More from the frontier of conveyor belt medicine
One size does not fit all, and someone needs to let mainstream medicine know that. You can do your part by continuing to stay abreast of the latest research and studies, just as you have been doing, and hearing an opinion that is not driven by the colorful propaganda of the Wall Street-driven drug companies. Then, when your doctor gives you a recommendation for a prescription or a procedure, you will have at least enough information at your fingertips to enter the conversation with understanding and determine what is best for you.
Case in point: A study of nearly 600,000 men aged 70 and older were found to have been subjected to an unnecessarily high rate of inappropriate PSA (prostate-specific antigen) testing, even those who suffered from multiple illnesses and were not likely to survive more than 10 years.
The danger is in the treatments for prostate cancer. There are serious side effects to consider, such as incontinence, impotence, and emotional distress - all experienced for something that may not cause them major problems or exhibit symptoms in the first place.
PSA is produced by the normal functioning of the prostate. What the PSA test is looking for is elevated PSA levels. But when it comes to PSA testing, there's a wide range to its level of effectiveness. Consider this: a high PSA level doesn't always mean cancer, while a low PSA (even normal) doesn't always mean there is no cancer. You could also have a normal PSA level and also have cancer. Nothing like a definitive test!
Now, this doesn't mean that the test hasn't been beneficial for those who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and spared from dying of it. But there's also the possibility that the cancer would be slow growing and never cause a problem or any symptoms. This is where you have to look at total quality of life and what makes sense for you.
Things to look at are family history, your age, your overall health, and a judgment call as to what you can - and want - to live with, and what you won't accept. This is a time when you'll want to fend off being rushed out of the door until you and your doctor can take a close look at PSA testing and whether the benefits outweigh the risks.
