Interview 37

Age at interview: 55

Brief Outline: He asked his GP for a PSA test because he had prostate cancer in the family and because a colleague persuaded him that it was a good idea to have regular health checks. PSA tests in 2001 and 2004 were 'normal'.

Background: Occupation' Retired police officer. Marital status' Married. Number of children' 2. Ethnic background' White British.

Due to a family history of prostate cancer and pressure from a friend he asked for a PSA test to give him peace of mind. The result was normal.

Yes, I'm 55 years of age and perhaps when I was about 50 I had a colleague who was having this test on a regular basis, perhaps once every twelve months and he put some pressure on me to, to go and have the test. He sort of stressed to me that he thought it was important that men of our age should be having this test, at least every twelve months. And I have some history within my family, I certainly know that my grandfather on my father's side died of prostate cancer, that's obviously many, many years ago and also my Uncle, my father's younger brother died, developed prostate cancer, was treated and successfully in his early to, early to mid 70s. So there was some family background of this particular illness. So on my next visit to my GP, I didn't particularly go for that reason, I mentioned it to him that I thought it might wise, what was his advice about me having the test and that I did notice there was some reluctance from the doctor that the test was even necessary. I had no symptoms as far as I was aware and he obviously asked me questions, I had no symptoms but I think he could see that I was perhaps determined to have it, if only for some peace of mind. So he agreed to give me the test which is only basically taking a sample of blood and it's sent away for analysis. He explained to me that sometimes the test, the result can be a little bit, well what he said sometimes the results could show that there might be some abnormality but then in effect it could turn out that there isn't so he said it wasn't altogether accurate. So but anyway I decided I would have it, a blood sample was taken and a couple of weeks later I got a letter from the doctor to say everything was fine. 

And as I said I would be about may be 50, 51 when I had that test and since then I've had a further test, probably eight or nine months ago, round about the end of 2004. On that occasion I actually saw the practice nurse and explained that I'd had the press, the test perhaps two years earlier and could I have another. She said she would have to speak to the doctor about it but she very quickly did that and we, we, she took the test, took the blood sample the same day and again I rang into the doctors some weeks later to find that the test was clear.
 

He got the result of his PSA test by phoning the receptionist at his local surgery, who said it was normal.

And did you have to wait long for the results?

No, I was told to ring in within the next fortnight. While I was there, I mean I didn't only have the sample of blood I had a full, a full medical as it were, they took a sample of blood for liver function and you know they did all the normal things that they do on a health check, blood pressure etc etc they check for diabetes and a thousand and one other things. So it was all part and parcel of going for that sort of once, once yearly or once every two-year test just to check on your health. I have good health, I don't, you know I have no worries about my health but I just feel it's important to.

And did you get the results over the telephone then?

Yes I did I spoke with one of the receptionists and I told her the reason for my call and she didn't quote me any facts or figures she just said, 'There is nothing, nothing untoward with, you know with your blood sample.' So...

Did you ever ask for details of the level of the PSA?

I didn't no, I didn't I was, I was satisfied with what she said to me.