NON SUPPORT FOR PCa TESTING

"No major scientific or medical organizations, including the American Cancer Society (ACS), American Urological Association (AUA), US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), American College of Physicians (ACP), National Cancer Institute (NCI), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) support routine testing for prostate cancer at this time."

This is a quote taken from an update (July 30, 2009) on the American Cancer Society website titled "Can Prostate Cancer Be Found Early?"

this is the link:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_3x_can_prostate_cancer_be_found_early_36.asp

I just found it this morning while doing a little research about testing. I have read it 3 times and the ramifications of this either elude me or scare the hell out me for others that will follow the path that we are all on.

I sure would welcome some other views and opinions on this. It sure seems to speak volumes to me about the lack of support for PCa awareness and the call for testing.

Sonny

Mavica,

You a make a good point. I think it is a really strong point that needs to get out that "WE" as individuals, have to take a much stronger role in our health and well being.

It just seems to me that it makes it a little more difficult when organizations like this say they do not support the testing and establishment of baselines.

When most guys find us here at HW they are already diagnosed and at a point when some sort of action needs to be taken. Finding out things a little earlier because of pro-active involvement seems to open a whole other set of alternatives.

Thanks for the input.

Sonny

All I can figure is that the organizations against routine testing feel that the tests may lead to unnecessary treatment. I understand that some PCa is slow-growing and may not ever get to the point of being life-threatening, but there is clearly some PCa that is very aggressive and needs to be treated promptly. I would like to know more, and make my own decisions, than know less and count on the percentages to break my way.

At the PCRI event this past weekend, nobody was in agreement with Otis Brawley and the ACS.  We generally viewed his constant interviewing on TV to be a counter productive poison.

Here are some facts:
The AUA does call for anual testing generally.  But they do when there are risk factors involved.  The AUA recently released a new call for PSA baseline tests at the age of 40 for all men and 35 for those with high risk factors.
USPSTF ~ This wonderful group is responsible for the recommendation about a year and a half ago that doctors stop testing men over 75.  This caused quite a stir that the advocacy groups looked into the panel ~ There were no urologists, no prostate cancer oncologists, two lawyers, and a large group of folks making recomendations for Medicare.  For me they can say whatever they want, I just won't expect to hear what I think I should.

NCI and ACP ~ They pretty much are inline with the AUA.

AAFP and APCM ~ Who?   None of us need our family practisionors after a diagnosis of prostat cancer anyway....Or Otis Brawley...

Again another poorly researched article...

Tony

 

Purgatory said...
My new radiation oncologist made an interesting observation on her nearing 30 years experience. She said it sure seems like the most agressive cancers seem to be with the younger men and women. With PCa, she said the worse cases she had worked with are men in their 40s and early 50s, and thats why PCa should be treated early and agressively in that age range. Most of the indolent cases she had worked with were men in their mid 60s to 70s. She said she had experienced the same thing with breast cancer in women, with the worse cases being with women in their 20s and 30s.

David in SC

David,

The reason for that is cells divide more rapidly in younger people. Its like when you break a bone: at 20 years old it may take 6 weeks to mend. At 70 years old it may take 12 weeks to mend. Rapid abnormal cell division will result in more aggressive cancers.  

Four years ago, in preparation for my 52 year physical (My first since turning 50) my doc submitted a blood work requisition for me. If he had checked off the PSA box in addition to the usual cholesterol, sugar etc., I might be writing this reply while wearing big boy pants instead of diapers and making hay tonight with my wife rather than Augie. Instead, he followed some lugnut's recommendation and skipped it. I didn't know any better. At age 56 I had my first routine PSA test for life insurance. It was 17+! Thank you Metropolitan Life for saving me - even though you b*stards won't give me insurance.

Hey Docs, if you are drawing blood anyway, tick the box, Please! An early warning might improve the guy's quality of life beyond measure.

Hey Tony,
You know how the local schools have bottle and can drives for the cheerleading team or whatever? How about if we start a drive to save full diaper pads from incontinent PCa survivors that did not get their PSA checked during their 50 year physicals? They could be shipped to the good doc for his study.
Just kidding... I think.
Jeff

I just read in the newspaper today that University Associates of Rochester are offering free prostate cancers screening at their office during September. I don't know what this entails but you can check it out by going to their website uarochester.com

This might be a good opportunity for someone who has a doc that is reluctant to order a PSA.
Jeff
(Full disclosure statement: I have no business interest in UAR)