General Medicine

» redback - cancer screening

I ponder at times whether it's better to know or ignorance is eternal bliss. I tend to the former. Your article highlights the limitations of the PSA.

Here's interesting research which supports what you say and adds:
"...In contrast, the FOBT for colorectal cancer has been shown to reduce mortality" but is the least used.
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/186_...

I like the idea of a simple blood test rather than the options of digital exams and FOBTs or colonoscopies. I'm probably overdue for a FOBT so your article is timely.

-- posted by redback

» P_Al - cancer screening

Ignorance or bliss - I think it depends on the circumstances. Generally it is good to know early when it comes to cancer especially if this means detection at an early stage. However, there are many older men who have a non-agressive type of prostate cancer. They will die of other causes before their cancer ever gave them any trouble. For them ignorance is truly bliss

Interesting article you linked to. It is not surprising though for the reason you sited - it's more pleasant to have a blood test rather than FOBT or colonoscopy. By the way there will be an article on FOBT next week.

-- posted by P_Al

» redback - cancer screening

The precurser(?), prostatitis can have a "cope with it if you can" approach too. Apparently, I may have "early prostatitis". The non-aggro cancer version sounds OK to me...if we're investigating the preferred cancers to get.

It's a good website I go to. The link I use access each monthly journal and I search within the site too:
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/cont...

The AMA (Aussie version) produces a good journal that I used to get on an internal mailing list. The online mja version doesn't give access to all articles.

I'll check out the FOBT article when it comes.

-- posted by redback

» P_Al - cancer screening

It's a bit of a weird thought. But I guess there are much worse things that could happen to a man than discovering an indolent prostate cancer at the age of 90!

The eMJA site looks massive. I have bookmarked it to browse at my leisure.

-- posted by P_Al

» redback - cancer screening

It's actually a weird thought thinking I'll be here to annoy people as a nonagenarian, let alone what I'll admit to.

What I do like about the medical journals (eMJA) are the articles giving an Australian experience, giving the 'abstract' or overview and a totally independent, objective, no-nonsense explanation by leading professionals...backed by research. And I have used it to download info for family and friends.

Probably unrelated to 'cancer' but there is a website somewhere whose details have gone missing for me, that provides 'virtual' operations using animations and the brilliant diagram format of professional journals. Are the details in your 'library'?

-- posted by redback

» tinuviel - cancer screening

You´re a nonagenarian!! Does that mean what I think it means? I am honoured to be in your presence, Oh Redback.
:)

-- posted by tinuviel

» P_Al - cancer screening

Although I think medicine is similar anywhere you go, there will always be differences among populations. It's definitely important to have relevant experience based on your own research.

"there is a website somewhere whose details have gone missing for me, that provides 'virtual' operations using animations". Not sure about this. I sometimes browse a surgical site called OR-Live - http://www.or-live.com/

-- posted by P_Al

» redback - No no nonagenrian!

I am several weeks away from being a garden variety septagenarian(sp?) I was simply exchanging with Paul, the 'what if' I was a nona. By nona stage, methinks I'll re-introduce chocolate cake and other decadences back into my life. And go out with bad women!

PS: Thanks, Paul. I'll check out the site.

-- posted by redback

» tinuviel - No no nonagenrian!

Oops, sorry. My bad.

Twenty years from now, if I know any bad women, I will send them right over ;)

-- posted by tinuviel

» redback - No no nonagenrian!

Twenty years from now, I'd be grateful for your assistance...if I remember!

-- posted by redback