Hi everyone, I hope you all had a great Christmas and lots of lovely gardening pressies. This isn't about gardening but I hope you can all help. I saw this on another forum and I never realised men don't have routine screening for this type of cancer. If it can help our sons, husbands and menfolk it is something that should be done, men will probably go if they have a letter, sorry guys but you really don't take care of yourselves without a gentle hint. Dan I hope you don't mind me putting this petition on here, if it saves just one life its got to be worth it. Here is the post and petition url.
Hi,
16 months ago I was diagnosed with aggresive prostate cancer aged 54 via a routine blood test (PSA) via my GP, I had no symptoms and was lucky(ish). I advised my friends to have a PSA test and all were told by their doctor that as they had experienced no symptoms (problems with water works) it was not necessary. Most men with early prostate cancer have no symptoms at all, it is only when the tumor has grown that symptoms are experienced.
Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer in the UK, accounting for almost a quarter of male cancers. Each year, nearly 32,000 men in the UK are diagnosed and more than 10,000 die from the disease. Currently in the UK there are no routine screening programmes for prostate cancer.
I am supporting the following petiton on the Prime Minister's on-line Number 10 web site to raise awareness of protsate cancer.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/testpsa/
Thanks everyone and a happy new year to you all.x
Done!!
Thanks Rosebud
Ray gets this done, don't know if it's because his dad has it :-\
anyway, done
Likewise BW, just had a scare so happy to sign.
It's a pity there isn't routine screening for men for this, similar to breast screening for women.
Prostate cancer is one of the biggest killers of males in the UK. You should be lobbying your MPs for similar treatment for men as women.
All the test entails is a blood test and a finger up the bum (by your GP I should hasten to add ;D).
As with any form of cancer, the earlier it is diagnosed the more treatable it is.
valmarg
Thank you I've heard the test cost £10 so its something the NHS could afford, if they can do screening for women they should for men to.
Sorry val, but OH's tests were free.
valmarg
I was sent a test kit (5 bum smears over 5 days) by NHS when I was 60 and got very quick "all clear" feedback. I thought all 60 year-old men got this now?
Done x
hopalong, that test is for blood in the stools, I think for colon cancer,
Quote from: manicscousers on December 30, 2008, 18:52:00
hopalong, that test is for blood in the stools, I think for colon cancer,
Yes, it was a bowel cancer test. Another senior moment!
I know what you mean, no cure for it ;D ;D
Just added my name to the list.
Thanks everyone I knew to rally support ask a gardener. I can't understand why the government offer screening for women and not men, I thought they preached sexual equality, seems some are more equal than others. No wonder women live longer, well I for one don't want to live longer on my own.
Thanks for posting this Val - signed up & I'm passing it on 8)
Lishka
I appreciate the sentiment, but I think asking for screening at 40 is a bit optimistic when screening for breat cancer only starts at 50 (if you're lucky!) and bowel cancer at 60 and they are both big killers too.
Prostate cancer is a weird one. It's the only malignant tumour that can just sit there for decades doing nothing. 80% of men aged 80 have it. Most will never know for sure, and will pop off due to old age or something else. PSA testing is notoriously unreliable. About the only good thing about it is that if you have a test early in life, you can establish a baseline for you (as everyone's different) and then if it changes, your GP can decide if to take action.
A lot of consultants think men are better off with no treatment. Actually treating for localised disease which would not progress very fast if left alone can be many times worse for the patient both mentally and physically than the disease, leading to all sorts of unpleasant side effects. Screening would probably turn up lots of cancers which would worry a lot of men (leading to stress-related illnesses/depression) who would be happier if they didn't know and whose cancer would never kill them! So it's a double-edged sword. So, most prostate cancer treatment these days starts with watchful waiting, ie to see if it is aggressive, and only going to full swing if it is.
However, none of this applies to any other cancer, for which fast, reliable diagnosis and treatment is essential for the best outcome.
moonbells (with her cancer research day job hat on)
Those were my thoughts, moonbells- just wasn't sure enough of my facts, so thanks for clarifying!
I have signed the petition.
My brother had prostate cancer six years ago and, fortunately, he has now been declared 100% cured. He lives in the USA and it was caught early through a routine blood test.
Apparently, government funding for prostate cancer awareness and treatments is less than 10% compared to that for women's breast cancer. Not sure of the exact figures though.
I have waited for Moonbells' definitive reply because, although I've had 2 years of consultants & tests, I could not have put it better. I may have more information in a couple of weeks.
What I have not yet established is a typical base figure. All I do know is that, if you start at 7 & the next test is 7.1, you are fairly happy - given one's age - despite a DRE being positive. But when the next is 9 you get a bit uncomfortable! But maybe this is child's play? And the Consultant advises no more tests.
So then I think keep up with the Scotch & go like Sandy Denny. Then I re-think - but what about the Pension - & the Garden ..........??
Que sera, sera?? Be kind, be grateful for what has been, check your Will & get your filing system up-to-date??
Great news, Pauline.
= Tim
Done.
Vony.
The more we can do to raise awareness of this problem the better. Women seem to be more diligent regarding breast cancer than men do with testicular cancer.
My Uncle was diagnosed with Prostate cancer in2008. He has a count of 11 what ever that means. A count of 10 or less means that he can be treated with certain drugs which are not so aggessive so he is on the cuspe. Anyway it seems he has had cancer for 2 years without any symptoms at all thats why it's called the silent killer. My uncle is 63 and i am 51 i asked for a test for prostate cancer but my practice nurse told me that i showed no symptoms rarther a contradiction. I will now insist for a test via my doctor and state it in writing the date and details i have made the request.
daviesfozzie, you do not ask, you 'demand' the tests for prostate cancer. It is your right. If your practice is a bit iffy on providing the tests, then you should seek a second opinion.
valmarg
signed, you all got my worried now my dad died a few years ago of prostate cancer after they told him there was no need for an opp, i'm 44 maybe i should think about having a test done.
I don't want to worry anyone, I just think if the test was done on a routine basis like breast cancer is, then I'm sure it would put folks mind at rest, I haven't a clue about test results but like cholesterol levels anything over a certain figure could be monitored ? Thank you everyone for your support in this, they've made the target for the petition to go through but the more sigs the better.Have a great new year folks, happy gardening, I hear this summer is going to be a hot one, so get your water butts ready. Although how they can tell beats me.
My OH has had Prostate Cancer. This was 8 years ago. His diagnosis was picked up by the rising PSA levels. He originally went to the Doc about 10 yrs ago with low tummy pain. The PSA tests started then and eventually he was referred to a Urologist when biopsies,, scans etcs were taken to establish where the Cancer was within the prostate. Becuase he was young (54) an operation was carried out and touch wood he has remained fine since. He has an annual PSA check and should that figure move from 0 or 0.1 then we start to worry again. However, as Moonbells has said everyone is different. Some men can have a high PSA level but not have Cancer. The Surgeon believed my OH took this cancer because it was genetic with his mother having had Breast Cancer. Its just the luck of the draw.
I signed the petition.