Should men be given free tests for prostate cancer?
By BubblyIan
@BubblyIan (750)
September 22, 2008 4:40pm CST
Women in UK have free tests for breast and cervical cancer and these have been very successful in reducing the deaths from these two serious illnesses.
Women already live longer than men and one factor behind this could be the fact that women have screening programs and men do not.
Prostate cancer is detected in around 30,000 men every year nad kills around one third.
There is a simple blood test for the prostatic specific antigen (PSA) which if tested regularly and suddenly jumps dramatically then it is a very good indicator of prostate cancer - at least as accurate as the cervical smear test (20% false positives).
Every man over 40 should know his PSA reading.
We check our cars annually for an MOT, why not check yourself with an annual MOT (Medical Overview test)
I do.
Could it be that the UK Government only likes spending money on women's health?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@MrsRich723 (602)
• United States
22 Sep 08
I think if the women are getting free test, then the men should receive them as well. It's not fair to allow one gender to get free testing and not the other.
@BubblyIan (750)
•
22 Sep 08
Totally agree! One of the many unfairnesses against men in the UK. Maybe you can raise this issue in your area with the health providers?
