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Prostate cancer cases risk being detected too late due to misleading focus on urinary problems, say experts
Medical Xpress / University of Cambridge / BMC Medicine ^ | August 3, 2022 | Vincent Gnanapragasam et al

Posted on 08/04/2022 9:40:34 PM PDT by ConservativeMind

Men with early, curable stages of prostate cancer are missing opportunities to have their cancer detected because national guidelines and media health campaigns focus on urinary symptoms despite a lack of scientific evidence, say experts.

Over three-quarters (78%) of men diagnosed with the disease survive for over ten years. In England, nearly half of all prostate cancers are picked up at stage three of four (stage four being the latest stage).

Prostate enlargement can cause the urinary problems often included in public health messaging, but evidence suggests that this is rarely due to malignant prostate tumors. Rather, research suggests that the prostate is smaller in cases of prostate cancer. A recent study—the UK PROTECT trial—even went as far as to say that a lack of urinary symptoms may be an indicator of a higher likelihood of cancer.

Testing for prostate cancer involves a blood test known as a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) that is made only by the prostate gland; however, it is not always accurate. PSA density is significantly more accurate than PSA alone.

"Men shouldn't be afraid to speak to their GP about getting tested, and about the value of a PSA test, especially if they have a history of prostate cancer in their family or other risk factors."

The researchers say they are not advocating for an immediate screening program, and acknowledge that changes in messaging could mean more men approaching their GPs for a PSA test. However, they argue that there are ways to reduce the risk of this happening. These include the use of algorithms to assess an individual's risk and whether they need to be referred to a specialist, and for those who are referred, MRI scans could help rule out "indolent" (mild) disease or negative findings, reducing the risks of an unnecessary biopsy.

(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: cancer; mkl; prostate
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A PSA score taken years earlier than currently suggested could help identify a potential issue, as can MRI, CT, or sonogram sizing of your prostate. These two measurements, together, allow the prostate density to be determined, but either are also helpful without the other. However, prostate density is a rather more useful metric than the others.
1 posted on 08/04/2022 9:40:34 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission; Mazey; ckilmer; goodnesswins; Jane Long; BusterDog; jy8z; ...

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2 posted on 08/04/2022 9:41:08 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: ConservativeMind

“A recent study—the UK PROTECT trial—even went as far as to say that a lack of urinary symptoms may be an indicator of a higher likelihood of cancer.”


What utter horseshit. Discredits the entire article. Whether the actual matter (per the headline) has any merit is irrelevant:

Nobody is researching why the incidence of prostate cancer continues to rise.


3 posted on 08/04/2022 10:07:14 PM PDT by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
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My understanding is that there are now known four or more types of Prostate Cancer: for some types, PSA is a very good indicator; for some, the PSA test is a poor indicator especially in the early stages.


4 posted on 08/04/2022 11:46:39 PM PDT by Mr Radical (In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.)
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To: ConservativeMind
Re: "lack of urinary symptoms may be an indicator of a higher likelihood of cancer."

The good news never stops, does it?

This infomercial sponsored by the makers of PSA tests?

5 posted on 08/04/2022 11:56:51 PM PDT by zeestephen
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To: ConservativeMind

I’ve been getting PSA tests for some thirty plus years now and strongly recommend them as a routine medical test. My numbers gradually increased as I aged. However, about a decade ago they started accelerating. This triggered biopsies, and cancer was found. It’s now been excised. Had my long history of slowly rising PSA been unknown, a single number at age 65 would not have triggered any biopsies.

My first testing was done as part of company physicals. I did some after I retired at a private lab, and they cost only fifty bucks, including the prescription. It was well worth the cost.


6 posted on 08/05/2022 2:51:54 AM PDT by norwaypinesavage (Capitalism is what happens when you leave people alone.)
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To: ConservativeMind

Also because increased the time for the cadence of testing for it, yes?


7 posted on 08/05/2022 3:23:19 AM PDT by Caipirabob (Communists...Socialists...Fascists & AntiFa...Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: ConservativeMind

If you take 8 grams daily of IP-6 & Inositol, it will shrink your prostate, and in some cases will put cancer cells into remission. I have been taking this product for two years now and my PSA has gone from a high of 17 to now below 10. I have been diagnosed with a Gleason 6 score. I had a second biopsy of 12 cores and it found NO carcinogen. Also had an MRI, and found no recordable tumors. My urine flow is still a bit slow in the mornings, but it is improving. I credit the IP-6 & Inositol for improving my urinary health.


8 posted on 08/05/2022 4:12:52 AM PDT by Flavious_Maximus
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To: norwaypinesavage
I’ve been getting PSA tests for some thirty plus years now and strongly recommend them as a routine medical test.

I have been having the test for about 20 years. A few years ago, my PCP told me my test result showed a spike, so she recommended me to a urologist. The spike was still in the normal range, but she thought it should be looked at closely. The urologist did the test again, and I was back to my earlier level. I have been seeing him annually ever since. Another benefit of going to the urologist is that he started treating me for BPH. I am on two medications for that, and my prostate has definitely gotten smaller. It took over a year for me to notice, but my trips to the bathroom have been much less frequent.

On Saturdays, I usually run errands, like going to the grocery store, Petsmart, Costco or Sam's, Lowes. Before taking Finasteride, I would have had to stop at the restroom of one or more of those establishments. Now I don't have to go at all and it can wait until I get back home hours later.

9 posted on 08/05/2022 6:00:35 AM PDT by Sans-Culotte (11/3-11/4/2020 - The USA became a banana republic.)
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To: ConservativeMind

Prostate cancer kills more guys than breast cancer kills women; September is prostate awareness month. Ever hear any support for guys on this?


10 posted on 08/05/2022 6:08:20 AM PDT by SkyDancer ( I make airplanes fly, what's your super power?)
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To: SkyDancer

Where’s our ribbon?


11 posted on 08/05/2022 6:11:27 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Flavious_Maximus
If you take 8 grams daily of IP-6 & Inositol, it will shrink your prostate, and in some cases will put cancer cells into remission.

8 grams a day is a huge dose and would be expensive. Looking online, the average dose per capsule seems to be 800 mg. You'd have to take 10 capsules a day to reach 8 grams.

12 posted on 08/05/2022 6:22:45 AM PDT by Sans-Culotte (11/3-11/4/2020 - The USA became a banana republic.)
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.


13 posted on 08/05/2022 6:23:28 AM PDT by mad_as_he$$
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To: dfwgator

The color used for prostate awareness is light blue; September is also child cancer awareness month also. Both don’t fit the media and liberal groups’ narrative.


14 posted on 08/05/2022 6:38:14 AM PDT by SkyDancer ( I make airplanes fly, what's your super power?)
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To: SkyDancer

That is a good point. Men don’t even have a ribbon for prostate cancer.

Who cares about men? They die earlier, and are the fault of everything bad in the world, including global warming.

Men and boys need support, too.


15 posted on 08/05/2022 6:59:49 AM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: ConservativeMind

Actually they do. It’s light blue in color. Wear one and then answer when people ask what’s it for.


16 posted on 08/05/2022 7:11:23 AM PDT by SkyDancer ( I make airplanes fly, what's your super power?)
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To: Sans-Culotte

I use the powder. It’s much cheaper. 1 scoop in the morning, another at 3pm and one before bedtime.

If you take pills, you would need to consume 16 daily.


17 posted on 08/05/2022 7:14:32 AM PDT by Flavious_Maximus
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To: SkyDancer

I did not know that, and I’m a guy.


18 posted on 08/05/2022 7:31:03 AM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: dfwgator

Who doesn’t want to wear the ribbon?


19 posted on 08/05/2022 8:19:52 AM PDT by 38special (I should've said something earlier)
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To: ConservativeMind

I’m 78 and have a PSA test every 6 months.


20 posted on 08/05/2022 10:09:34 AM PDT by blam
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