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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate Cancer / May 2007Question for UK guys about PSA bloods taken in UK.
I got hard copy yesterday of my last bloods. Very Odd. Nothing on the form starting at Sodium down to CK - that I usually get with Diabetic & Cardiac bloods. readings start with bilirubin, 15 AST (whatever that is I dunno) 18 ALT (again I dunno) 22 Gamma-GT (That's for booze? supposed to be less than 90 but I'll keep that one to myself) Alk.Phos (Eh - what?) 88 Protein (I understand that one) 68 Albumin (yup gottit) 42 Globulins (rough idea) 29 Then nothing from Calcium on down to HDL/LDL/Triglycerides/TSH/Free T4/T3/IgA/IgG and IgM. Next page just PSA from first to last reading, but no mention of this "Free PSA" or testosterone or anything else. Is that normal for UK? Not even a mention of the Vitamin D things. Esp when I asked for a complete work-up on the bloods, Do I have to ask for special bloods for those? Understand guys that I really haven't bothered trying to learn TOO much about things that don't really apply to me, like RP's Radiation, seeds and all that stuff that I'm not going to get. PSA and keeping it low + diet is about all I'm interested in. Of course, I read with a fascinated horror all the stories, but still thankful (Maybe stupidly) that I was past anything but ADT - for however long that keeps me alive - and didn't have to go through all the sh.t you guys have. HUGHIE. > I got hard copy yesterday of my last bloods. Good! Keep it up. > Very Odd. > Nothing on the form starting at Sodium down to CK - that I usually get with > Diabetic & Cardiac bloods. > readings start with bilirubin, 15 > AST (whatever that is I dunno) 18 > ALT (again I dunno) 22 Billiribin, AST and ALT are all tests for liver disorders. I don't know what units were used. In the USofA, ALT and AST are measured in IUI/dL, and I expect that the same is true for the UK. The reference ranges are AST 10 - 50, ALT 2 - 60. Bilirubin is measured here in mg/dL, and the reference range is 0.2 - 1.3. I suspect that the UK might use nmol/dL or some such but am unsure. See, http://labtestsonline.org/index.html > Alk.Phos (Eh - what?) 88 Alkaline phosphatase is tested for signs of Paget's disease, a bone disorder involving accelerated bone turnover. Reference range is 39 - 160 IU/L. (snip) > Next page just PSA from first to last reading, but no mention of this "Free > PSA" or testosterone or anything else. > Is that normal for UK? Not even a mention of the Vitamin D things. > Esp when I asked for a complete work-up on the bloods, Do I have to ask for > special bloods for those? In the USofA, certain blood tests are done in "panels." These include standard tests. If one wishes to have other tests such as fPSA, T, vitamin D, they must be specially ordered. For the UK perspective, I suggest raising the question on the PCA Bulletin Board. Answers from the resident Brits will be forthcoming, I'm sure. Regards, Steve J Steve - understood - but PCA Board - is that the PCNAZ one you mean? Thanks, mate. Hughie. > For the UK perspective, I suggest raising the question on the PCA Bulletin > Board. Answers from the resident Brits will be forthcoming, I'm sure. > > Regards, > > Steve J On May 2, Hughie enquired: > Steve - understood - but PCA Board - is that the PCNAZ one you mean? > Thanks, mate. Aye, mate. See ya Saturday! Regards, Steve J "A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk I have a work station." -- Hecate Hi Hughie......will a female Canuck do instead?? We do talk more alike and know how to spell "colour".....(VBG) As for those blood tests (testosterone, free PSA, etc), you have to ask the doctor for a requisition to do them. They are not part of a standard blood workup. Ron just gets a requisition for regular PSA and Testosterone levels every 3 to 6 months. We have never bothered with the "free PSA" one because we KNOW he has prostate cancer.....it is just used for those who are not 100% sure, so to speak. You don't need it either. We pay $30 for a PSA test here....what about the UK?? This is one of the few tests we pay for. The Government is making a bloody fortune off it though. Think of how many 40+ men get it done. It is only free if it is done in a hospital. Chins up.....Heather >I got hard copy yesterday of my last bloods. > Very Odd. [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > the sh.t you guys have. > HUGHIE. > Hi Hughie......will a female Canuck do instead?? We do talk more alike > and know how to spell "colour".....(VBG) YUP! - You'll do Pet - How's Ron doing? > As for those blood tests (testosterone, free PSA, etc), you have to ask > the doctor for a requisition to do them. They are not part of a standard > blood workup. Understood. > Ron just gets a requisition for regular PSA and Testosterone levels every > 3 to 6 months. We have never bothered with the "free PSA" one because we > KNOW he has prostate cancer.....it is just used for those who are not 100% > sure, so to speak. You don't need it either. Now I know, Ta. > We pay $30 for a PSA test here....what about the UK?? This is one of the > few tests we pay for. The Government is making a bloody fortune off it > though. Think of how many 40+ men get it done. It is only free if it is > done in a hospital. Don't know for sure but I THINK it's free here, my GP who did the last one just said OK when I asked him. Anyway - I've never been charged. > Chins up.....Heather Shaving yesterday, damn cat decided to play ambushes. I got a fright (Honest!) when he clawed my foot and I shaved off a bit of my moustache. (This is the second time I've done that) - Kept trimming the other side to even it up and again and again till I looked like a chubby version of adolf bloody hitler. No moustache now. It took my lad half an hour to realise I looked a bit different, then he started laughing... I look younger without it and it was starting to look straggly anyway- so it's staying off. Had that since I was old enough to grow it. - Ever wanted to be young again? - No, I don't either! The weather here has been fantastic for April - frequent 22-23 Celsius all this week and a cloudless sky. Been soaking up all the free vitamin D on my balcony and now look like a cooked lobster! >>I got hard copy yesterday of my last bloods. >> Very Odd. [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] >> guys have. >> HUGHIE. > Hi Hughie......will a female Canuck do instead?? We do talk more alike > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > We pay $30 for a PSA test here....what about the UK?? This is one of I would double check this. You likely have to pay for PSA tests for screening purposes but not if you have prostate cancer already. Its possible that that only applies to certain labs such as hospitals and not private labs so you might need to switch labs and also you may need to have your doctor indicate something on the requisition so the lab knows its not for screening purposes. If you do switch labs note that that will introduce a new source of variation into the results. --- The Palpable Prostate http://palpable-prostate.blogspot.com >> Hi Hughie......will a female Canuck do instead?? We do talk more >> alike [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > may need to have your doctor indicate something on the requisition > so the lab knows its not for screening purposes. I take it you are NOT Canadian. Unfortunately what you state is a proverbial *myth* and one we believed at first. It doesn't matter one iota whether you have cancer or not!! The Health Care System here does not pay for PSA tests unless you have it done at a hospital. And those appts. are usually one or two days a week between 1 and 2 pm. (slight exaggeration here). More than one of our personal oncologists have voiced their displeasure with this.....especially when you realize most Pca patients get a PSA every 3 months. OTOH, I don't pay for any of my pap smears or other *female tests* and in fact, I am in a study for breast cancer. Have been for years and do get a mammogram every year. My mother had breast cancer. Oh well, we take the bad with the good. (G) Heather > I take it you are NOT Canadian. Unfortunately what you state is a > proverbial *myth* and one we believed at first. It doesn't matter one [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Heather I'm a Canadian too. I live in Alberta and have never ever had to pay for a PSA test that was ordered by a doctor so it may just be an Ontario thing. I suppose if I went to a medical lab and asked for a PSA test for my own peace of mind or something, then I would have to pay but if a doctor orders it here, it is covered. Medical care is in provincial jurisdiction so the rules vary from province to province. JP >> I take it you are NOT Canadian. Unfortunately what you state is a >> proverbial *myth* and one we believed at first. It doesn't matter [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > Medical care is in provincial jurisdiction so the rules vary from > province to province. Oops.....sorry, but I thought I said it was a "provincial" thing...... Yes, each Province has their own rules and unfortunately Ontario does NOT pay for a PSA test, whether doctor-ordered or not. In fact, it has to be ordered by a doctor to be perfectly correct, but you have to get it done in a hospital in order for it to be "no charge". Night Joe......Heather > Yes, each Province has their own rules and unfortunately Ontario does NOT > pay for a PSA test, whether doctor-ordered or not. In fact, it has to be > ordered by a doctor to be perfectly correct, but you have to get it done > in a hospital in order for it to be "no charge". What a great system! >> Yes, each Province has their own rules and unfortunately Ontario does >> NOT pay for a PSA test, whether doctor-ordered or not. In fact, it >> has to be ordered by a doctor to be perfectly correct, but you have >> to get it done in a hospital in order for it to be "no charge". > > What a great system! Works for us, pussycat!! That is about the ONLY thing we pay for re Pca. And our prescriptions range from $2 to $6.11......always. Including Zoladex/Lupron and Casodex. Just did our income taxes for April 30th and it is amazing how much I can write off with regard to cancer treatment. I assume you Merkins can do the same. (tongue firmly planted in cheeky cheek, grin) > Just did our income taxes for April 30th and it is amazing how much I can > write off with regard to cancer treatment. I assume you Merkins can do > the same. (tongue firmly planted in cheeky cheek, grin) Yeah, I just deducted a boatload. It's the first time I qualified for a medical deduction -- and that's not a good thing. On May 3, Steve K wrote: Quoting Heather: >> Just did our income taxes for April 30th and it is amazing how much I can >> write off with regard to cancer treatment. I assume you Merkins can do >> the same. (tongue firmly planted in cheeky cheek, grin) He replied: > Yeah, I just deducted a boatload. It's the first time I qualified for a > medical deduction -- and that's not a good thing. Well, no, but it does relieve some of the pain :-) Health insurance premiums are also deductible, BTW. Regards, Steve J "Do not compute the totality of your poultry population until all the manifestations of incubation have been entirely completed." -- William Jennings Bryan, American lawyer & politician > On May 3, Steve K wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Health insurance premiums are also deductible, BTW. Right on, Steve J......I actually found a lot of ours on a government TIPS line about 3 years ago. And another CPA advised me where to check in case there were more. Every little bit helps. I have so far not had to make quarterly income tax payments, and usually scrounge up enough at tax time to keep it that way. The government is not collecting monies from me IN ADVANCE and then returning them months later with no interest!!! Hell, I am of Scottish extraction......we pinch pennies. (and then spend them big time on trips, grin) Cheers....Heather > >> Hi Hughie......will a female Canuck do instead?? We do talk more > >> alike [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > iota whether you have cancer or not!! The Health Care System here does > not pay for PSA tests unless you have it done at a hospital. And those I guess you are saying that my comment is correct but that in reality at your hospital its hard to get access to it. That may be specific to your hospital and may or may not be the case at other hospitals in your province -- which I assume is Ontario. I googled around and found this where the Ontario Minister of Health specifically said she sent hospitals a letter in 1998 reminding them that they have to pay for it (search for the phrase insured services on this page): http://www.ontla.on.ca/committee-proceedings/transcripts/files_html/1998-06-17_e 004.htm and BC won't pay for it "when rendered for the purpose of screening" (but presumably will otherwise): http://www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoprac/physbilling/s6-billing.pdf Presumably other provinces are similar. --- The Palpable Prostate http://palpable-prostate.blogspot.com >>>>> We pay $30 for a PSA test here....<<<<< >> [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > this where the Ontario Minister of Health specifically said she sent > hospitals a letter in 1998 reminding them that they have to pay for it No.....I am saying that you have to pay for it even if you have prostate cancer. Ontario does NOT cover it. Yes, it is difficult getting an appt. here in the small city I live in just outside Toronto, so we get it done at Sunnybrook Hospital when we see the oncologist. If we decide to check it in between these ones, we pay $30 for it at a private lab. I did find what you were referring to and that was 9 years ago??? No wonder the doctors are ticked off that it is not covered. I will take another look at it in the morning......interesting to see where some of these people are now. (G) Thanks, Heather (search > for the > phrase insured services on this page): [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > The Palpable Prostate > http://palpable-prostate.blogspot.com >I got hard copy yesterday of my last bloods. >Very Odd. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >Gamma-GT (That's for booze? supposed to be less than 90 but I'll keep that >one to myself) <snip> All above are LFT (liver function test) readings taken on periodic Diabetic assessment blood tests. (some are mine were off the map, but after 4 wildly varying consecutive blood tests and a trip to a Hepatologist, he shrugged it off as 'non-remarkable' for an oddball like me, but test quarterly.) The others I can't comment on, but none seem to be PCa related. HTH -Please reply to group as my email addr is fake! -Regards CC > All above are LFT (liver function test) readings taken on periodic > Diabetic assessment blood tests. (some are mine were off the map, but [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > The others I can't comment on, but none seem to be PCa related. Are you diabetic too, Clarence? I'm a T2 under very tight control. Thanks for letting me know those were Liver figures. I had no idea. HUGHIE > HTH > -Please reply to group as my email addr is fake! > > -Regards CC On May 2, 4:53 pm, "Hugh Kearnley" <hughkearn...@btinternet.com> wrote: > I got hard copy yesterday of my last bloods. > Very Odd. It is very important to test for liver functions whilst on ADT. -Gordy > It is very important to test for liver functions whilst on ADT. > > -Gordy Understood - and thankyou! Hughie. Can't offer any detail here Hughie - all I get is a standard PSA test from my local GP and that's the only figure the uro has asked me to bring along at our 3-monthly meeting. During my WW phase I was getting an fPSA result as well. (I'd forgotten about fPSA - supposedly of no diagnostic value post primary treatment?) PSA tests are free of charge when initiated by the GP. Thanks Mate. Hughie > Can't offer any detail here Hughie - all I get is a standard PSA test > from my local GP and that's the only figure the uro has asked me to > bring along at our 3-monthly meeting. During my WW phase I was > getting an fPSA result as well. (I'd forgotten about fPSA - supposedly > of no diagnostic value post primary treatment?) PSA tests are free > of charge when initiated by the GP. |
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