DEDICATED TO OTHER 68 YEARS OLD PROSTATE SUFFERERS FRIENDS
TOTAL PROSTATIC SPECIFIC ANTIGEN (PSA) LEVEL
On 31 December 2012 ; I was referred to the Urology Department when my Total Prostatic Specific Antigen (PSA) level was at 9.1v which was higher than the tolerence level of 4v. The Urologist prescribed to me the drug Cardura which need to be consume at night. This drug would help in reducing my PSA level as well a my blood pressure. While waiting for my medicine at the Pharmacy, my prostate sufferer friend, Haji Ibrahim Wahab advised that apart from Cardura, I should also take also supplement Bio-Life Saw Palmeeto and Pumpkin Seed. His prostate condition was more severe than me but it has improved tremendously after he began taking the supplements.
With my limited knowledge about prostate ailment and PSA level, the Daily STAR was indeed a good source in providing valuable information for prostate sufferers through its weekly article in its Senior Health Section subscribed by the Malaysian Men's Health Initiative. For my fellow prostate sufferers, extracts from the article as follows would be a good guidance to them:
"For prostate cancer, a test measuring the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) is commonly used to aid in the diagnosis of cancer. The PSA is a protein produced by cells of the prostate gland. Certain medical conditions, like prostate cancer, propstatitis, urinary tract infection, enlarge prostate, injury and sexual activity, can increase PSA levels.
However, the PSA test is increasngly being touted as a routine screening test for men above a certain age. The issue is shadowed by many questions, foremost among them: Should all men take PSA test? It is the method for early cancer detection.
Most of the time, there are no clear symtoms related to prostate cancer. Some of the symptoms that may develop are not always clear-cut in pointing to prostate cancer as they may also be attributed to other conditions.
For instance, some men with prostate cancer may notice blood in their urine or semen, a need to urinate more frequently , slower than the urine flow, and difficulty in geeting an erection. These symptoms can also be present in case of enlarged prostate, infection and bladder stones. Thus they are not the most reliable indicators of cancer.
However, if these symptoms are present, your doctor should suspect cancer and conduct several tests to confirm the diagnosis: a digital rectal examination (DRE), a PSA test and or a prostate biopsy."
MEDICAL EXAMINATION APPOINTMENT ON 16 JUNE 2013
My next appointment with the Urologist was on 16 June 2013 whereby my PSA level was down to 6.2v. Based on the PSA level, the Urologist advised me to undergo a prostate biopsy. Hearing the word biopsy itself has sent shivers down my spine. As I did not agree with his suggestion, the Urologist gave me a grace period of another six months. My next appointment with him was set on 21 January 2014 with my blood screening test set on 2 January 2014.
I continued consuming the prostate medicine of Doxazosin Kamiren XL 4 mg. together with the supplements of Saw Palmeeto and Pumpkin Seed diligently with the hope that my PSA level would come down during my next blood screening test.
MEDICAL EXAMINATION APPOINTMENT ON 21 JANUARY 2014
During my medical examination appointment on 21 January 2014, my PSA level was down to 5.1v. and the Urologist still insisted on me to undergo a biopsy test. As my PSA level has come down, I was confident that my prostate has improved and begged him not to pursue further his suggestion for me to undergo the biopsy test. Since I did not agree to undergo the biopsy test, the Urologist then closed up the partitions in the examination room and asked me to take off my trousers and lie down sideways on the examination table.
As I laid down sideways on the examination table without my trousers and underpants, the Urologist told me, "Relax, doktor mahu periksa you punya belakang." Then, I was really caught by surprise when I felt his finger poking inside my anus. I simultaneously wondered what he was doing and naughty thoughts crossed my mind about sodomy cases that used to splash in the front pages of our newspapers. The fingering activities lasted a few minutes ended up with the Urologist telling me that he has finished with his task and asked me to put my trousers back. I was really taken aback with my anus intrusion and a bit shy to enquire about the matter from the doctor about the medical procedure that I have gone through.
It was a great relief to me when the Urologist fixed my next medical examination to be on 28 December 2014 and prescribed to me the same medicine for the whole year . As such, I presumed that I do not have to undergo my biopsy test for another year and I was very grateful for the blessings of Allah SWT..
After that agonising episode at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, I then seeked more information about the medical procedure that I have gone through at the hospital. Based on the Senior Health Section of STAR, it was very safe to presume that I have gone through the procedure of DRE.
A DRE is performed with doctor inserting a finger into the patient's anus to feel the prostate. Since the prostate is in front of the rectum, the prostate will be easily felt by pressing the finger on the rectal wall. The surface of the prostate tumour will usually feel irregular and hard.
On The Question Of Selecting The Boss
The agonising five minutes of DRE procedure brought back memories of jokes which touched on the importance of body parts. Being self centred, most parts of the body thought that each of them was more important than the other. When an argument broke out on the question of which part of the body should be the boss for the whole body, all the parts of the body argued over who would be most suitable to be the boss.
The brain explained that since he controlled all the parts of the body, he should be the boss. The legs argued that that since the took the man wherever he wanted to go, they should be the boss. The stomach suggested that since he digested all the food, he should be the boss. The eyes said that without them, man would be helpless, so they should be the boss. And so it went on. The heart, hands, ears and lungs, each demanded that they should be the boss.
Last but not least, when the arsehole proposed that he should be the boss, all the other parts of the body just laughed it away. The arsehole became mad with the innuendoes and he just closed up. After a few days, the brains went foggy, the legs got wobbly, the stomach got ill and the eyes got crossed and unable to see. They all conceded and made the arsehole boss. This proved that you don't have to be brainy to be a boss, just an arsehole can perform the job if ever the technique is correct. With the conclusion, my agonising moment on the examination table was nothing at all whatsoever.
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