Questions from Winglets

^^ Yeppers ^^ Don't feed the troll.

winglets said...
This was the main headline on the BBC news website today - www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-42890405

The best take-away from the 1:30 short patient interview: "...it was quite important to not be shy or scared to talk about it [prostate cancer treatment], and so once I had that operation and went through the recovery, people knew what I was going through..."

Good message.



Here's a part I can't explain: The BBC web page which included the video interview also showed steadily increasing PC deaths and steadily decreasing BC deaths until the recent cross-over in about 2014... indicating that now there are more PC deaths than BC deaths in the UK.

That's a different pattern than in the US. Deaths from both PC and BC are decreasing in the US. Furthermore, although our statistics are usually reported in the "per 100,000" rates, but as found HERE (PC) and HERE (BC), the rates crossed-over in the opposite way here in the US in 2009, where the deaths (per 100,000) of BC is now higher than the rates of PC death...because PC deaths have been decreasing at a greater rate than BC deaths.

The US has definitely realized benefits in the form of decreased death rates coming out of the "Golden Age" of advanced PC medications which have extended lives (more men dying from "old age" or other causes even if/when they have advanced PC). What are the demographic dynamics in the UK that result in their PC death stats going in the opposite direction?

Post Edited (NKinney) : 2/2/2018 9:12:31 AM (GMT-7)

winglets said...
Very good questions and I'm not one to ask to be honest but I'm guessing perhaps increased awareness and better treatment options available in the US? Also in the US, you have private health care which makes it easier for men to see a specialist i.e. urologist alot quicker than places like the UK where you'll have to see your GP first and only then, if required, you'll get to see a specialist. So the whole process is slower.

I considered these points—which I had previously understood to be true—in my head before raising the question as an unknown (unexplainable by me). These points you have raised could likely contribute to other cancers or other fast-moving diseases, but not to the notoriously slow-moving prostate cancer. To support that point, note that the survival rate of prostate cancer in the US—completely irrespective of what stage the diagnosis is made in—is incredibly high indicating its slow moving nature; according to data published HERE by the American Cancer Society:

According to the most recent data, when including all stages of prostate cancer:
--The 5-year relative survival rate is 99%
--The 10-year relative survival rate is 98%
--The 15-year relative survival rate is 96%

From my observations and similar observations made by others here at HW/PC, other than Sweden, the US is the place to be diagnosed with PC (tongue in cheek)—especially with the clear recognition that it (PC) is a natural part of aging and a totally ubiquitous disease. The UK's PC data is going the wrong direction. In the US and Sweden (also social medicine, with a stronger push for AS), it's headed in the right direction.

Post Edited (NKinney) : 2/2/2018 11:07:47 AM (GMT-7)

It's not PC you fear, it is the realization that no one (including you) get out of here alive. Some use this as a motivator to go and make positive change around them. Go Live!

OK, the PSA of 0.7 is fine. With every test, there is a +/- that they don't tell you about...call it averaging of the next decimal point or two. In reality, there isn't a lot of difference between 0.7 and 0.6 (0.1 hehe), and lots of things can influence it.

Get another PSA a year from now if you're going to stress about it. Beyond that, go enjoy life and forget about PC for about another 10-15 years. At least.

Note that lots of guys had their first PSA at 55 or 60, with results in the HUNDREDS, and they are doing fine with treatment.

Hi Winglets,
I have exactly same issue as yours. However my random episodes lasts longer. Please respond if you are still here?