More men need prostate cancer testing

Note: The contents of this blog are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or substitute for professional care. For medical emergencies, dial 911!

More men need prostate cancer testing

Posted Sep 13th 2007 2:13PM by Brian White
Filed under: Prostate Cancer

In Canada, health officials are wanting more men in the high-risk group (most likely, middle aged) to get screened for prostate cancer. Why? Well, only two in every five men in that country from within that group apparently have tested for prostate cancer in the past year. That's just too low.

An astounding 39 percent (only) of men over the age of 45 have taken blood tests to measure the prostate specific antigen levels, with only 33 percent having undergone a digital rectal exam.

In other words, there could be a lot more undiagnosed prostate problems under development with such a low amount of high-risk men being tested.

Tags: cencer, prostarte, screening

Reader Comments

(Page 1)

1. Gee, isn't this the truth! The PSA test, although controversial, saved my life. On the DRE, my prostate felt as smooth as a baby's butt, but my PSA was rising.

I even write about it on my own prostate cancer blog: http://www.nubella.com/content/blogsection/108/8050/

Posted at 4:13PM on Sep 21st 2007 by Steve

2. As a survivor of prostate cancer I agree fully that early detection is critical. It saved my life! http://www.chuckgallagher.com

However, while Fogelberg had said that men over 50 should be checked - I will respectfully disagree. Men over 40 should be checked!

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer by accident at age 47. I had no symptoms - none what so ever. The PSA test was something that my doctor did when I had routine blood work done - something that I avoided as I have a fear of needles.

I received a call saying that all the blood work was fine - except that my PSA was a little high - 4.58. Now, frankly that meant nothing to me, but I followed orders and visited a urologist. After a routine DRE (digital rectal exam) I was told that there was probably nothing to worry about, but that a biopsy would be in order just to make sure.

The results from the biopsy proved that I had early stages of prostate cancer.

After considering several treatments: Traditional Surgery, Radiation, Proton Radiation, HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) - I elected to have robotic surgery using the DaVinci system.

Outcome: The cancer was contained in the prostate (a benefit of early detection); the prostate was removed; in four weeks I had transferred from NC to Texas for a new job; there have been no side effects - urinary function is controllable and normal as is erectile function.

While for some this might be too personal…I find that living is personal and something that can be cured with early detection is worth personal comments.

For those with prostate cancer (know that I am not a doctor), I am willing to talk in person, via e-mail or use this blog to help others. Feel free to share your comments as the more young men (and I consider 40’s to be young) know about the benefits of early detection the more lives will be saved.

Posted at 10:13PM on Dec 20th 2007 by Chuck Gallagher

3. http://mattshultz.wordpress.com/2008/04/03/prostate-cancer-patients-need-your-help/

Posted at 8:17PM on Apr 3rd 2008 by Matt

Add your comments

Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.

To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.



Lower speed limit movement spreading as John Warner jumps aboard DOE Expands International Effort to Develop Fuel-Efficient Trucks Maxwell will supply ultracaps for Milan's electric buses Mitsubishi launches iMiEV micro-site Episcopal school converts Toyota Subscribe with My AOL, MyYahoo or Bloglines	Prepare to Enter 'Quarantine' A Week Earlier Will 'Repo!' Face Off Against James Bond? Acclaimed Indie 'Ballast' Goes the Self-Distribution Route Kevin Smith Releases a Shot of Zack & Miri's Supporting Cast Casting Rumors for Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland' Subscribe with My AOL, MyYahoo or Bloglines
Earnings highlights: BP, Discover, Corel, Citigroup, WD-40, MSCI and others Is Merrill shopping its Bloomberg stake? Florida coast shows promise for oil drilling Lady Luck deserts gambling stocks Comfort Zone Investing: Keep your recovery expectations real Subscribe with My AOL, MyYahoo or Bloglines	Thin doesn't equal happy The truth about "reduced sugar" When to toss household items Serotonin may play a role in SIDS What happens when you get a sunburn Subscribe with My AOL, MyYahoo or Bloglines
Photo of the Day (07.05.08) Amsterdam's Schiphol International Airport tries self-service luggage check-ins The Slowest Train in The World Brief California U.S. Highway 1 report Whale sharks and stingrays in the Gulf of Mexico Subscribe with My AOL, MyYahoo or Bloglines	What's On Tonight: Sprint Cup, Tour de France, Bleach What's really real in Swingtown? NBC is now telling you to "chime in" Saturday Morning: U.S. of Archie - VIDEOS Hawkeye and Trapper, together again - VIDEOS Subscribe with My AOL, MyYahoo or Bloglines
What's affinage and who's the affineur? Where do your favorite chefs like to eat? Champagne aimed at patriotic Americans The Toronto Star in 60 seconds: Mens' club kitchens to IPA Felted ice cream and clay cake Subscribe with My AOL, MyYahoo or Bloglines	Dissolution of Mercedes-McLaren partnership confirmed Forbes lists top 10 family cars Spy Shots: 2011 BMW 5 Series Weak June has Toyota reviewing U.S. ops Tension off-camera? Top Gear pay dustup rumored Subscribe with My AOL, MyYahoo or Bloglines