Skip navigation

 Login or Register | Member Centre

More men need prostate cancer testing, foundation says

ANDRÉ PICARD

From Wednesday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 5:20 PM EDT 17/09/07

Fewer than two in every five Canadian men in the high-risk age group have been tested for prostate cancer in the past year ...Read the full article

This conversation is closed

  1. Non-hyphenated Canadian from Burlington, Canada writes: The incidence of prostate cancer has been known for years. Yet there has been little done to raise awareness or fund raising for research into a cure or treatment. Perhaps if this was a disease that affected women as it does men...
  2. Phlegmatic Pundit (I support our nurses) from A rift in the fabric of space-time, Canada writes: The rectal exam is the highlight of my year! There should be no charge for the PSA test - it focusses on early detection and possibly leads to big savings of health care dollars if a case of prostrate cancer is prevented. But our health system (at least in Ontario) seems to be geared to cure rather than prevention.
  3. Jamie Kelley from Vancouver, Canada writes: The rectal exam saved my life.

    If my doctor hadn't felt an anomaly, my cancer would not have been detected. My PSA did not accurately read as abnormally elevated. After the rectal exam, I underwent a prostate biopsy that indicated I had an aggressive cancer cell that had invaded half of my prostate. Surgery followed and now I'm completely good to go. And I do mean completely.

    There's no reason now for men to die of prostate cancer. Putting off the rectal exam is nothing short of stupid. And the fear of sexual dysfunction because of surgery is unwarranted.

    If one cancer cell leaves the prostate sac, then chances of demise are significantly increased because the lymph nodes are so close. If cancer invades the lymphs, bones or spinal cord, it is a totally different ball game.

    I urge all my older men friends to get an annual digital exam. Five seconds of discomfort to ensure your longevity is a small price to pay.
  4. Mike Sifeldeen from Canada writes: Eat more tomatoes.
  5. odietamo inamorata from Cambridge, Canada writes: I just got back this afternoon after having a discussion with my urologist who said that my PSA level had dropped from 7.48 to 5.62. I have to go and see him again next year after another annual PSA test. All I have done reduce the amount of fat in my diet, take a multivitamin pill daily that contains lycopene and exercise much more. With a history of prostrate problems in all my family male members, I think it is prudent for me to be careful. During the last couple of years when my PSA levels were 7.96 amd 7.48, I have had two biopsies done on my prostrate and always have a DRE done annually.
    Prostrate cancer, unless caught very early, is almost a kiss of death within a few years. The invasive DRE is a small price to pay for health.
  6. Gardiner Westbound from Canada writes: .

    The government funds the Ontario Breast Screening Program available free for women over age 50 and pays for mammograms. There is no similar program for screening for prostate cancer in men, and most have to pay for their PSA tests.

    Perhaps Dalty will promise to pay for PSA tests, though the value of a McGuinty promise is dubious.
    .
  7. M M from Toronto, Canada writes:

    Gardiner Westbound wrote (5:06pm):
    The government funds the Ontario Breast Screening Program available free for women over age 50 and pays for mammograms. There is no similar program for screening for prostate cancer in men, and most have to pay for their PSA tests.

    Perhaps Dalty will promise to pay for PSA tests, though the value of a McGuinty promise is dubious.
    ----------------------------------------------------------

    ahh ... "Gardner Westbound" - until Canadian men are such gullible, naive or worse ... they will be oppressed and treated as just disposable commodity. It seems that you did not even read the Comments on "How cancer research dollars are spent" article of the same author as this one, where you can find direct explanation of what is going on here re: men's health and well being:
    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070912.wcancer12/CommentStory/specialScienceandHealth/home#comments

    Here is one which can help you start critically reading, thinking, analyzing and finally get it who/where is the enemy of Canadian men:

    "...
    Dennis B from Canada writes:
    ....
    Here in Ontario, men must pay from our own pockets for a prostate exam as this is not covered under our health insurance. Most other tests are covered.

    I happen to live in the riding of our health minister, George Smitherman. When I wrote an email inquiring about this issue, I received no reply. Needless to say, Mr. Smitherman will not receive my vote in this upcoming election even though I voted for him in the last one.
    Posted 12/09/07 at 9:22 AM EDT
    ..."
  8. M M from Toronto, Canada writes:
    smirti k. from Toronto, Canada writes:
    ... I received no reply. ... Mr. Smitherman ...
    ...
    --------------------------------

    ... will you at least now help message spread to your Don Valley West friends etc., so at least they do not make mistake re: the same ilk (world wide known notorious, extermist so-called "Gender Feminists"), Kathleen Wynne, current M. of Edu ?

    If you only knew 4 years ago what was posted this morning:
    "... 42. Mira K. from Toronto, Canada writes: Canadian males, men, why are you so stupid?

    Did you read above posts re: Statistics Canada, other vs. discrimination against males health?

    /snip/ You, men, gave YOUR money for greater part of Gov. collected taxes, only to:

    - live statistically only 77.8 yrs ;

    - to see the lion’s share of funding going to 'women's health' - EVEN when experts suggest women's 82.6yrs are ALREADY as long as is reasonably possible - WITH YOUR MONEY!

    - When did ANY POLITICIAN give you men, boys of Canada, ANY attention for your OWN Health , for YOUR OWN majority of TAX MONEY?

    - Why are YOU, man and boys of Canada ALMOST exclusively dying in the workplace? ...

    - If Canadian man are collectively brainwashed and can not see how their own fundamental well being and health is systemically sidelined, with THEIR OWN money and their lost lives, who will protect their own sons?

    - Will you immediately ... demand:

    1. National Parliamentary Inquiry of how YOUR TAX MONEY have been allocated in the last 20 years?

    2. Immediately:
    Funding/resources/attention for Men's/Boy's wellbeing/health = those for female's wellbeing/health.
    Posted 02/08/07 at 4:46 PM EDT
  9. M M from Toronto, Canada writes:
    "...
    From recent similar, health-related, G&M 'Comments':

    64. susan e. from Canada, Canada writes:
    (snip)
    Excellent 'R M from Ottawa'. Please do NOT FORGET also other info that was already posted above:
    (snip)
    5) women's health receiving lion’s share of funding (from TAX MONEY of which majority is collected from MALES), to the intentional, malicious detriment of men's and boys' well being/health, perpetrated by:

    Hijacking of Gov's/services etc. by 'political/ideological network' (world wide known notorious Canadian so-called "Gender Feminists") who perfidiously do not want to form its own Political Party(ies) and then face democracy at polls, but instead infiltrate existing ones: Lib and NDP, well advanced in being ONE, now witnessing same for CPC/PC, GPC.
    Posted 03/08/07 at 10:20 AM EDT
    ..."
    ----------------------------

    http://www.emhf.org/resource_images/Vienna_Declaration_Bgrd_Doc.pdf

    The Vienna Declaration on the health of men and boys in Europe

    --- Background document ---

    On October 1st 2005, members of the European Men’s Health Forum meeting in Vienna ratified the first ever men’s health Declaration. Now known as the Vienna Declaration on the Health of Men and Boys in Europe, this landmark document provides a clear and central reference for all involved in the health improvement of European men.

    ..... Health services of every kind are failing to engage effectively with many men, especially men in disadvantaged groups. ...
    ..."
  10. Just trying to make sense of it all from Canada writes: Political diatribe is fun for what it's worth, but the facts are facts. PSA testing does not reduce mortality from prostate cancer, digital rectal exams and PSA both result in such a high "false positive" that the only consequence of these tests is excess surgeries, biopsies, complications, infections, incontinence, impotence, and anxiety.

    It's not a "men's" or "women's" issue; it's how prostate cancer works. The vast majority of prostate cancers will never cause any problems, and the few that will, even annual PSAs and daily DREs will do little to alleviate.

    Sorry
  11. Jim Hope from Saint John, Canada writes: Anybody who wants to play the odds and not get a PSA test and DRE exam yearly is only fooling themselves.
    People do die from prostate cancer every year....needlessly.
    Talk to your family doctor. Here in New Brunswick, both tests are covered by Medicare and I have them done yearly.

    Some of the people on here insist on calling it "prostrate".
    It's "prostate" as we all know.
  12. David Gibson from Hamilton, Canada writes: Men have to pay for the test, while women get much more expensive exams of their equipment, free. It is indeed a wonder of human nature. PSA and finger exams are the best tests available, fans of prostate cancer notwithstanding.
  13. Lawrence Hutchinson from Houston, United States writes: Phlegmatic Pundit (I support our nurses) from A rift in the fabric of space-time, Canada writes: The rectal exam is the highlight of my year! There should be no charge for the PSA test - it focusses on early detection and possibly leads to big savings of health care dollars if a case of prostrate cancer is prevented

    Neither PSA nor rectal exam can PREVENT prostate cancer but only DETECT prostate cancer. The benefits of early detection are dubious in men OVER 50. The statistics are deceiving. If prostate cancer is detected through screening at 60 versus diagnosis at 70 prompted by symptoms and proves fatal at 80, statistics would show a doubling of survival time. But really there may have been no impact made on the natural history of the disease. Many older men with more indolent forms of prostate cancer suffer needless side effects from therapy (impotence, incontinence) with no demonstrable increase in lifespan.
  14. steve C from Canada writes: Yes to the finger, no to the test. PSA is a crock and has caused more angst then joy. We DO NOT HAVE a good treatment modality of diagnosis except DRE. My own experience is measurable every year when the DRE is about to take place. My blood pressure goes to 140 over 90! When I was queried by my physician, I replied, " If you were naked, and dreading someone putting their fingers up your rectum, ( when clearly there is a one way sign that says out only!) wouldn't your BP be elevated too? Her reply, be thankful it isn't Randy, her physician husband, who has great big hands!" It should be obvious to all, men do not like to be violated in the rectum and the PSA is so bad a test, little wonder men in Canada have chosen not to be examines or tested. DRE is a must, and men need to have it done atleast once per year...as to PSA, my urologist and physician both agree...it is a poor test period!
  15. Jorly fuster from Canada writes: Men don't get exams because their to uptight about a man sticking his finger up there. I think Women should do prostate exams, then you'd have men lining up to have it done. I personaly would go once a month.
  16. Anthony Dunn from Ontario, Canada writes: I have had PSA tests done annually at my own request for several years and as a senior I dislike paying $30.00 out of my pension. This year I had a Urinary tract infection. My Dr. had a urine test done along with my Cholesterol and PSA tests. I then was asked to repeat my PSA tests as it was elevated from the annual tests. I was sent to a Urologist and I was asked to take another PSA prior to my appointment. At the appointment with the Urologist I was told to return in three months and have another PSA test done 2 weeks prior to this visit. I asked if this particular test would be paid by OHIP and I was told that OHIP would only pay if I was hospitalized at that time. The urinary tract infection was now down to an occasional twinge and my GP sent me for another Urine sample. As it still showed infection I was sent for another sample. This sample showed clear as I was not asked for another sample. Seven months later I still have UTI twinges and I have paid $120.00 in PSA tests. My view is that if a GP or Urologist requires a PSA test as a Diagnostic tool then OHIP should pay.
  17. Albin Forone from Toronto, Canada writes: Hutchinson has it: this is an aspect of medicine that, reasonably looked into, can convince a man to step back and wait a while. Too many risks of unnecessary treatment-induced disability and often a good chance something else will kill or cripple you before prostate cancer ever does.

Comments are closed

Thanks for your interest in commenting on this article, however we are no longer accepting submissions. If you would like, you may send a letter to the editor.

Report an abusive comment to our editorial staff

close

Alert us about this comment

Please let us know if this reader’s comment breaks the editor's rules and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.

Do not use this to complain about comments that don’t break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.

Back to top