timeimmortal

Tony Waters offers his thoughts on the issue of prostate cancer detection in response to my article on the subject:

I agree that the PSA test is not necessarily a positive test of cancer and can be attributed to other causes. This in fact was the case of a friend of mine who tested postive, he did not have cancer at the time. But, two years later there were more problems and my friend still does not know the outcome. The other point I would like to make is that I have a friend who’s husband did in fact die of prostate cancer three years ago, he was in his late fifties. Hopefully these items will put a different perspective on the idea that men do not die of prostate cancer.

My heart goes out to the wife of Mr. Waters’ friend; that must have been a tragic loss.

As I noted in my article, I fail to see how any early detection of cancer could fail to increase survivability. Okay, we can take it as granted that prostate cancer is easier to detect, and easier to treat, than some other forms of cancer, and we can even take it as read that prostate cancer is typically less virulent than other forms of cancer.

It’s still cancer. It’s still better to detect and treat it early. Yes, not many people may die from prostate cancer, but — as Mr. Waters points out — people can and do sometimes die from it.

And any test which could potentially disclose a problem — including cancer — with the prostate should be eligible for public funding, especially if it is a test that a doctor has prescribed.

~ by Kenneth on January 21, 2008.