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Prostate Cancer Screening

MrTimms

Ken Catchpole (46)
Staff member
What is middle aged?

I am getting older, thankfully I haven't come to a stop yet, but what ages are we talking about when saying middle aged medically?
 

DownsSupporter

Frank Nicholson (4)
What is middle aged?

I am getting older, thankfully I haven't come to a stop yet, but what ages are we talking about when saying middle aged medically?

We are talking about 50 and up ( that includes me) but I also have elected not to undergo annual testing due largely to the false positives the testing throws up and the fact that whilst a percentage of people live with it, a far, far smaller percentage die of it. You are more likely to die with it than of it.

Ill take my chances...a chronic fear of white coats my also have something to do with it
 

Sully

Tim Horan (67)
Staff member
I have a family history of cancer in that region so I have a chance of something happening than most. I have had the PSA test, the Digital exam and the full film crew experience. None of these I found to be to much of a drama. I would recommend the PSA blood test even if it's not too accurate. At least you establish a base line to see if there are any changes and it is a simple as saying to your doctor can you chuck the prostate blood test on the list when they send you for something else. My mother got bowel cancer at 52 and dad has had prostate cancer. They take ten years off te age your parent got cancer and that's when they like to start the digital and colonoscopy exams. Again neither is a big deal except the fasting gets a bit old near the end. I will say that your first meal after the fast is great and once you gets some energy back the clean out almost seems worth it.
 

cyclopath

George Smith (75)
Staff member
Honestly, sifting through the facts and myths surrounding prostate cancer in the popular media would bore most, if not all of you to death and probably not leave you any the wiser. I'm happy to chuck a few bits of info out there.
1 in 10 Aus men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their life.
Approx 3300-3500 die annually in Aus from it (not with it, but because of it). This number is higher than the number of women dying from breast cancer.
A lot of the data behind the "It's a disease men die with ,not of" is very old, and that line has to be taken in that context.
The notion of PSA as a screening tool in and of itself, that is perpetuated in the media often, is very misleading. Like any tool, if used poorly, it gets poor results. If used intelligently, it is extremely useful. There have been studies that demonstrate that PSA is a better screening tool than screening mammography is for breast cancer. Mammography is funded as a government sponsored programme.
Doing a random PSA test as part of a bunch of "routine blood tests", without any real informed consent or discussion is bad medicine, and ought not be endorsed. Offering a man PSA testing, after an informed discussion of the pros and cons, is not. Especially in men with a first degree male relative who has / had prostate cancer, where the risk is DOUBLE that of the general population. 2 first degree male relatives (i.e a father and a brother) and the risk is about 7-fold increased.
We also know more about the predictive value of PSA in younger me (early 40s onwards), especially where the reading lies with respect to the median value for your age.
And all of this should take place in the context of a proper history and examination.
And no, all prostate cancers do not need to be treated, and in fact many are not.
 

mark_s

Chilla Wilson (44)
Honestly, sifting through the facts and myths surrounding prostate cancer in the popular media would bore most, if not all of you to death and probably not leave you any the wiser.

Not if you work in life insurance (which I do). We spend alot of time looking at diagnosis and incidence rates and treatment options for all sorts of medical conditions. Prostrate cancer diagnosis rates based on PSA testing is the one that has us most worried in terms of a risk of a significant increase in diagnosis. Taking off my corporate hat, I will be having the PSA test once I pass the big 40.
 

Sully

Tim Horan (67)
Staff member
Not if you work in life insurance (which I do). We spend alot of time looking at diagnosis and incidence rates and treatment options for all sorts of medical conditions. Prostrate cancer diagnosis rates based on PSA testing is the one that has us most worried in terms of a risk of a significant increase in diagnosis. Taking off my corporate hat, I will be having the PSA test once I pass the big 40.
Well if an life insurance dude is going to do it I'm convinced I'm on the right track.
 

rugbyskier

Ted Thorn (20)
I have annual PSA tests and DREs as I'm the son of a prostate cancer survivor. My paternal grandfather also died with prostate cancer (it wasn't the cause of his death though) so my risk is substantially increased. Fortunately my PSA readings have been extremely low to date.
 

rustycruiser

Billy Sheehan (19)
You want to talk about an awesome genetic predisposition for prostate cancer?

Paternal grandfather died of it aged 52
Maternal grandfather died of it in early 80s (had castration, cancer adjusted and grew)
Dad had his prostate removed at age 60 after palpation and then biopsoy confirmed cancer
Maternal Uncle had his prostate removed at age 61 after palpation and then biopsoy confirmed cancer

Safe to say my brothers and I are screwed. Probably have PIN already at age 35.

BTW, my dad's PSA level was "normal", and he had been getting screened every year. He switched doctors, and the new one palpated the tumor manually. It was then confirmed via a scan, and then biopsy and Gleason scoring.
 

Moses

Simon Poidevin (60)
Staff member
Is PSA some kind of blood test, or a thumb up the bum?

Will get it checked at 40... 5 years and counting
 

Moses

Simon Poidevin (60)
Staff member
What are the arguments against PSA? Cost?

Do they still do thumb up the bum? Hoping not!
 

cyclopath

George Smith (75)
Staff member
Actually, they both count.
Few more bits of info.
1. Most prostate cancers are detected due to PSA testing
2. You can have prostate cancer with a low PSA, and they can be more aggressive cancers that don't secrete as much PSA
3. You can have prostate cancer with a normal DRE, in fact most detected cancers are not palpable on DRE
4. Most cancers DO NOT produce symptoms; prostate related urinary symptoms are mostly related with Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (enlargement) which is common in men from their 50s onwards and is completely separate.
 

Sully

Tim Horan (67)
Staff member
I also had absolutely no problem with the DRE. Doctors do them all the time. And the alternative could be death. PSA is definitely the first test. It doesn't cost anything, doesn't hurt and doesn't take long.


Sent using Tapatalk on a very old phone
 

Baldric

Jim Clark (26)
This is something which you cannot think you are too young to suffer from. Get yourself tested once a year no matter what your age.
 

WorkingClassRugger

David Codey (61)
http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/News/E...05/The-Prostate-Cancer-Quandary.aspx#continue

An important issue for all middle aged men to actively consider. I have chosen not to be tested and wonder whether events such as Movember ultimately help most men. An emotive topic and hopefully an opportunity to critically analyse results of many studies conducted.

While I am a long way off having to consider this procedure, you sentiment in regards as to not having this test seems somewhat fraught with folly. Far be it for me someone who only knows you via a forum on the net trying to influence your judgement as I am sure you have thought this through and have your reasons but having known people who have had prostate cancer or are currently undergoing treatment for it, prevention is always better than a cure and in lieu of this, vigilance is always preferred to ignorance.

Similar to this, I had a blood test to identify whether I have inherited a gene liked to bowel cancer, one that increases my risk by 80%. The earliest you can be tested for this is 25 (my current age). I could choose not to know as a few of my family have but considering knowing this will allow me to maintain a vigilant watch on the condition it will actually dramatically reduce my risk to actually lower than everyone else. Even if it means a yearly colonoscopy and bi-yearly endoscopy. Thanks Mum,:(
 

Moses

Simon Poidevin (60)
Staff member
I had a blood test to identify whether I have inherited a gene liked to bowel cancer, one that increases my risk by 80%. The earliest you can be tested for this is 25 (my current age). I could choose not to know as a few of my family have but considering knowing this will allow me to maintain a vigilant watch on the condition it will actually dramatically reduce my risk to actually lower than everyone else. Even if it means a yearly colonoscopy and bi-yearly endoscopy. Thanks Mum,:(
What was involved in that blood test? I lost a grandfather to colon cancer and a father to lung cancer, think it would be a good one to get.
 

WorkingClassRugger

David Codey (61)
What was involved in that blood test? I lost a grandfather to colon cancer and a father to lung cancer, think it would be a good one to get.

Could be depending on family history. On my mother's side there is a strong history of bowel, colon and stomach cancer that can all stem from a particular mutation in a gene called the HNCCP. Often it can initially rear its ugly head in a completely removed area of the body as it did with my grandmother.

If there's a strong family history of cancer it could very well be worthwhile talking to your doctor about the possibilities. It's just a blood test, though they like to take a bit, and takes a couple of months for results to return (well, in my case).

My mother has inherited the gene and there's a 50/50 chance that I and my three siblings could have assuming that we haven't lucked out and this particular genetic fault has run its course (it often dies out after two generation assuming that the fault began with my great-grandparents or I maintain the strong leaning genetically toward my father as I currently do in looks).
 

Moses

Simon Poidevin (60)
Staff member
Thanks WCR, I'll chat to the doc about a blood test. I'd be worried if you took after your mother in looks, given your avatar..
 
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