good at the nerve sparing part. I never asked him how ED was in his experience. I imagine it’s a tougher convo between father and daughter.

The incontinence part is just embarrassing for me but since I’m good at self deprecating humor, I have a knack for taking something like that and making it less embarrassing while providing a humorous take on it for others so they don’t think any less of me with my condition. Not that I care; it’s part of the deal with the surgery.

Do you know anything, like his Gleason score or the results of pathology reports?

Today is one year since I had my surgery. I am still cancer free. One year down, four more to go until I'm considered cured. My side effects like incontinence and ED are much better. If they never improved any more from here, my quality of life would be high and neither would stop me from doing the things I normally do. Well the ED would slow me down some...

Since it's nearly the end of the year, it's a good time to make a New Year's Resolution to get yourself checked out. Get that PSA (and DRE if doc recommends it) done, get that colonoscopy done if you're of age. Catching it early is key: It will most likely result in an easier treatment and will give you a better shot a beating it.

Spaulding, since I think you're the only female on the bored, get your mammogram and smears done and a colonoscopy if you're of age.

Great news!

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

That’s great, happy to hear you’re in good health.

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Y'all listen to this man!

Congratulations and here's to a happy and healthy new year.

Missed that post last year. I can maybe ask my mom how things are specifically. All I get otherwise is had my yearly checkup, I'm good.

I have about 5 orders for mammograms and have never been in. I used to go in yearly to my girl dr but she retired about 5 or so years ago and I can't find a new one. I think I've been every 2 years or so. I've never even thought about a colonoscopy.

I'm glad you're good! My FIL did not go in and his prostate Ca has spread to his bones, he's on year 4ish of 5 for the mortality rate and he's starting to decline. We'll see how it goes.

Hopefully really well

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

This may be a dumb question... how did you know you weren't emptying your bladder?

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Frequency in small amounts. Do you pee 5 times in a night for 10 seconds? or get up right after you just got up to try again?

There is a guy I work with that is going to be 47 and has some family history. Keeps dragging his feet about getting checked out. I told him it is no big deal and you will be kicking yourself if you find out later you could have done something about it if you had only gone in earlier.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Just seeing your PCP every year for physical helps prevent a lot of problems.

Much better to identify issues early when they can be treated with meds or outpatient procedures. Colonoscopies are not fun, especially the prep, but having a few polyps removed and biopsied during a routine outpatient colonoscopy is far superior to having parts of your colon surgically removed.

Having a PCP competent enough to assess your BP and interpret your CBC, BMP, and U/A becomes essential once you reach your 40's.

Have been involved in Oncology for quite a period of time, travel all over our place doing inpatient Chemo, there is always a concern for any cancer metastasizing, or spreading, so make sure to continue to follow up, but Prostate cancer does respond well to treatment so hopefully everything will be OK.

Please tell your colleague this...

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I seriously have to find a new pcp, it didn’t seem as if my old one would do anything as she was just larding it on because of my insurance. To make matters worse, both “specialists” she referred me to did nothing and unfortunately I shouldn’t have avoided the one I did. Maybe.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

Younger people are developing colon cancer more and more and doctors still don't know why. I was 27 when I had my first colonoscopy a few years back. I had it done luckily because there was a sign (saw blood in my stool). 3 polyps were removed, non-cancerous, but 2 were abnormally large. Dad had colon cancer in his early 50s. If you have family history, 47 is too damn old. The stuff you drink isn't that bad and then you go in and get the Michael Jackson drug and you wake up feeling so refreshed -- it's like you were asleep for a week.

Where polyps get cut out, diverticula will eventually form. Kind of like getting arthritis eventually when you get your knee scoped.

You get something fixed only to have Mother Nature come in and fuck you anyway.

I agree with the statements which suggest having a PSA test done and think that you also should do it. I'd press your medical carrier on it especially of your brother's death. the thing that I've learned in the lst 2-3 years with all of my medical problems is that you really have to take charge of you own health. Get second opinions if you don't have confidence of what your doctor is doing or recommending. I do it with Kaiser and the VA.

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An Ode to the Texas man who shot an Antifa terrorist:

Oh, he might have went on livin'
But he made one fatal slip
When he tried to match the Ranger
With the big iron on his hip

Yeah, Kaiser stopped testing my PSA after I turned 70. Pretty much was its policy. I had a discussion with my primary care guy in the VA and we decided to test it every six months after a small rise in PSD was detected. I was still within the "guidelines" for PSA result for a given age but after the PSA came up again, he ordered a biopsy which said that I had prostrate cancer but it was pretty diagnosed pretty early to be treated.
Through this, my wife was incredible in driving me to the cancer treatment hospital which was about 30 miles away and the rest of my family and friends were great also. You really find out how blessed you are when you do through shit like this.

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An Ode to the Texas man who shot an Antifa terrorist:

Oh, he might have went on livin'
But he made one fatal slip
When he tried to match the Ranger
With the big iron on his hip