PSA Tests

[Lou Girardin]

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]

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]

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!

[SixPackBack]

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

[Sniper]

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

[ManDownUnder]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

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

[SixPackBack]

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

[Keystone19]

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

Ooh, that sounds friendly...

[James Deuce]

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]

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. John.