Posted on 04/30/2008 7:21:00 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
When you think baseball glove, the latex variety doesn't usually come to mind.
Then again, I'm normally not at Miller Park when it's time for a prostate exam.
On Tuesday, I joined about 500 other guys age 40 and above who lined up for a prostate cancer screening at a mobile clinic parked next to the ballpark. The National Prostate Cancer Coalition operates the vehicle.
First came a blood test. A digital exam followed and, no, not digital in the sense of a CD or a wristwatch with no hands. Think Chevy Chase blurting out "Moon River" in "Fletch."
There were three enticements to get men to show up at Miller Park and drop trou. One is that prostate cancer can kill you if it's not caught early. This test is the male version of a mammogram, a manogram if you will.
The second is that the screening was free. And the third is that the Brewers gave each guy two tickets to an upcoming game.
"My wife heard about this and said you get down there and get it checked," said Perry Kettner, a 49-year-old pressman who lives in Sussex.
"I was here for the game Saturday. Too bad I couldn't have had it done during the seventh-inning stretch," he joked. The fan assistance center is good, Perry, but they're not that good.
David Riehle, 66, of Slinger was at the first stadium screening last year, and a friend who came along discovered his prostate was kaput. He later had surgery. In fact, about 10% to 15% of the men who showed up last year for the tests had abnormal results.
"So I came back again this year," said Riehle, who worked 37 years at A.O. Smith and is now semi-retired. "I know at least 10 people that have different kinds of cancer. Scary."
Jeff Ansell, 42, a horse ranch worker from Mukwonago, said his father died from prostate cancer last year, so he's not taking any chances. "I'm a little nervous but not enough to not show up," he said.
Kathy Sieja and Brian Dorrington, media contacts at Froedtert Hospital, which helped sponsor the event, said first-timers for the test are sometimes surprised to hear it involves something invading space aliens might do, but they haven't seen anyone bolt for his car.
Last year, three women showed up for the free test and had to be gently informed that they don't have prostate glands. A guy called this year and said he didn't want the test but could he still get the free Brewers tickets.
You gotta earn those, buddy. No RBIs for you until you get the PSA blood test. Get in line, fill out the forms, get a quick needle poke, and for the grand finale find yourself in a private room with a reassuring doctor like Bill See, an oncologist and chairman of urology at the Medical College of Wisconsin. No bench-warmer, this guy.
"I always tell people that compared to what our spouses have to go through, this is very easy," See said.
When it was over, he proclaimed my prostate to be "firm, smooth, symmetric, 30 grams and non-tender." That means it's fine.
I'm ready for another 3,000 miles or one year, whichever comes first. In baseball terms, it's a come-from-behind win.
Really, Guys. If you're "at that age" bite the bullet and get this checked out. We can't afford to lose a single Freeper; we have too much work to do to turn this Country around! :)
New meaning to the seventh inning stretch.
Manogram, very cute. Great idea from the Brewers! Kudos to that organization.
Breast cancer is a very real threat to males. Granted, it’s much more common in females, but it’s from rare in men. I don’t recall the stats, but it seems to me that it’s usually more problematical in a male. Maybe someone here can fill us in.
Seconded.
Please, guys, get the test.
You can go out for ice cream afterwords, ok?
I’d prefer another venue, but your point is well taken. And what the heck - as a Mariners fan I take it up that portion of my anatomy whenever there’s a visiting team in town anyway. ;-)
I’m sure you’re probably correct. Still, I don’t know any guys that go in for regular mammograms — hence my little joke.
So did you leave her a nice big tip? You know, so she could maybe buy a clue?
LOL, no problem! It wasn’t much of a joke to begin with.
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