I want to start a movement among knifemakers

O

oljoe

Joined
Jul 29, 2004
Messages
83
I want to start a movement among knifemakers and their friends and families.
I’m sure that many of you are like me; I wouldn’t go to the doctor unless I was incapacitated or the cut was so deep that I could see bone. Any aches, pains or sickness we tend to attribute to a cold or the flu or that I worked to hard strained myself.

I’m here to tell you that may be a big mistake. Most of us (men) don’t consider what might be going on inside of our own bodies.

There are, in place today, many new technologies that could save your life if used early enough. One such technology is a PSA blood test.

PSA stands for Prostrate Specific Antigen. PSA is produced by the prostrate and normally only a small amount gets into the bloodstream. Should the prostrate be inflamed or damaged the PSA level in the bloodstream is higher and a doctor can determine what needs to be done.

Doctors recommend that men should have their prostrate checked at the age of 50. That may not be soon enough for some.

At 48 (I’m 49 now) I had a routine examination and blood test. I found that I had a high PSA level although I had no symptoms of prostrate problems. After another PSA test and a biopsy the doctor determined that I had prostrate cancer. The doctor, my wife and I discussed the options and decided that surgery was the best option at my age.
I spent 2 days in the hospital after surgery and 2 weeks off work then returned to my usual routine with lifting limitations. I did manage to get out to the shop to do some knife work during those 2 weeks.

After 8 months no cancer is present. The key to my recovery was early detection. Prostrate cancer is slow to migrate but if left unchecked can spread to the lymph glands and to other parts of the body.

If this post causes one person, their father, grandfather, son, brother or friend to get checked I feel it is worthwhile. I do, however, hope that every man, even if you don’t have symptoms (I didn’t), will get this simple blood test.

The old saying is that if it aint broke don’t fix it. Some times it is broke and we don’t even know it
 
I agree I have been checked every year since 50 (now 56) it takes a couple of mins of your time and is well worth knowing.
 
I just had my annual exam also. Im awaiting the results. My buddy had radiation on his prostate and now the PSA is normal but he now has small holes in his colon and may be in line for a coloscopy bag. I think the radiation is the culprit.
The question everyone is afraid to ask and afraid it answer is: Does the surgery cause impotence?
 
Bruce Bump said:
I just had my annual exam also. Im awaiting the results. My buddy had radiation on his prostate and now the PSA is normal but he mow has small holes in his colon and may be in line for a coloscopy bag. I think the radiation is the culprit.
The question everyone is afraid to ask and afraid it answer is: Does the surgery cause impotence?
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OMG:eek: That is serious and funny all at the same time.:D Good health is no accident.:thumbup: (Bruce you dickens...you edited out the funny part :)
 
I had it checked out last year. Lousy plumbing, but it works good enough, I guess thats part of gettin older.
 
Recent evidence suggests that PSA doesn't even have to be very high to indicate cancer, just that it has changed substantially from the year before. In other words, if it increased from 0.75 to 1.5 from one year to the next that is cause for further investigation.

It's important to have a continuing history of yearly PSA levels to insure earliest detection. Start in your mid/late-40's and get the test every year after.

Well said, OlJoe. Best wishes that you remain cancer free!
 
Bruce...that'll be our little secret. :)

Ditto what fitzo said, stay well OlJoe and thanks for posting that.
 
with me being young ill remember this and be sure that in about 20 years to start getting checked. since im only 22 now. best wishes for you oljoe. hope you stay cancer free and that no one in here gets the cancer.
 
PimpinSquee said:
with me being young ill remember this and be sure that in about 20 years to start getting checked. since im only 22 now. best wishes for you oljoe. hope you stay cancer free and that no one in here gets the cancer.
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Only 22? You're just a pup! Take good care of yourself. I played a lot of basketball, etc. during my 20s and 30s. It was great for my heart and tough on my knees. I complained to my doctor one time about my knees hurting and he said, "Which would you rather have me operate on, your knees or your heart?" He had a good point!
 
i played tennis in mniddle school and a little bit of high school. i mostly went offroad mountain biking after i got out of high school and played alot of different sports on the asphault when i was younger with the local kids in the neighborhood. i strained my back at the age of 14 and at times i get back pains but not so much anymore. was a plumber by trade for a couple of years and dug alot of ditches. if i get any kind of cancer anytime soon it would be skin cancer for the fact that i dont wear sunscreen and im scotts/irish so i tend to burn more than i tan. ive already had 2 moles removed due to the fact that they were close to being cancerous. i might get lung cancer in my later years due to the fact that im a smoker and have been since i was around 18/19 and smoke about a pack a day and smoke marlboro red 100's. i know a bit what its like to have a cancer scare. wont stop me fro smoking cause it keeps me mellow and wont stop fishing from sunup to sundown in the direct sunlight while at the bays with no shade and not wear sunscreen. call me stupid but its the way i want to live.
 
Oljoe,

I commend you for your post and strength. I'm not yet of the age that doctors require testing for prostate cancer; however, I will keep your comments in the back of my mind. I am a stereotypical male, in that I seldom visit the doctor unless something is really bad.

I will, alternatively, make sure we mention you tonight when I tuck my son in. He and I pray by his bed before he goes to sleep. We seldom go to church, but it does help the two of us stay close. He's ten now, and I try as hard as I can to make sure we build a strong relationship. My dad never did that stuff with me when I was a kid. Looking back, I wish he had. He's been pretty sick lately, and I fear it's the beginnings of lung cancer.

He also developed a cancerous tumor on his hip as a result of many years of carrying a 1911 in his belt without a holster. Apparently, it's quite common for daily CCW'rs. Gunsolvents are not good for you, so keep it in mind if you carry.

Everyone, wear your respirator or dust mask when grinding. Keep the door cracked for some air flow as well. It will pay off in the long run.

Women have it figured out when it comes to avoiding cancer causing situations, which is why they generally out live us. Much can be learned from listening to our wives and mothers...

:)
 
call me stupid but its the way i want to live.[/QUOTE]

That might be the way you want to live, but it's a horrible way to die!
I just watched both my Father (69 six years ago), and my older brother (57) die from tobacco related cancer, and it wasn't pretty!
Imagine yourself being a big man all your life and going to the crematorium at 76 pounds and 57 years old.
Lose the cigarettes, dude.
Be good to those who love you.
 
Never would of guessed someone would have gotten a tumor from a 1911, although it does make sense. Have a safe day in the shop guys or where ever you are.
 
As far as age goes, I was diagnosed at 49 with PC and no hope for cure as the cancer had already metascticized into my pelvic bones. I was given 2 years to live. That was 4 years ago. I continue to have harmonal treatment that so far has kept me alive but of course that can and will change at some point, probably sooner than later. I would say that it is up to each individual to take the initiative to demand treatment and tests for any concerns you may have. The doctors don't know your body and to some extent play a statistical game when evaluating your condition. No one wanted to be agressive with testing because statistically I was too young to have PC. Not only did I have it but apparently had it for quite some time as it had time to metasticize. Early detection will save your life and indifference can kill you. When you start to see my shop equipment up for sale you will know the end of my story.
 
Thank you for posting this. I have had many Men in my family die of prostate cancer at very young ages. I started my PSA test at age 31 due to the young ages of my relatives who had been taken by the disease. While you may not want to chime up for early colonoscopies the psa test should be done by anyone over 40 IMO.
 
PimpinSquee said:
i played tennis in mniddle school and a little bit of high school. i mostly went offroad mountain biking after i got out of high school and played alot of different sports on the asphault when i was younger with the local kids in the neighborhood. i strained my back at the age of 14 and at times i get back pains but not so much anymore. was a plumber by trade for a couple of years and dug alot of ditches. if i get any kind of cancer anytime soon it would be skin cancer for the fact that i dont wear sunscreen and im scotts/irish so i tend to burn more than i tan. ive already had 2 moles removed due to the fact that they were close to being cancerous. i might get lung cancer in my later years due to the fact that im a smoker and have been since i was around 18/19 and smoke about a pack a day and smoke marlboro red 100's. i know a bit what its like to have a cancer scare. wont stop me fro smoking cause it keeps me mellow and wont stop fishing from sunup to sundown in the direct sunlight while at the bays with no shade and not wear sunscreen. call me stupid but its the way i want to live.
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You will find quickly that only young people make these statements. At only 32 I can already feel the problems I have caused myself. You only get one chance to take care of yourself. Prevetive lifestyle > all the medicine in the world. On your death bed I really doubt you will be saying at least I got to smoke and not wear sunscreen. Also if you ever have a child it will quickly switch from I want to live this way to :I have to stay alive and take care of my kids and see them grow up.
 
It's amazing how fast things change after 30. I noticed big changes as an athlete especially after 35.

BigJim is right too ... Have kids and your perspective changes (at least if your any kind of man). It's really cool how kids will help you be less self-absorbed. It's a much happier way to live IMO (at least until the teen years from what I hear :barf: :D ).
 
There is a risk of sexual dysfunction if surgery is required but that is reduced markedly if the tumor is small and not widely spread. The reason is the risk of accidently cutting the nerves that control the erectile function is less if you have to remove less tissue. So...early detection would imply less risk of ED if surgery was necessary (and accepted by the patient :thumbup: )
 
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