I agree with you there Jenny_Aster. My husband died because of it, not with it. Poor care came into it too but I won't go down that path. Men's diseases need eradicating just as importantly as womens do.
The prostate cancer stats are quite shocking. After a certain age (75ish I think) men are told they're very likely to die with it or from it. 140 cases diagnosed every day, 32 deaths every day but the treatments do seem to be improving. My FIL had radiotherapy for his a few years back and is all clear so far.
I've heard that male scientists seem desperate to prove that sex twice a day can reduce the risk of prostate cancer though. You don't see anti-maskers protesting against action like that for some reason.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
The prostate cancer stats are quite shocking. After a certain age (75ish I think) men are told they're very likely to die with it or from it. 140 cases diagnosed every day, 32 deaths every day but the treatments do seem to be improving. My FIL had radiotherapy for his a few years back and is all clear so far.
I've heard that male scientists seem desperate to prove that sex twice a day can reduce the risk of prostate cancer though. You don't see anti-maskers protesting against action like that for some reason.
There's no reason for any man to die from prostate cancer. Its one of the most preventable cancers there is if caught early.
Unfortunately there's no regular campaign to advise men to have a Wellman check once every two years or less once they reach the age of 50. This check includes a blood test known as a Prostate Specific Antigen test (PSA) which measures the level of PSA in the blood. Elevated levels of PSA can indicate the presence of cancer in the prostate. Its currently the only test in use for Prostate cancer I'm aware of.
Early detection almost eliminates the cancer and the risk or reoccurrence. My friend who always had a Wellman 19 years ago had raised PSA levels and was quickly treated and there's been no sign of it since. Since the day he told me I've gone for a Wellman check every 18 months, now I'm retired I have one every year.
My advice to you all if you know of any men over 50 please encourage them to go for a Wellman which includes a PSA blood test every two years or less. Where all going to pass eventually , but we don't need to from a preventable diseases.
Update: I've just come across this article when searching from a paper I wouldn't normally read or quote, but in this case I think the information provided looks to be valid and hopeful.
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
I'm all for getting whatever health checks they should have, but as far as I know the wellman checks aren't routinely offered around here - my OH (aged 60) hasn't been invited for one. Maintaining the curmudgeonly theme, I suspect that if everyone took up all the checks they're entitled to and pushed for the ones that they don't get invited for, there wouldn't be enough capacity.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Most urologists I know would not have a PSA done, it leads to far too many invasive procedures that are not necessary.
@punkdoc I'm not qualified to disagree with you or the urologists you know. What I would consider is that had my friend not had a PSA blood test its unlikely he would be here today. After further testing Prostate cancer was confirmed in him and he was treated. He was approx. 52 years of age at the time and he's now 72. Would he be with us today had he not had that test!
As a PSA test is the only test available at this time I'll continue to have it. The "invasive procedures" would have to be considered by the individual at the time of diagnosis in discussion with the Urologist. That said the link I provided gives hope of a better path to confirming the presence of cancer . Lets hope for all our sakes it pans out.
Anyone concerned about PSA testing there's some useful information from Macmillian cancer support on this subject. Watching the video at this link is very helpful in understanding as its explained by a Urologist from King Georges Hospital
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
My understanding is that the current gold standard investigation for prostate cancer is an MRI, following a high PSA finding? The ‘invasive procedure’ ie biopsy, is pretty unpleasant, according to OH, and can easily miss picking up a positive sample. If OH needs any further investigations in the future, we’ll definitely look at getting an MRI done privately, if he isn’t offered one, or has to wait for ever for one. There is such a lot of evidence of false positives with PSA, that compared to breast screening, it’s a pretty feeble test. Better to spend funding on more accurate ways of testing, than using a screening method that doesn’t meet the criteria for success.
Posts
Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
@wild edges
There's no reason for any man to die from prostate cancer. Its one of the most preventable cancers there is if caught early.
Unfortunately there's no regular campaign to advise men to have a Wellman check once every two years or less once they reach the age of 50. This check includes a blood test known as a Prostate Specific Antigen test (PSA) which measures the level of PSA in the blood. Elevated levels of PSA can indicate the presence of cancer in the prostate. Its currently the only test in use for Prostate cancer I'm aware of.
Early detection almost eliminates the cancer and the risk or reoccurrence. My friend who always had a Wellman 19 years ago had raised PSA levels and was quickly treated and there's been no sign of it since. Since the day he told me I've gone for a Wellman check every 18 months, now I'm retired I have one every year.
My advice to you all if you know of any men over 50 please encourage them to go for a Wellman which includes a PSA blood test every two years or less. Where all going to pass eventually , but we don't need to from a preventable diseases.
Update: I've just come across this article when searching from a paper I wouldn't normally read or quote, but in this case I think the information provided looks to be valid and hopeful.
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw'
Most urologists I know would not have a PSA done, it leads to far too many invasive procedures that are not necessary.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
@punkdoc
I'm not qualified to disagree with you or the urologists you know.
What I would consider is that had my friend not had a PSA blood test its unlikely he would be here today. After further testing Prostate cancer was confirmed in him and he was treated. He was approx. 52 years of age at the time and he's now 72. Would he be with us today had he not had that test!
As a PSA test is the only test available at this time I'll continue to have it. The "invasive procedures" would have to be considered by the individual at the time of diagnosis in discussion with the Urologist.
That said the link I provided gives hope of a better path to confirming the presence of cancer . Lets hope for all our sakes it pans out.
Anyone concerned about PSA testing there's some useful information from Macmillian cancer support on this subject. Watching the video at this link is very helpful in understanding as its explained by a Urologist from King Georges Hospital
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw'
There is such a lot of evidence of false positives with PSA, that compared to breast screening, it’s a pretty feeble test. Better to spend funding on more accurate ways of testing, than using a screening method that doesn’t meet the criteria for success.