It was in the early part of the new year just a few years ago that I was alerted to the evils of Prostate Cancer while listening to BBC Radio 4’s morning programme. Again, this year there was a fresh ‘bash’ at the subject with a strong message for men.
The current UK total of cancer cases stands at around 380,000 cases per year, of that 40,000 are of the ‘Man Disease’ – Prostate Cancer. That is a little above 10% of all cancer cases.
The rough split is Men 53% of cancer cases and Women 47% of cancer cases.
(2018 Statistics).
How often do you see men as advertising targets – NOT BLOODY OFTEN.
It is about time the NHS bucks up and calls men in for testing, as women are for cervical and breast screening.
It is tragic.
Many of you will know of my story, or some of it. The whole is contained in a link below:
The BBC Radio 4 programme had a lady from a leading research charity speaking and later a ‘boffin’ who filled in the details.
There seems to be a ‘post code lottery’ but I believe this more down to reticence on the part of men.
Generally, Scotland has 1 in 3 men who when tested find that it has reached the metastatic stage – Gleason level 3 to 4. In Yorkshire and the North East of England the figure is around 1 in 5. The rest of England and Wales varied towards 1 in 8 in London. The eastern region has the more savvy men!
The cancer charity spokes person said: ‘Men should get a test regularly from around age of 45 and if a known family problem form age 40.’
Caught in the early stages, prostate cancer is highly treatable – specialist used the word curable…
Early stage treatment is often by drugs alone.
The specialist said that the biggest problem rests with GP practices. They do not like invasive testing. Been there! Christobel was in tears at this point…
Both guests said that although the NHS and other cancer web sites give a list of symptoms, however, it is more often than not men who have no symptoms who have the greater level of cancer when finally tested.
I had no symptoms, just a gut feeling. The information needs changing…
Now: the first test is a simple test of a blood sample – this should be offered (done) when one is called for blood tests or for any other test as a matter of course, cost is infinitely small.
If the test proves positive, a second blood test is likely. Then a knowing finger up bum feeling just inside close to the prostate is carried out. Enlargement can be detected here as well as any lumps on side felt.
Next a biopsy is carried out. Clearly, this is the test for a yay or nay… You leave the clinic smiling or bloody frightened.
NHS Wales has been carrying out a one day screening programme – probably as a trial for UK wide expansion. I don’t know how that has progressed.
The specialist also went on to say that men should ask and be demanding (I was told not allowed, so I banged the health nurses desk – that made her sit up!)
The specialist reiterated the need for men to get this test regularly to catch at earliest stage: then it often means a curative outcome.
Once the level 4 region has been reached, it is curtains.
See also: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cwlw3xz0z48t
I know what I am talking about: I was so close to being one of those late-stage sufferers…
Men, if you haven’t been tested and you are over fifty years of age, please get tested.
Women, stop any ‘favours’ as a bargaining tool, ‘cos that side of your life is at stake too, then possibly, your man’s life itself…
Do something about it, now...