Good that you acted and sounds like you had a RP or RRP to remove your prostate???? EVEN more imperative that you have follow-up PSA's if that's the case to make sure all of the GL9 is gone and cells didn't remain or already begin migration to metastasizing. WARNING from a GLEASON 10

OUTSTANDING exercise in self advocating. 3TmpMRI before biopsy should be SOP. Your week off the bike DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE contrary to what you originally had been told. Good luck with your AS.

Really doc, alternate forms of information gathering should never be ignored simply due to the method by which it is obtained.

The internet database has proven particularly useful for all involved including the healthcare practitioners, where it has become especially helpful in this day and age.

Besides, if healthcare procedure were totally foolproof as it stands, liability in the medical field wouldn't be as high as it is. I'm sure you will agree with that.

+1 SPOT ON !!!

Wrong thread

You are right My Bad, I'll delete it.

I asked the doctor if I would get a prostate exam at the same time, she said it's a different procedure with a different specialist.

+1 this. The GI doc who did my colonoscopy last winter did a DRE at the same time. Saved me a repeat DRE at my physical this fall.

Amusing anecdote. I was sitting around a table with a group of family practice MDs who were mentoring family practice residents. One of them lamented that so few of the residents would do a DRE without prompting. Another tsked, "and they're supposed to be the digital generation!"

The old quote to medical students from years past...."if you don't put your finger in it, someday you are likely to put your foot in it".

I've had numerous colonoscopy procedures and not one included a DRE. Years ago my PCP preceded all of her flexible sigmoidoscopy procedures with a DRE. She was the first to feel my Gleason 10 tumor when I saw here for a check-up.

That you know of....

My doctor told me the same thing that they don't use the finger exam anymore. I was surprised but grateful.

If somebody is diagnosed with BPH, is good to keep biking?

I asked my doctor if I should have one and she asked if I wanted one, and I said I want the whole workup, whatever that entails, and she said "OK, bend over" and did it. They can check for size and smoothness.

I haven't had the hernia cough exam in quite a while though - I wonder if I aged out of the risk group or something.

A DRE/Prostate exam is still a part of any competent physical examination on adult males. Likewise, evaluation for an inguinal hernia. That particular problem increases with age.

Today is our last full day of cruising on MS Nieuw Statendam. Home tomorrow and another PSA blood test on Monday. Resulting number WILL INDICATE if PCa (Prostate Cancer) is back AGAIN. Biked 101 miles a week ago and have been walking while on board. Out on deck at 3:30AM this morning for 4 miles then back out at 9:00AM walking another 4 miles this time for Holland America's ON DECK FOR A CAUSE.

Holland America Line reaches $6m donated to cancer support

If your practitioner is trained correctly "Mr. Dr finger" is still the best available, unfortunatly...
I would say, as anything concerning medicine : a good clinical exam (a doc putting his hands on your various body parts) and a good interview is still the best available way to diagnose something. Everything else is useful to confirm it and find the best treatment
PSA brings a lot of "false positive" inducing invasive surgical or radio therapy with too many side effects to be bearable.
And first of all, it depends of your age : before 50 a prostate cancer is generally a killer, after 70 it evolves so slowly that patients finally die from something else, just like my dad.

My dad was an urological surgeon and I learned a lot from him even if I'm a psychiatrist !! A clinical exam is always safer and more reliable than many blood samples, Pet scans or MRI.
He died from an pancreatic cancer with carcinogenic lungs he treated like a flu for 6 month. From the first lungs Xray he accepted to pass through to his death it took less than 3 month. He was 86 years old.
Myself I suffered from a pudendal nerve compression due to a traumatic jump on a bike. the saddle exploded when I landed and the only person who was able to diagnose it was a particularly well trained urologist with his very flexible and invading finger... All the other doctors I saw were absolutely unable to find anything and all blood exams and MRI were of no help at all.

There's no problem at all, on the contrary : you can ride with a BPH, just don't forget to use easily openable pants !
BPH is a normal condition for almost every aging male, it's more or less unpleasant.
Surgery is necessary only when there's a bladder problem added.

Depends.
Prostate cancer screening is routinely stopped for men over age 70. First time PSA is checked is if there is a TURP, or some kinds of renal problem. Reason given is that under structure put in place by Affordable Care Act they don't want to worry the majority who will, supposedly, die with prostate cancer, not because of it.