This issue about prostate cancer being a bigger killer than breast cancer

[StealthPolarBear]

It's a breast cancer success story, right?
I know prostate cancer is a huge issue but why has this good news story been hijacked and reported as a huge problem?

[OutsideContextProblem]

I do disagree with Stealth's point actually.
The fact that the number three and four killers have switched places is psychologically important, and the increase in prostate cancer death numbers in the last two years is much more significant than the decrease in breast cancer numbers (although the decrease in breast cancer death rates is really large). It's a worthwhile story.

[OutsideContextProblem]

Prostate death cancer rates haven't risen, they've fallen. The raw numbers of deaths have risen, because we have more old men.

[CapnHaddock]

Chaos - I can't speak for Stealth but this is the way this was presented on the Today programme this morning. That it was a shame that prostate cancer deaths were now higher than breast cancer deaths.

It was shit. Have a listen and maybe contact the BBC because you make some very valid points.

[Ifailed]

that is likely to involve some unpleasant fiddling about with male genitalia or rectum so men either won't attend or will moan about like it is the worst thing ever.

You mean like women who are apparently not now going for cervical smear tests? Usually agree with you BoS, but I think that's a rather crass and unwarranted comment.

[Ginger1982]

Breast cancer gets a lot of attention in the media. Not taking anything away from it but I think it's important to highlight other cancers where the success rate is a lot poorer and perhaps some of the media power could get behind them.

[Fosterdog123]

Op, I completely agree with you. The way it's been pitched in the news is very much along the lines of a women's cancer is a higher priority than a men's cancer and men are suffering as a result. Why couldn't they just celebrate the improvements in BC treatment, rather than pit it against PC.

I could almost hear people around the country saying, bloody women getting priority again.

[ChaosNeverRains]

I think that there’s a valid point to be made about why people don’t go for screening though in terms of that it’s unpleasant and for some painful. both in terms of prostate and cervical screening. And perhaps there is a conversation to be had around how to balance the necessity vs the unpleasant nature of the testing iyswim, because it’s still something we are often reluctant to talk about, both men and women.

[RaspberryCheese]

Being a man i take the view that no one gives a toss about men. We come way down the pecking order. What screening services are there for men? Precious few.

Prostate cancer is a big issue for many reasons.

Most men dont know they can request a PSA test at 50 but then its not always a good idea anyway.

Fact is the state doesnt care. They just want you to work,pay tax then die as quickly as possible. The UKs rating for detection and treatment of cancer is shameful and third world.

[Slightlyperturbedowlagain]

Interestingly the US has been screening for prostate cancer for over a decade using the PSA blood test (which is a very poor screen) and although the number of men being found with metastatic prostate cancer at first diagnosis has dropped considerably, the death rate from prostate cancer has dropped by only 5-10%. The biopsy used as a second-line test is also actually not terribly good, it misses a lot of cases, however the PROMIS trial which combines a special ultrasound exam as well has been quite, well, promising (sorry!) so work is being done to improve diagnosis. Let’s hope it makes a difference. (I can find references to published papers if anyone is interested, but not until later in the weekend)

[user1471525847]

It is not just a disease for men over 70 !!!!!!!!!

My husband was 52 when his was found and it had already spread to his bones.

Some unpleasant comments on here

[Slightlyperturbedowlagain]

It is not just a disease for men over 70 !!!!!!!!
No it’s definitely not, and tends to be more aggressive forms in younger men. Sorry to hear about your husband

[Bookaboo]

over 8000 people a day are diagnosed with a brain tumour
Worldwide ?
Part of the problem is about how these statistics are presented.

To me, if is the media who have turned this into some sort of men v women issue.

A guy called in to radio 2 today. His complaint was that he was embarrassed to be seen by a female consultant about his prostrate.
Any of us who have seen a breast surgeon will be well aware of the male to female consultant ratio in that area.

[Slightlyperturbedowlagain]

Being a man i take the view that no one gives a toss about men. We come way down the pecking order. What screening services are there for men? Precious few.
On the other hand cardiac services have almost exclusively been based around men for decades; even the differing symptoms that women suffer when having a heart attack frequently go unrecognised by paramedical and medical staff, so it’s not as one-sided as you imply.

[Elementtree]

But why are breast cancers and testicular cancers being compared to one another at all? Why not against lung cancer, which is the biggest killer? Or must we engage in a battle of the sexes cancer dance off as penance for reducing the number of women dying to breast cancer?

[CanIBuffalo]

Slightly you sound as if you know a thing or two about prostate cancer. I'd be interested in the paper you mentioned if you're able to link.
DH has recently been diagnosed at 52 and that means our 3 DSs are at 50% greater risk.
Without wishing to derail the thread re male/female cancers and crap reporting, the thing that shocked me most was the crapness of the treatments and their side effects. 52 is awfully young to be facing the possibility of incontinence and no sex. I had No Effing Idea.

[CanIBuffalo]

And yes I know having breast surgery isn't a walk in the park and I'm certainly not saying 1 is worse than the other - just that I had no idea.

[BishBoshBashBop]

a parenting forum where you are going to have partners, daughters, mothers of men who have and will die from prostate cancer, claiming that a story about prostate cancer is a highjack of breast cancer is crass and insensitive and has no place.

Completely agree.

As someone whose DBro has just been diagnosed with prostate cancer at 51 can we stop with all this 'over 70s' crap too.

[scaevola]

The story was in the news because a prostate cancer charity has been trying to raise awareness of the cancer and encourage men to go for checking.

It wasn't a story about all cancer rates, and the press somehow chose prostate rather than any other.

The story is that men need to be much more aware of male cancers (how may people here have even heard of campaigns like 'Check 'em lads' ?)

I am distinctly uneasy that, when once in a blue moon, prostate cancer actually gets some mainstream prime time news coverage, it is criticised because (like so many other cancer stories, including those for female cancers) it references relative death rates.

[Fosterdog123]

Raspberry - why are you on a predominately female forum bleating about no one caring a crap about men? Are women not allowed a single moment in time just to focus on themselves? Must you always elbow your way in?

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

Let's talk about bowel cancer as well. Over the last 15 months my sister has died from bowel cancer, my DH is dying and two friends are recovering from bowel cancer diagnosis. In that period of time I have not met anyone who has been diagnosed with any other cancer

[StealthPolarBear]

Do you not think thus forum had women whose mothers, sisters, partners, even the women themselves have breast cancer though

I am not at all saying prostate cancer isn't important. It's very important. But the only reason it's in the news today was because of improvements in breast cancer care.

[StealthPolarBear]

Five go mad I've seen your threads and I'm sorry.
I also have a family member with bowel cancer, it's shit.
My dad had been one of the lucky ones and his prostate cancer was treated. I worry about it returning and donate to prostate cancer charity.

[AuntieStella]

"Are women not allowed a single moment in time just to focus on themselves? "

Of course they are. But why decry one of the exceptionally rare stories about a male cancer? If a female cancer charity was told it should control commentary on its press releases to ensure that a greater billing was given to successes in treating a male cancer, would you think that was right.

[OutsideContextProblem]

I agree that bowel cancer doesn't get nearly enough focus. People aren't informed about testing, treatment, risk factors...

[StealthPolarBear]

No. Are people all aware of the bowel screening programme at 60?