PSA testing in current climate

User

Posted 22 Apr 2020 at 09:38

Thinking ahead, I have just spoken to my GP surgery, they are still taking blood for PSA tests. The way they get the blood samples varies depending on the patients situation. Fit and healthy patients can attend the surgery, at risk and over seventies will get a home visit.

Thanks Chris

User

Posted 24 Apr 2020 at 21:07

Hi All,

Just letting you know I had a psa test at GP surgery today. I booked it on Monday they said they were keeping tests to a minimum so screening tests would be out of the question, but monitoring existing cancer patients met the criteria. Hand gel and mask on for me in the waiting room, I was the only person there. Nurse was in mask gown and gloves, she said it's a bit harder finding a vein with gloves on. Anyway all done in about five minutes. Results due next week.

Dave

User

Posted 25 Apr 2020 at 06:48

I have had a persistent productive cough for about eight weeks, so it’s not the plague!

After a telephone consultation on Thursday with my GP just up the road (I said it’s a shame your stethoscope hasn’t got a longer tube 😂), he referred me for a blood test and a chest X-ray.

I booked a phlebotomy appointment at my local chemist’s at 07.40 yesterday, and I should have the results on my iPad later this morning. The radiology department at the hospital said ‘We are not accepting walk-ins now, only fractures, so we will have to send you an appointment’.

‘How long will that take?’

‘Should be within the next six weeks’

So some parts of the NHS are working fine, others not so much. Anyone see the unoccupied A & E’s, empty wards, deserted Nightingale Hospitals, and operating theatres used for bed storage? My father-in-law, in agony with a hip problem, had his orthopaedic appointment last week cancelled indefinitely. ‘Some days the pain is so bad I wish I was dead’ he told me.

I wonder if too much has been sacrificed on the altar of Covid 19, when the government admit in the absence of a vaccine, up to 80% of us will contract it eventually!

Cheers, John.

User

Posted 25 Apr 2020 at 08:28

It's strange - I've tried to chase up about the results of my surgery, as it's now almost 7 weeks since the op. This has not been helped by the fact that my hospital has merged trusts (with no pre-warning!) during that time and the new website no longer has the phone numbers for departments. Anyway, I've gotten nowhere; I've not had my results, nor had a follow up consultation, even over the phone.

Meanwhile, I had a call yesterday from someone about my skin cancer appointment, which I had to cancel because of the surgery. For that I have an appointment at a priavte hospital on Tuesday morning. This is with a different hospital, although part of the same trust.

I can therefore only think that it depends on how organised each hospital and department is, which has been my experience in general - the biggest fault with the NHS is that organisation and administration varies immensely from place to place. The skin cancer department (which is highly rated) has been excellent in every way; at the other end of the spectrum is my GP surgery, who have a telephone system that my SCN described as a nightmare and who seems to take a week to process anything sent by a hospital.

Edited by member 25 Apr 2020 at 08:29 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 25 Apr 2020 at 18:25

Results are in: <0.1, naturally I am delighted. I must say I am impressed with the gp medical records website. Blood was taken on Friday, results on website on Saturday. If any of you haven't signed up to this service I think you ought to. Getting quick results, and having copies of all letters between onco and gp is very helpful.

Dave

User

Posted 26 Apr 2020 at 03:47

The GP medical records app I use is called Patient Access. Well worth getting, if you can.

Your GP needs to be registered with it, and it seems not all are (why not?). You get a practise number and your log-in code and you are away! Interesting sometimes to see what the doctor has written about you after every consultation. It seems their spelling and grammar are as bad as their legendary poor handwriting 😂

https://www.patientaccess.com/

Cheers, John.

User

Posted 26 Apr 2020 at 07:36

The things in your medical record shown on patient access vary between surgeries. It is good that you have detailed information on yours. My GP only posts the basic things - consultants letters that I get anyway, allergies and that is about it. They don't give me access to my blood test results there. I had my annual PSA and other routine bloods earlier this month but don't know the result, only that it is clearly under 1 as otherwise they would have called me in. I can't even just pop into the surgery (at the bottom of the road) to ask as it is appointment only access at the moment and I don't really feel like troubling them.

User

Posted 26 Apr 2020 at 09:40

Dave

Don't rely on your GP ringing you with an adverse result. At 59 I had a PSA of 6.9 but I only found that out three years later by accident.

Thanks Chris

User

Posted 26 Apr 2020 at 10:19

Just received my three monthly appointment with the urology team, a telephone appointment which was expected with the current situation, asked about blood test for PSA, was asked to see if local doctors would organise the test, phoned and I’m in on Tuesday for bloods, so results should be back before phone appointment back end of May.

User

Posted 26 Apr 2020 at 12:45

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

I have had a persistent productive cough for about eight weeks, so it’s not the plague!

After a telephone consultation on Thursday with my GP just up the road (I said it’s a shame your stethoscope hasn’t got a longer tube 😂), he referred me for a blood test and a chest X-ray.

I booked a phlebotomy appointment at my local chemist’s at 07.40 yesterday, and I should have the results on my iPad later this morning. The radiology department at the hospital said ‘We are not accepting walk-ins now, only fractures, so we will have to send you an appointment’.

‘How long will that take?’

‘Should be within the next six weeks’

So some parts of the NHS are working fine, others not so much. Anyone see the unoccupied A & E’s, empty wards, deserted Nightingale Hospitals, and operating theatres used for bed storage? My father-in-law, in agony with a hip problem, had his orthopaedic appointment last week cancelled indefinitely. ‘Some days the pain is so bad I wish I was dead’ he told me.

I wonder if too much has been sacrificed on the altar of Covid 19, when the government admit in the absence of a vaccine, up to 80% of us will contract it eventually!

Cheers, John.

The Virus seems to have overtaken all NHS services - now they wonder where there "Normal" Paitents have got to....?
It is a mess, a deadly one - I'm just grateful my treatment for Prostate, was last year.

User

Posted 29 Apr 2020 at 21:59

Had my bloods taken 16 March, appointment was 24 March cancelled on 20 March. Told I would be getting a letter. 1 month and 10 days and still counting.

Rob

User

Posted 30 Apr 2020 at 09:25

The following article caught my attention this morning. The article is not about prostate cancer but a few paragraphs in there is references to keyhole and open surgery.

Looking further into the subject it would seem there may be challenging times ahead with keyhole type surgery.

BBC News - Coronavirus doctor's diary: 'We aren't diagnosing many cancers now'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52446841

Thanks Chris

Edited by member 30 Apr 2020 at 10:17 | Reason: Missing word

User

Posted 30 Apr 2020 at 13:18

Hi all - I am with Epsom NHS trust - bloods taken last week, 20 minute wait for test and results given today via telephone. PSA = Undetectable.

Great service in these difficult times!!

User

Posted 07 May 2020 at 20:34

I went ahead with the LetsGetChecked PSA test. The kit arrived but I struggled to get enough blood to fill the tube to the required level. After squeezing my fingers and getting blood all over the table I eventually filled the tube to the marked line. Unfortunately the sample was rejected as being hemolyzed. Apparently this means that the blood was damaged while it was being drawn.

They sent me a second kit and I prepared by going for a long walk, taking a hot shower and running up and down the stairs 10 times. I then managed to get enough blood from 4 fingers pricks but with little effort.

The results came back as Total PSA<0.03 ug/L and Free PSA <0.02 ug/L. This is as good as previous GP PSA results which were all <0.1 ng/mL. (I think ug/L units are equivalent to ng/mL units) The GPs results didn't specify 'Total' or 'Free' PSA.

Anyway it seems to be a good result for me which is just as well as my telephone review has just be postponed until 18th June. I will be 2 years post op on 21st September 2020 and hopefully my reviews will move from 3 monthly to 6 monthly.

I have to keep reminding myself that my PSA in February 2018 was 33.1 ng/mL and I was diagnosed as T3B, M0, N0 with a Gleeson score of 3+4 = 7. I had 3 months of hormone therapy before a radical prostatecomy.

User

Posted 08 May 2020 at 06:28

Called my GPs about quarterly PSA blood test. The receptionist had to check with the practice manager that they were covering them. Apparently only limited services being offered behind closed/locked doors. Got to ok for test next week and to come up to the front door and knock and wait. One patient being seen at a time and will be met by nurse in full protective gear. I asked if I should wear any and they said it’s up to me.

User

Posted 08 May 2020 at 07:13

Slightly off topic... Yesterday there was a knock on the door and when I answered I found a package on the doorstep and its deliverer at the end of the path. It was my regular blood pressure tablets. It seems the local pharmacy rather than you visitin to pick them up automatically deliver them. 'That's how we are doing it now with the virus' he said.

I have not had to visit my GP recently but see now if you need an appointment that they cannot do it via the telephone you have to wait in your car until called on your mobile, then presumably it is full protective gear stuff. Slight problem in my case, no mobile phone and I always walk to the surgery which is at the end of the road...

Desperate to get back to normality, I have never felt fitter than I am at the moment!

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