Welcome to the EGGhead Forum - a great place to visit and packed with tips and EGGspert advice! You can also join the conversation and get more information and amazing kamado recipes by following Big Green Egg to Experience our World of Flavor™ at:
Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Pinterest  |  Youtube  |  Vimeo
Share your photos by tagging us and using the hashtag #BigGreenEgg.

Want to see how the EGG is made? Click to Watch

Off topic for sure: blood test question

RRP
RRP Posts: 26,481
edited November -0001 in EggHead Forum
Does a routine annual blood work up include a PSA score for a cancer survivor?
Re-gasketing the USA one yard at a time 
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • YB
    YB Posts: 3,861
    I don't think so Ron unless your doctor orders it.
    Larry
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • FlaMike
    FlaMike Posts: 648
    I get mine every year since my surgery in 2000, and it's a "special order". Not part of the usual, routine bloodwork.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • DynaGreaseball
    DynaGreaseball Posts: 1,409
    Ron, The PSA test they use for regular screenings is kind of general. The one your Urologist uses is much more thorough. I go for my next 6 month check on Monday. Hope it's 0.0.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Crimsongator
    Crimsongator Posts: 5,797
    I think if it is ordered by the doctor. I am not sure why they would not. Mine did a baseline PSA on me this year, even at 36. He wanted a starting point well before things may show up.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Billy Grill Eggster
    Billy Grill Eggster Posts: 404
    RRP,

    PSA is separate, I have PSA reviewed twice each year because of family history. Regular blood test once each year at annual physical.
    Billy
    Wilson, NC
    Large BGE - WiFi Stoker - Thermapen - 250 Cookbooks

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dhuffjr
    dhuffjr Posts: 3,182
    Hey Ron,
    It is as others have said not. It may be however for you. Depends on what your doctor routinely orders. Ask for it. Insurance and medicare will balk at too frequent an order pattern and may not pay for it at all. It is however your right to have it done.

    The lab I work for in Ohio has recently rolled out what we call 'direct access' testing. A PSA screen paid for by the patient without having to have a doctors order is 40 dollars. With so many self employed un/underinsured folks this is a good way for people to have access to important diagnostic testing. Check around you may find a local lab that is doing this now. Quest Diagnostics is a joint owner of the company I work for and I believe they are doing direct access testing in CA. Not sure about other states.

    In case you didn't know make sure they draw your blood before they do a digital exam. The exam can cause an elevated PSA. Most doctors should know this but hey someone has to graduate last in their class :huh:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dhuffjr
    dhuffjr Posts: 3,182
    He may be ordering a free and total PSA.

    The regular PSA value will catch most elevations of clinical significance. However they are not a replacement of the digital exam. I have heard of folks having cancer caught via the digital exam that was not showing up in the PSA screen yet.

    Lucky for me I'm under 40 B)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Old Salt
    Old Salt Posts: 357
    Medicare allows once a year PSA testing unless there's some problem where it is necessary for another testing. I was charged once when my appointment date was changed and it slipped by the Dr and lab.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 26,481
    Establishing a baseline at 36 is good, but 40 is OK too. It's like my urologist told me - it's not a matter if a man develops prostate cancer, but instead when he does. Please guys for your own sake and for your loved ones - drop the macho crap and drop trou! I'm in my 7th year of survivor-ship.
    Re-gasketing the USA one yard at a time 
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • thebtls
    thebtls Posts: 2,300
    PSA is a seperate special test request. Routing tests are typically chemistries and lipid profiles.
    Visit my blog, dedicated to my Big Green Egg Recipies at http://www.bigtsbge.blogspot.com You can also follow my posts on FaceBook under the name Keep On Eggin' or the link http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Keep-On-Eggin/198049930216241
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • DynaGreaseball
    DynaGreaseball Posts: 1,409
    This is the last one he (my doc) wants done every 6 months. I'm graduating to one every year next. It's been since Christmas 2004--almost 4 years. I think Medicare has paid for each one. Doesn't matter, I'm getting 'em. My Dad just stopped having his tests after about 2 years. Guess what? His cancer came back. Almost didn't catch it in time.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dhuffjr
    dhuffjr Posts: 3,182
    Right.
    There is a list of tests that medicare requires a signature by the patient for indicating to them that they may be responsible for those charges.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories