This is some thing I have been wanting to get off my chest recently. It has nothing to do with sports but it might save your life. I am definitely serious on this matter.  

Some of what I am going to discuss is a bit graphic for this site so this is not for the weak at heart but I was lucky.

As men progress into the 40s in most cases they will experience a higher Blood PSA score. Usually it means your prostate gland has enlarged which usually happens as you age and most cases it can be treated with medications. I hope you know what that gland does. If not, ask your Doctor.

My first experience was 8 years ago on a routine exam by the family doctor. PSA score was 4.9 and a slight enlargement. No real concerns at the time by me as I experienced no problems so I just passed it off.  I took many vitamins, herbal supplements, and saw palmetto so I wasn't worried.

Considering I avoid the Doctors like the plague, I didn't have another exam for 4 years. Another exam revealed PSA score still at 4.9 but the prostate had enlarged some more. No tumors or irregularities were found so I just passed it off again and continued t use my vitamins and supplements..

November2006 all hell broke loose. I was on a trail hike in Florida in a wild life preserve. That evening I had to use the bath room and passed an immense amount of blood and several clots. Had not experienced any difficulties before that. It did clear up and had no more difficulty but I  still failed to have it checked. About this time I started to have to urinate more frequently like the guys in the prostate commercials. Didn't think much of it though. ( age thing I thought).

Jan 2007 I started to have problems and severe burning when urinating followed by another bout of heavy bleeding and clots when urinating.  Tht cleared up again on its own but the burning continued for two months before I went to the family Doctor. PSA score was 4.3 ( which was a drop) but test revealed a severe Urinary track infection. Got a prescription of 500MG of Cipro for two weeks and it knocked it out we thought. Things seemed ok for a few months and wham! It was back. Went back to the family Doctor and got another test and I had the infection back. This time intermittently I was passing blood when I was physically active or took long walks. Another feeling started to pop up like I had something big in my groin or pressure that felt uncomfortable.

The dreaded rectal exam by the family Doctor this time revealed some thing was terribly wrong. She didn't say other than my prostate was entirely too large but made an appointment right then for me to see a Urologist knowing I would not make the appointment my self. 

Those Drs. a female and a male did the dreaded rectal exam and blood test. Yep I had a severe urinary tract infection again. This time I got the works. A cat scan ( try drinking a gallon of water and holding it while doing a cat scan) Hell hath no fury like an over full bladder.

The next week I had a complete biopsy test where you have to lay on a table while they used this zap gun up your you know where and get tissue samples of your prostate gland. Not a pleasant experience at all.

The next week results are back and it is not pretty. The Drs. asked me this did not come on recently. I said I had never experienced any problems till Jan 2007. Although I did not experience any problems before, this malady was growing all along for over the last few years I guess.

Results of the test were: Severe infection in the prostate with calcification of the tissue, a tumor, attached cyst, and large stones in the bladder. The prostate was the size of an orange considering it should be the size of a walnut. Fortunately no cancer was found in the tissue samples.

Prognossis:  A complete removal of the prostate was in order. Further test of the removed tissue will be needed to eliminate the possibility of cancer in other areas of the prostate. A lazer removal of the stones in the bladder was in order. In short, I was facing a radical surgery with still the possibility of cancer.

What I am trying to convey here to all the guys is get those exams and don't put it off. This could have turned out a lot worse than it did. Had I listened a few years back to my Doctors, I might not would have gone through such a radical surgery now.

Yes I was lucky in a sense but possibly prostate shrinking medications may have saved me going though this procedure. Don't put it off.

Post surgery recouperation:

No cancer was noted in tissue sample taken during surgery and was able to save the nerves so I should get all my regular functions back. Yes making whoopie with the wife is also possible later.

5 days in the hospital on morphine with a painful cather tube. One week at home with that danged painfull cather tube. Inability to sit with out severe pain for 3 weeks. Only comfort was pain pills and laying only. Walking short times was ok but got tired easily. Bought a whoopie cushion to get back into sitting but that was a joke.

The last few days have allowed me to sit for longer periods of time with a pillow and the pain is managable now. I should be back up to my normal activities in another 3 to 4 weeks.

Again all you older guys get checked out. This happens in 1 in 5 men in the USA. Many are prostate cancer diagnosed. They got mine in time. I would not wish this on my worst enemies.