PSA Tests [Archive] - Kiwi Biker forums

Lou Girardin

25th October 2005, 13:42

There was an item on prostate cancer on TV last night. Now this is something close to my heart at the moment (or 300 mm further south anyway)
It seems The Health Dept considers that screening programs, early detection, wide publicity, etc are all not necessary for this disease even though it kills 600 NZ men a year, or about the same number of women dying of breast cancer.
One of their reasons is that the PSA test can produce false positives which can make men anxious, poor fragile dears that we are.
Well I had a false positive recently and it really shook me to my boots. It was a bit of a fluke that I had the test in the first place. But I'm damn sure that 2 weeks of worry is far better than 5 years of blissful ignorance until you start pissing blood and a Doctor tells you that you've got 2 years to live.
All the specialists were saying that early diagnosis and detection will save at least 200 lives a year, so why isn't it being done.
Or don't men matter in this matriarchy.
One thing's for sure, all KB'ers of a certain age should be getting tested every year. Better safe than sorry.

ManDownUnder

25th October 2005, 13:49

To me it was a simple equation.

600 men die every year from this thing, but they advocate not testing for it.

To quote buggie...

Wha???

Phurrball

25th October 2005, 13:52

I agree with your sentiments Lou - 'tis all too easy for menfolk to exhibit ostrich behavior until it is too late...

There was some coverage on National Radio a day or two ago about Australia's 'Grow a mo' to save a bro' campaign to promote prostate cancer awareness.

A little different to the (equally meritorious) Pink Ribbon campaign, but a clever concept anyway. Basic premise involves growing a mo' as a 'badge' of support and to increase awareness coupled with a fund-raising campaign I assume.

C'mon - we all want an excuse to grow a mo' for a good cause (and a cause for which we can legitimately fend off the objections of the 'fairer' gender...for a while...)

I reckon this would be a goer in NZ...Imagine the fun posting mid-mo' growth shots on KB! :devil2:

SixPackBack

25th October 2005, 13:53

At what age does one need testing, and just as importantly exactly what does the test involve *getting nervous*

Sniper

25th October 2005, 13:55

I don't fancy the idea of anyone fingering my rectum!

ManDownUnder

25th October 2005, 13:56

Ooooooo lookie lookie.. after the cabinet reshuffle...

Pete Hodgson becomes Minister of Health and retains Land Information.

And his email address is phodgson@ministers.govt.nz

Phone: 04 470 6558
Fax: 04 495 8449

Dear Pete...

As a guy I'm sure you'd be aware of the dangers of your ol' fella not being up to the job so to speak. Not nice - but what if a givernment official had told you not to worry - just hope you won't be one of them that dies.

I know boobs is nice and can see why they get to suck the public tit as it were, but I still have to admit I think this death thing needs some serious thought, and possibly even a little support (unless Helens took your prostate out as part of the Labour Party emasculation process)..

Your thoughts?

Lots of love
ManDownUnder - (an appropriate handle don't you think?)

Keystone19

25th October 2005, 13:58

At what age does one need testing, and just as importantly exactly what does the test involve *getting nervous*

Current advocates for PSA screening suggest all men over the age of 40 should have a PSA screening test. However, the other school of thought suggests that the PSA screening test as Lou rightly points out, has a high false positive rate therefore it does not reach the specificity required to warrant a population screening programme.

However, any good general practitioner or nurse practitioner should be undertaking screening of all men over 40 by asking questions around potential risk for prostate cancer. If any risk is identified then the person should have a PSA test. Questions should include difficulty urinating, family history, sexual dysfunction etc.

ManDownUnder

25th October 2005, 14:00

Actually - here's what I DID send...

===
Minister,
I'm concerned about the programme presented last night (24/10/05) on 20/20 where it highlighted the number of deaths attributable to prostate cancer as similar, if not slightly higher than those of breast cancer, and yet the advice is to NOT test or screen for it.

On the face of it

600+ men in New Zealand die every year as a result of prostate cancer going undiagnosed until it's too late

The Department of Health advises to not test as the number of false positives it will cause undue concern

Nothing personal, but I'd rather be worried 10 times over than dead just once. I'm sure my family feels the same way.

Please advise your thoughts and plans on the subject.

Regards

ManDownUnder

25th October 2005, 14:03

Current advocates for PSA screening suggest all men over the age of 40 should have a PSA screening test. However, the other school of thought suggests that the PSA screening test as Lou rightly points out, has a high false positive rate therefore it does not reach the specificity required to warrant a population screening programme.

However, any good general practitioner or nurse practitioner should be undertaking screening of all men over 40 by asking questions around potential risk for prostate cancer. If any risk is identified then the person should have a PSA test. Questions should include difficulty urinating, family history, sexual dysfunction etc.

Dunno what the PSA test is (is that the blood test) but I had the finger up your bum test a while ago... and it's NOTHING.

No biggie... take the nike approach - just do it

Keystone19

25th October 2005, 14:13

Dunno what the PSA test is (is that the blood test) but I had the finger up your bum test a while ago... and it's NOTHING.

No biggie... take the nike approach - just do it

Umm, don't think I need that, thanks.

ManDownUnder

25th October 2005, 14:15

Umm, don't think I need that, thanks.

it's ok - you'll get your come uppance

SixPackBack

25th October 2005, 14:18

Dunno what the PSA test is (is that the blood test) but I had the finger up your bum test a while ago... and it's NOTHING.

No biggie... take the nike approach - just do it

May persuade the nurse to examine, my doctor has digit's the size of havana cigars:crybaby:

Keystone19

25th October 2005, 14:19

it's ok - you'll get your come uppance

Ooh, that sounds friendly...

James Deuce

25th October 2005, 14:21

I don't fancy the idea of anyone fingering my rectum!

Get over it or die, or wake up to go to the loo every 30 mins all night from the age of 60 on because of your untreated enlarged prostate jamming off your urethra.

There's no screening for men, because there is no entrenched Government funded advocacy of any description at all for men.

Plus we're all bastards who all rape women, oppress them, beat them, abuse them, exploit them, and leer at them. So we deserve it for that and all the past sins of our ancestral brethren.

Or so I've been told on this very site.

oldrider

25th October 2005, 14:37

At what age does one need testing, and just as importantly exactly what does the test involve *getting nervous*
Mrs O/R insisted that I go for a check. While waiting at the quacks an older guy came in. Started chatting and he said he had had a "Prostrate operation" so I asked him what the test was. He explained. I said fuck that and went home. Mrs O/R is still vexed but at least I don't walk funny. It's just not seemly surely they could train lady doctors for that job. I'd probably go every week then. :doctor: John.

Keystone19

25th October 2005, 14:54

Mrs O/R insisted that I go for a check. While waiting at the quacks an older guy came in. Started chatting and he said he had had a "Prostrate operation" so I asked him what the test was. He explained. I said fuck that and went home. Mrs O/R is still vexed but at least I don't walk funny. It's just not seemly surely they could train lady doctors for that job. I'd probably go every week then. :doctor: John.

Harden up.

If women have to go through cervical smears every three years (sometimes more frequently) you fellas can cope with someone sticking their finger up your rear end.

ManDownUnder

25th October 2005, 14:55

Ooh, that sounds friendly...

LOL doesn't it though?

For a change - I'm happy to keep this one on topic... dammit...

kerryg

25th October 2005, 14:58

What I heard is that many men have got a prostate problem if they live a long life. Do a post-mortem on an 80 year old who died of a stroke and there's a good chance he's got prostate cancer. If screening picks up a prostate problem in a 40 or 50 year old, chances are he would have died of something else anyway by the time it became a problem. Early diagnosis leading to early treatment of prostate cancer brings a high risk of impotence and/or incontinence, raised levels of anxiety and loss of quality of life in exchange for a small statistical possibility of a greater length of life. If you've got symptoms (difficult to pee, peeing often etc) go get it checked but if you don't have symptoms leave it alone. That's the logic. It isn't without a downside of course, but that's pretty much true of everything.

SPman

25th October 2005, 16:06

I had a false positive, beginning of this year as well!
I'm with Lou on this one.

Lou Girardin

26th October 2005, 08:52

Current advocates for PSA screening suggest all men over the age of 40 should have a PSA screening test. However, the other school of thought suggests that the PSA screening test as Lou rightly points out, has a high false positive rate therefore it does not reach the specificity required to warrant a population screening programme.

However, any good general practitioner or nurse practitioner should be undertaking screening of all men over 40 by asking questions around potential risk for prostate cancer. If any risk is identified then the person should have a PSA test. Questions should include difficulty urinating, family history, sexual dysfunction etc.

You're right and wrong. Initial prostate problems can be asymptomatic. Which is why we need a yearly screening program.

And yes, it's is humiliating getting the finger as it were, but being a cancer riddled shell waiting to die is worse.
Get that test done John, at least get the PSA test.

mstriumph

27th October 2005, 01:31

.................Plus we're all bastards who all rape women, oppress them, beat them, abuse them, exploit them, and leer at them. So we deserve it for that and all the past sins of our ancestral brethren.

Or so I've been told on this very site.

c/mon mate - not by me, and not by most of the bikers-of-female-persuasion on kb surely????

life is too short to get offended by an insignificant and unrepresentative minority, surely?

thehollowmen

27th October 2005, 08:45

I don't fancy the idea of anyone fingering my rectum!
PSA (prostate specific antigen) is a blood test, performed on serum (so a yellow top or red top tube)
performed in biochemistry department on an automated machine.

nothing to do with your rectum unless you're an druggie and that's where your only veins are.

crashe

27th October 2005, 08:57

For goodness sake you men are right wimps.....

Harden up and have the test done. It will save your life.

Women not only have smear tests done every 2 to 3 years... depending on what is found. Some have it done yearly.
But they also have to have their breasts squashed real hard when they get a mammogram done.

You lads don't know what pain is.

Would you rather die, cos you didnt want someone to check you out cos you were having trouble piddling etc. Plus a finger up your butt is a hell of a lot smaller in circumfrance (sp) that what you shit out.

If you don't want a male doctor touching you then get the nurse to do it...

Don't you want to see your children grow up and also see your grandchildren grow up...? So have the test done and stop being a flaming wimp.

But get over yourselves.... no wonder why women are the stronger sex.... and men are the weaker sex... You aint got the balls to make sure that you life longer.

ManDownUnder

27th October 2005, 10:37

But get over yourselves.... no wonder why women are the stronger sex.... and men are weak...

uh huh...

today's not "make a friend day" is it?

Lou Girardin

27th October 2005, 11:35

PSA (prostate specific antigen) is a blood test, performed on serum (so a yellow top or red top tube)
performed in biochemistry department on an automated machine.

nothing to do with your rectum unless you're an druggie and that's where your only veins are.

The DRE is done in response to a abnormal PSA test. Although some doctors seem only too eager to do it first. :doctor:

Lou Girardin

27th October 2005, 11:36

..

Harden up and have the test done. It will save your life.

r.

Hardening up is probably why they're scared of the test.

oldrider

21st November 2005, 21:25

As a result of an "incident" back in the early sixties I ended up as a guest of the Panamanian Government and was sent to an American army base hospital.

The doctor gave me a complete check up including the finger inspection for which I was highly indignant but too late with my protestations, it was done! Surprise!! Oouch!! (Women have got it so easy.) :blip:

Why was I so indignant? I had a broken jaw for god's sake! Figure that one out.
After I complained he did blood test pricks on "all" my fingers and they were as sore as hell for days. Nasty bastard.:thud:

Cheers John.

scumdog

21st November 2005, 21:36

John, just get it done, I'd hate to miss the chance to catch up with you at the next rally (need SOMEBODY older than I there!!).

Swoop

22nd November 2005, 10:00

Get one done for free...

Next time you come back into the country and the customs orrificer says "anything to declare?" simply reply "yes - fuck you're ugly"!

Slight cringe at the sound of rubber glove being snapped

Lou Girardin

22nd November 2005, 10:28