Did the Doctor enquire, "Why are you here for the third time this week?" or was he more than happy to oblige?
I've read mixed comments regarding the PSA test. IIRC, a lot of men have prostate cancer when thay reach a certain age anyway, (Japanese study?), but by the time this goes on to cause any health complications you'd be dead anyway due to old age.
Cheers for the Iodine research link, saved me a chore and read my link regarding "Availability of iodised table salt in the UK". Ask the Maldon Sea Salt company if their salt contains iodine and how much.
If they refuse to answer, then sod (i) um!!
Well my most recent GP exam (which led to my op) was with a comely young Yorkshire lass, who when sensing my discomfort at realising it would be she who'd be conducting it, stated simply:
'I've seen it all before Mr. XXXXXX, get tha keks off, jump on't table and assume the position, tha'll be allreet'. What then followed was actually the least painful exam I'd ever had, although of course I couldn't possibly admit to having enjoyed it...not even just a little bit...
The PSA test is merely a guide when taken into consideration with other factors. A high reading doesn't necessarily mean bad news, and even a low reading doesn't mean you're in the clear. I believe the average 'accuracy' is no more than around 80% correct, certainly nothing to rely on to any great degree.
Yes, many men develop prostate cancer and upon investigation and after a good chat with the Doc, the conclusion you might come to is
'come back for regular checks to make sure, but with a bit of luck you'll die with it rather than of it'. If you're gonna develop it, that's the type you want.
The type you don't want is the one where by the time you realise you have it (and sometimes with NO symptoms), it's an aggressive and fast-moving type and you might be dead within three months.
So the PSA test isn't conclusive, even having all the symptoms (like me) doesn't mean you have it, and having no symptoms at all doesn't mean you don't have it
.
BUT...if you have persistently high PSA, or you have pee issues, or your prostate feels knobbly to your Doc then you'll likely be sent for a scan of some kind, and then if that's inconclusive then a biopsy might be taken.
Any of the three risk factors should be heeded, especially if more than one.