Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

New spit test for prostrate cancer...

55 replies

ssd · 10/04/2025 08:12

I know IABU. I know its brilliant this test may mean more men are tested. My family is all men, im glad this will be possible for them.

BUT....how come men get a spit test and we need to get our boobs out and squished or knickers off legs akimbo and something shoved up there??? When are we getting spit tests for all our stuff???

Its not fair

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Abhannmor · 11/04/2025 14:09

Yes it can be very aggressive in younger men. Same with cancers in young women of course.

AnnaMagnani · 11/04/2025 12:57

The idea of the spit test is to identify high risk young men.

Prostate cancer in a 40 to 65 Yr old is essentially a completely different disease to that in an 85 Yr old who will die from something else while his prostate cancer sits there quietly.

Abhannmor · 11/04/2025 12:12

I'm not sure the spit test will be very useful anyway. Virtually all men get prostate cancer if they live long enough. They won't necessarily die of it though. The PSA test is probably better at tracking it?

TeaRoseTallulah · 10/04/2025 17:34

AnnaMagnani · 10/04/2025 16:32

From patients who have had both, not similar at all. The ultrasound is a like a giant butt plug and very uncomfortable. Just for extra they then biopsy the prostate through the perineum while the probe is still in.

Or you can biopsy it through the rectum which is similarly bad.

All of them would prefer a colonoscopy.

Show quote history

Took 2.5 weeks for my dh to recover, peed blood for over 2 weeks and was in terrible pain after the ultrasound. Doesn't make a squeak normally when he's ill but this must've been painful for him to say anything.

Abhannmor · 10/04/2025 17:11

Joe7t8 · 10/04/2025 08:17

The standard examination for prostate issues, or indeed just routine medical examination for men >50, will involve pants off and a finger up the rear end if that makes you feel any better.

Having 12 samples removed from your prostate is painful and pretty embarrassing. Time is at a premium these days - so the local anaesthetic usually kicks in a bit later!

crumblingschools · 10/04/2025 16:56

@Screamingabdabz but men’s aren’t a barrel of laughs either.

AnnaMagnani · 10/04/2025 16:55

@vandelier I think you nailed it with your last sentence.

Most of Medicine is discomfort and indignity TBH.

vandelier · 10/04/2025 16:52

AnnaMagnani · 10/04/2025 16:47

We haven't even touched on bladder cancer in men. Some of those catheters are eye watering.

Honestly I don't think the hysteroscopy issue is sexism. Medicine is awash with painful procedures with no infrastructure to provide sedation for them.

Would every med student who might ultimately perform these tests have one themselves prior to qualification? Aye right.

Fentanyl/midazolam sedation and pain relief is very safe and is used widely for many procedures. I am puzzled as to why anyone would have to suffer extreme pain, discomfort and indignity in this day and age. Is there a medical reason for non sedation/GA apart from the patient being unsuitable for it.

Maybe it's financial and or takes too much time. I dunno.

Screamingabdabz · 10/04/2025 16:50

Chellybelle · 10/04/2025 09:47

I've never had a hand up my vagina during a cervical screening. Have you?

Show quote history

Stop being facetious. You know what she means. Women’s health checks are generally invasive and painful. This is about lamenting the lot of women. Aren’t we allowed that?

AnnaMagnani · 10/04/2025 16:47

We haven't even touched on bladder cancer in men. Some of those catheters are eye watering.

Honestly I don't think the hysteroscopy issue is sexism. Medicine is awash with painful procedures with no infrastructure to provide sedation for them.

Secondishspring · 10/04/2025 16:47

OP would it make you feel better to know that my DH now has incurable prostate cancer and has been through endless horrendous tests and treatment because the previous testing was not fit for purpose.

vandelier · 10/04/2025 16:43

Firstly I wouldn't agree to a hysteroscopy without sedation/GA. I know that's not routinely offered, but I would insist or go private TBH and pay for that. Some women are very brave and have it "raw" so to speak, but that would not be me!

Is there a reason why a man is not sedated for what sounds like a barbaric invasion (although diagnostic and maybe therapeutic) of the prostate? Again the barbarism involved in some procedures, for male and female baffle me in this day and age, when so many anaesthetics/twilight sedation are available. It's not like the days of the barber pole.

But maybe there is a reason in men's prostate cases. I don't know as I'm female.

AnnaMagnani · 10/04/2025 16:32

vandelier · 10/04/2025 11:28

Similar to a colonoscopy then, with sedation?

Show quote history

From patients who have had both, not similar at all. The ultrasound is a like a giant butt plug and very uncomfortable. Just for extra they then biopsy the prostate through the perineum while the probe is still in.

Or you can biopsy it through the rectum which is similarly bad.

All of them would prefer a colonoscopy.

HelpMeGetThrough · 10/04/2025 16:19

Joe7t8 · 10/04/2025 08:17

The standard examination for prostate issues, or indeed just routine medical examination for men >50, will involve pants off and a finger up the rear end if that makes you feel any better.

It didn’t make me feel any better, especially when asked after being done “was that ok for you?”.

😫😫

TeaRoseTallulah · 10/04/2025 15:55

vandelier · 10/04/2025 11:28

Similar to a colonoscopy then, with sedation?

Show quote history

No sedation

Offtobuttonmoontovisitmrspoon · 10/04/2025 13:47

I agree that there are a lot of health inequalities regarding men and women but I don’t agree that this is one of them.

Do you have male friends or family? Surely this is good?

Personally, I think it’s great news.

Annoyeddd · 10/04/2025 13:44

countrygirl99 · 10/04/2025 13:36

Was just a bloody stupid statement.

Show quote history

So my DH doing that was just a figment of my imagination then

Megifer · 10/04/2025 13:42

Annoyeddd · 10/04/2025 13:27

I did hear the biopsy was done with something that resembles a cheesegrater.

Show quote history

It's not.

countrygirl99 · 10/04/2025 13:36

Annoyeddd · 10/04/2025 13:18

Other men are not excluded from having a blood test - any man can request it from GP, go through a set of questions

Show quote history

Was just a bloody stupid statement.

Annoyeddd · 10/04/2025 13:27

Megifer · 10/04/2025 11:31

Or a hysteroscopy without any sedation or pain relief?

Show quote history

I did hear the biopsy was done with something that resembles a cheesegrater.

Annoyeddd · 10/04/2025 13:18

countrygirl99 · 10/04/2025 12:42

That screening would miss my DH

Show quote history

Other men are not excluded from having a blood test - any man can request it from GP, go through a set of questions

countrygirl99 · 10/04/2025 12:42

Annoyeddd · 10/04/2025 11:06

Should be able to determine higher risk of prostate cancer in a man just by looking at him - black men at 50 % higher risk. Brilliant article by Steve McQueen at week or so back.
And do a spit or blood test

That screening would miss my DH

Original poster
ssd · 10/04/2025 11:59

Ok i know i was being churlish and ridiculous. I dont want anyone to suffer.

OP posts:
Megifer · 10/04/2025 11:31

vandelier · 10/04/2025 11:28

Similar to a colonoscopy then, with sedation?

Show quote history

Or a hysteroscopy without any sedation or pain relief?

vandelier · 10/04/2025 11:28

TeaRoseTallulah · 10/04/2025 09:59

Not to mention the huge ultrasound probe up their rear ends which I wouldn't wish on anyone,male or female.

Show quote history

Similar to a colonoscopy then, with sedation?