Routine cancer screening is a mixed bag. On the plus side, it can catch the disease early. On the downside it can cause unnecessary anxiety and pointless biopsies following false positives. I make no judgment on an individual’s choice here – it is up to each of us to weigh the benefits for ourselves. However, for prostate cancer all we have is the PSA test.
Prostate cancer deaths could be significantly reduced if men were routinely screened for the disease, a study suggests.
Screening men using a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test was found to slash cases of advanced diagnosis by 11 per cent, a US study found.
Experts say it shows that widespread screening can help to detect the cancer earlier, giving men a better chance of survival.
Before we all go and rush to get ourselves tested…
The findings are likely to reignite debate over whether men should be routinely given the test, which doctors widely agree is not accurate enough to use for screening.
Therein lies the problem. Over the course of the years, I’ve been tested to make sure that what I was suffering was BPH and not cancer, with my antigen levels being normal on each occasion. The antigen test doesn’t really tell if you have cancer and it doesn’t really tell if you don’t. Raised antigen levels might be an indicator, prompting further exploration. On the other hand, they might not. Normal results don’t mean that you don’t have cancer.
It remains controversial in the US, leading to some men unnecessarily being given aggressive treatments with harmful side effects when they do not have a life-threatening cancer.
And that’s the problem. So I’d say that it’s too soon for this. But if you feel differently, then by all means get tested.
Used to have a poop test every two years until I cleared 70. The thinking is,I believe that it metastasizes so slowly with age that you’ll pop your clogs from something else beforehand.
A routine blood test revealed a high PSA reading, but I was told that there are false positives and false negatives. It took a digital examination, a scan, and a biopsy to confirm that I did have prostate cancer. Hormone therapy, which reduced the PSA, and now the radiotherapy I’m currently undergoing will, hopefully resolve the problem. If you’re male, and over 50, it’s worth asking for a simple blood test. It can be amazing what you could discover.
I had a similar experience. High PSA result, Finger Up The Bum by my GP, FUTB by the hospital doctor, neither were convinced that my prostate was normal. MRI scan showed anomalies and biopsy confirmed that it was cancer.
Hormone treatment and radiotherapy appear to have been successful. I had a PSA test two weeks ago, which was low and I got the all-clear from the consultant last week.
Good luck with your treatment.
After a routine check with a finger up the bum 4 years ago, I was referred to have an MRI scan. The following PSA test revealed likely PS following which a biopsy with LOCAL Anaesthetic (OOw, Ouch, help) confirmed it. I was then put on some medication which lowers my Testosterone levels to almost nothing which I was told would slow or halt the Cancer progress. (seems to have worked – so far). Since then I am now Impotent with No Libido. Dont know which is worse, No sex Drive …. or Cancer. Frankly I wish I was dead !
My doctor was of your opinion, Longy. Said it wasn’t worth it; too inaccurate.
Clive,
Your viewpoint may depend on your age. I’m in my late 70’s, a widower for 5 years, and not looking for a new relationship, so the lack of a libido doesn’t bother me that much. However, I have children, and grandchildren I want to see grow up and follow their dreams – perhaps even an invite to their weddings or christenings to their new born and enjoy the pleasure of the occasions. Plus, once the radiotherapy has finished, countries to visit, to taste their wines and spirits, and converse with the locals. I have no sex drive, but I’m far from dead, cough, cough.