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Andrew Dickens: For goodness' sake men, get tested!

Author
Andrew Dickens ,
Publish Date
Mon, 7 May 2018, 12:32PM
"Do it. Spend on it. Currently, men are in a cone of silence that actually resembles stupidity" (Photo \ Getty Images)

Andrew Dickens: For goodness' sake men, get tested!

Author
Andrew Dickens ,
Publish Date
Mon, 7 May 2018, 12:32PM

If you're a man there have been two series of remarkable writing over the past year that I recommend you read.

One is Peter Wells' series called Hello Darkness on the website The Spinoff. The acclaimed New Zealand author Peter Wells kept a diary talking about what he saw, was going through, and thought since his prostate cancer diagnosis. A cancer which has spread and metastasised.

It's an emotional read. Because of his skill with words and his ability to write about emotion and feeling. It has a dark beauty. It's easily understandable. His ability to write about the tug at the heart and gut of battling the beast is very affecting.

The other is Simon Wilson's series in the Herald. It's a prostate cancer diary as well but it's more pragmatic and practical. A less lyrical take on the science and more on the grunt of the battle to control a beast that wants to take your life.

This past weekend Simon looked at the screening for the third biggest killer of men and in that he wrote some astounding things.

There are 4 ways to figure out if you're on the battlefield. The digital exam and a PSA test are early indicators and then there is a biopsy and an MRI to confirm if the bugger is in there.

The gold standard is the biopsy or MRI: they're the proof. That's an expensive option. So men are relying on a gentle probing by your friendly neighbourhood GP and the PSA test before they go for the big ones.

Doctors are not happy about either the digital exam or the PSA test because they're inconclusive or misleading.  For instance, did you know that your PSA levels can be raised if you've done vigorous exercise or sex. I didn't.  Good information to know

The Prostate Cancer Foundation told Simon that American doctors are against the PSA test in particular because they want to cover their backside.  They don't want to concern people who may record worrying signs but don't have the thing. But is that enough reason to tell people not to test for PSA at all?

Get a grip. That's like seeing a crack in a building and not sending the engineers in.

So here's my story. When I turned 40 I started yearly exams. I thought it was time to send my doctors fingers into the dark places. She agreed. I also asked for a PSA test. She disagreed. She said it could alarm me because it was unreliable. So she gave me my blood test script. I noticed she hadn't ticked the PSA test box so I ticked it with the same coloured pen.

When the results came back my PSA was fine but my doctor was irritated that I took my health tests into my own hands. I said suck it up. We now have a baseline. How could it hurt? We've tested ever since. Apparently, my prostate is nice and soft and my PSA is unchanged. Too much information.

Now in my 50s, I know a number of men whose life has been saved by PSA tests. I know it's not a gold standard test but it's a bloody good indication of whether you want to spend more finding out if you have it. I also know a lot of friends who haven't had a single check. Get a grip you boys

I have no idea why the PSA test holds such fear for doctors particularly in this non-fault environment that we have in New Zealand. Women wouldn't let this lie. From breast screening to pap smears women have been truly vigilant about their health and their screening.

So here's the other thing Simon Wilson wrote that blew my mind. According to the Health Research Council, for every dollar spent researching women's health, the amount we spend researching men's health is six cents.

The Prostate Cancer Foundation's annual conference took place over the weekend with a focus on ways to improve diagnosis and treatment strategies. Much of the talk was be on the likelihood of a new test for prostate cancer that's cheap and reliable.

Do it. Spend on it. Currently, men are in a cone of silence that actually resembles stupidity. The squeaky wheel gets the oil and it's time for men to squeak.

 

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