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?

[Fosterdog123]

Insensitive? Really? There's media coverage about the fantastic improvement in treatment of breast cancer and yet the take-away message is all about men - including a man coming on here simply to say, no one gives a shit about men any more. Well, if me pointing that out makes me insensitive, then so be it.

[OutsideContextProblem]

There are major problems with the standard PSA tests because some prostate cancers are so slow to progress that a blanket screening progamme would end up catching and treating lots of cancers which would never have killed anyway, which can devastate men's quality of life for no benefit.

That's why the NHS doesn't currently push screening on men - it offers them the choice, with a big caveat on the pros and cons. But progress is being made, and with the will we can get better at implementing improved testing and treatment.

[BishBoshBashBop]

But, as a PP said prostate cancer is a disease of old men

As others on here have said that's rubbish.

My DBro in his 50s and another person's DH at a similar age, aren't 'old men'.

It's these sorts of stereotypes that stop people coming forward as there can't possibly be an issue as they aren't 'old enough!

[StealthPolarBear]

The biggest risk factor for breast cancer is age as well actually

[Amoregentlemanlikemanner]

Yanbu

This: “Yes I heard it on the radio it was certainly phrased in a way that it's not fair how dare women stop dying first”

It was the radio presentation that was goady.

[CountFosco]

The biggest risk for most cancers is age. Leukemia has a peak in childhood and testicular cancer is 20s I think. Any others that break the old age rule? The reality is we all have to die of something in old age. Which do you fancy? Heart attack, stroke or cancer?

[StealthPolarBear]

I'd like to die in my sleep at the age of 110 having walked to the shops and back the day before to bake s cake for my ds's 83rd birthday :o

[DrDreReturns]

There isn't a screening programme for prostrate cancer because there isn't an effective test yet. The PSA test isn't accurate enough, as I understand it.
I wish all references to breast cancer were left out of the reporting of this story. It's a spurious comparison.
I've had a prostrate exam. It's not pleasant but I'd do it again if necessary, including as part of a screening programme.

[ChaosNeverRains]

the reality though is that a lot of cancer sufferers will talk about their own cancer vs other cancers because if their cancer has greater risks then they will have more reason to believe that research should be differently focussed.

So, I know that I’ve mentioned brain tumours on here, the amount of funding that goes into brain tumour research is just 2% of overall funding, yet a far higher percentage of brain tumours are terminal because of where they are, and if not terminal the impacts are far greater ie. disability, epilepsy etc and a tumour doesn’t even have to be malignant for that to be the case.

[Penfold007]

I have three close family members, all are male. One has bowel cancer, one prostate cancer and the other breast cancer. I'm not sure its a feminist issue but I'm willing to be educated.

[Rufustherenegadereindeer1]

Once again its not the charities at fault at all but the media reporting

As in this daily mail headline

[Rufustherenegadereindeer1]

But what else have we come to expect from the daily mail

[worridmum]

My husband had breast cancer (yes men can get it too) and people thought he was a disgrace because he was in a breast cancer specialist hospital/clinic (they assumed he was a trans-woman) because he has to go for screenings every year in case it comes back.

There is hardly any advice / awareness for most male cancers as in they are not told / shown how to test for weird lumps in testicles or the prostate unlike for woman were their is tons of adivce on exactly how to check / tons of screening letters (females get invited for screenings men have to opt in to get screenings).

Cancer should not be a Men Vs Woman debate I do wish cancer funding was spread more evenly between the different cancers (breast cancer research has a disaprotatly high amount of funding compared to other forms and not jsut gender specfics ones i mean all types).

While i am not saying we should cut funding for breast cancer i just wish brain/lung/ panciatic cancer etc all had similear levels of research done or puportonal funding or bloody governments actully funding the research rather then being primarily donation based (but thats a whole different topic)

[Want2bSupermum]

My father has prostate cancer and it's been a grueling 18 months. He hid from us that he had a problem getting treatment and eventually broke down because he was in a lot of pain. It took three years from my father going to his GP until his first cancer treatment. He was shuttled between consultants trying to not treat him saying he had two life ending illnesses.

He came to visit and I took him to our local teaching hospital to see a specialist. The appointment was $150. The doctor was floored that my father didn't have PSA levels checked from 45 years of age. The biopsy was a single needle not template biopsy which takes a cross section. He actually had my father screened for Bowl cancer while visiting because he was so shocked my father hadn't had a check despite going for wellmen checks.

What took the NHS 5 years takes America, Canada and Denmark 12-18 months. It is of no surprise they have better outcomes. Even the hormone treatment given in the UK is outdated. The doctor here in America laughed and said they stopped prescribing it in the late 70s. The consultant in the UK was very good but had no access to give proton therapy and the radioactive seeds implanted had to be fought for. My father now has a very weak pelvis from the radiotherapy and very limited mobility because his feet are totally messed up from the outdated hormone tablets that they dispensed.

This could have been a non-event. What was explained to us here in the US was that they would have implanted seeds and given a 24 month cycle of hormone tablets when it was first established what his issues was back in 2012. While taking hormone tablets he would have had physical therapy at least 3x a week to make sure he was still somewhat active.

[Bloodybridget]

It doesn't matter if people haven't heard about the national screening programme for bowel cancer, because everyone gets sent a testing kit regularly from the age of 60. It's not as though you have to sign up for it or go to your GP. We should, however, be aware of warning signs.

[TheGoalIsToStayOutOfTheHole]

The message from this should have been: 'Wow - the efforts that women have made to fund BC research have made an enormous difference in survival rates. So much so in fact, that BC rates are now lower than PC rates! This is a phenomenal result and really demonstrates the power of people getting behind a campaign and the difference that additional funding can make. If men could get behind PC in the same way, I expect to see a similar impact'.

Couldn't agree more.

The issue here is certainly the media reporting. Its being pitted as men V women. Women don't do enough fundraising for men, but they fundraise for breast cancer (which actually men can get too..) which is bias against men. Its so childish. If all of the people kicking off about this actually donated or fundraised themselves, there would be a absolutely huge rise in funding for prostate cancer. But no, they are only moaning as its a chance to have a go at women, again. Everything is womens fault, women are so selfish, women hate men etc etc

[TheGoalIsToStayOutOfTheHole]

OK sorry, I didn't realise this thread was old. Was linked elsewhere and I didn't think before posting.

[StealthPolarBear]

Not at all, as far as I'm concerned it's still current

[Want2bSupermum]

This isn't an old thread at all. It's a very current problem.

[dahliaaa]

I realise this is an old thread but I've only just seen it.

I should declare that I've got a personal interest in both breast cancer and prostate cancer. My DM had BC in her 40's and both my sister and I have had numerous lumps checked.

My DH has advanced PC which was diagnosed out of the blue when it had already spread to his bones and lymph nodes. It is being controlled at the moment but it is incurable and our DC's will lose their wonderful dad too early. He had none of the symptoms you would associate with PC and like with many younger men who get it - it is very aggressive.

If PC is caught early the cure rate is extremely high but there are still far too many men being diagnosed too late. The PSA test has its limitations but combined with a biopsy it is still the most effective diagnostic tool available at the moment.

Awareness amongst GPS is low and the prostate charities are desperately trying to play catch up in terms of research and profile. It is too often dismissed as 'an old man disease' or a cancer 'where something else will get you first' or 'the best one to get. In my DH's case (and many other men) this is simply not the case.

Clearly I am completely biased but I'm glad that PC got some press and attention over the last few weeks. Mor e men will have got checked and given themselves the opportunity to be treated before it's too late.

[lovemylover]

My partner has been having tests since June. Syillmo definite results. Hr has every test going including MRI scans. 2 biopsies.and now has had another as there is s dark shadow on the perineum. Our hospital has been brilliant and very thorough. Also lymph nodes have been mentioned. He gets results on March the 5th.just hoping its good news but they seem convinced there is something not Right.

[dahliaaa]

I hope the results are ok love.

[lovemylover]

Thank you, yes we hope so too of course,but i dont know why it has been going on so long, except the MRI didnt show up anything definite on the perineum, just a shadow, could be something could be nothing
Nothing else been said about the lymph nodes
Even had a bone scan, which showed nothing
Cant praise our Hospital enough, for keeping on the ball
Poor man has spent most of last year having tests and needles ,and drips, catheters ,etc, he was initially taken in with a prostate infection in May, where they discovered an enlarged prostate, then he got sepsis,and carried on from there, first biopsy showed nothing
I think they were going on his PSA but that is not always reliable

[lovemylover]

My partner has just got the results of his tests, he has definitely got prostate cancer, but as yet doesnt know what stage its at yetthe March the 5th date is to discuss what happens next,re treatment etc
He has already had bowel cancer and had chemo for that,about 10 years ago,just hoping and praying it is curable
He is 70

[dahliaaa]

I hope the appointment in March goes really well. If the cancer hasn't spread there are lots of good treatment options.