All it takes is one simple blood test to check for prostate cancer -

Life-saving experience

All it takes is one simple blood test to check for prostate cancer

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2007/06/17/2007-06-17_lifesaving_experience.html

BY XANA O'NEILL
DAILY NEWS WRITER

Sunday, June 17th 2007, 4:00 AM

It was one of the easiest exams William Marshall would ever take - and it may have saved his life.

The 50-year-old sales clerk from the Bronx had no idea the one-minute blood test he took during
his lunch break last June would change his life.

"They said it was a good thing I came," said Marshall. "If I had waited and didn't go, I might not
be here."

Marshall was reading the Daily News last year when he saw an ad for the paper's free annual prostate
cancer screening.

He decided to take the test.

"You guys actually saved my life," he said. "I would never have known I was sick."

Marshall was one of an estimated 234,460 diagnosed with prostate cancer last year, according
to American Cancer Society projections for 2006.

The illness is second only to lung cancer as the leading killer of men in the U.S. One of every
six men will be affected by it during their lifetime, according to the Society.

Prostate cancer will be responsible for 27,050 deaths in 2007, according to projections.

Early detection of the cancer - which affects men and begins in the walnut-sized gland below
the bladder and above the rectum - significantly improves survival rates.

"The doctor said they caught it in time," Marshall said.

The best method of early detection is a blood test, which the Daily News will offer for free
starting today - Father's Day - and throughout the week at over 60 locations in New York
and New Jersey. Times and locations can be found on the following pages.

It takes about a minute to draw blood from the arm. Results from the screening develop
between 24 and 48 hours after the test.

"It's the best thing that we have right now for detecting prostate cancer at an early age,"
said Dr. Debra Fromer, chief of the center for bladder, prostate and pelvic floor health at
Hackensack University Medical Center.


5 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

1. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death for men in the U.S. (No. 1 is lung cancer).

2. Almost 220,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed this year in the U.S.

3. 27,050 men in the U.S. will die of prostate cancer in 2007.

4. About one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime.

5. Over 1.8 million men in the U.S. are survivors of prostate cancer.

snip--->

Marshall first took a blood test to screen for prostate cancer three years ago and scored
below a 2.5. He said he was shocked last year when his PSA levels soared to 4.2.

"One year made a big difference," said Marshall, who encouraged others to get screened regularly.

"Knowledge is power."

The general population is advised to start annual screenings at age 50. African-Americans and
those with a history of cancer in their families are urged to start annual testing at age 40.

Although the blood test alone cannot determine if cancer exists, it is the best early indicator.

Those with high PSA levels are urged to undergo a digital rectal exam, in which a doctor inserts
a finger into the rectum to detect growth or enlargement of the gland.

If a growth or enlargement is detected, a biopsy of the prostate is taken to examine the tissue
for cancer cells.

Marshall said he was nervous when his biopsy came back positive for cancer but that his radiation
treatment was quick and painless.

"I was able to get treatments and go to work," said Marshall, who went to treatment five times a
week for two months. "Now my health is up, my levels are up."

More........



The blue wristband is an easy and popular way to show awareness
of prostate cancer and support of prostate cancer research.


http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org/site/apps/ka/ec/Product.asp?c=itIWK2OSG&b=1478463&en=ahIHIUPEI9IJL0PyF6LJI3PHKfIPL2NFI9JTKcNUF&ProductID=303161">Prostate Cancer Foundation Store

Features: Sold in packets of 10 wristbands.
Price: $10.00

www.prostatecancerfoundation.org

People should take the $10 (okay $20) and buy a home test kit and take it to their local newspaper and ask why in the friggin' hell we don't have them here.

http://www.worldwideshoppingmall.co.uk/body-soul/prostate-home-test-kit.asp

links to FREE testing in the USA but it seems to be local.
Maybe people can google that and find a free testing site near them?

beholding to the insuarance companies. The only thing holding back universal health care is the insurance industry, they stand to lose hundreds of billions, and hence, people die 0from lack of treatment.

http://www.reviewonline.com/News/articles.asp?articleID=8480">Free PSA blood tests being offered

LISBON, OHIO — Sunday, June 17, 2007 — Time: 7:01:56 PM

The Columbiana County Health Department will celebrate its fifth year
of screening for prostate cancer with free PSA blood tests on Wednesday.
County residents interested in the free PSA blood test should call
for an appointment at the health department at 330-424-0272.

The clinic is funded through a voter-approved levy.


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http://www.phoebeputney.com/newsroom/default2.asp?pageID=o63Vn08M153Lg4Jq41g">FREE TESTING-Georgia -Click on the link below for more information on the program

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http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/3-0&fp=46757b36cf295846&ei=Xb11Ru7sNZeEowKdx9kx&url=http%3A//www.thepilot.com/stories/20070613/news/local/20070613PSASCREEN.html&cid=0">FirstHealth Offering Free PSA Screenings

Southern Pines Pilot, NC - Jun 12, 2007

"In this day and age, it's easy to get a PSA exam," says Malone, a Pinehurst resident.
"You just give some blood, and that's it. Just go get the test. ...

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http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/7-0&fp=46757b36cf295846&ei=Xb11Ru7sNZeEowKdx9kx&url=http%3A//www.tylerpaper.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20070602/NEWS01/70601020&cid=0">Free Prostate Cancer Screening Under Way

Tyler Morning Telegraph, TX - Jun 1, 2007

After noticing a screening special offered by ETMC, he had his first PSA test
which came back abnormal. “I had no symptoms or anything else,” he said ...

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http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/8-0&fp=46757b36cf295846&ei=Xb11Ru7sNZeEowKdx9kx&url=http%3A//www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20070610/NEWS01/706100388/1007/NEWS01&cid=0">Skaggs Health Center to hold free screenings
News-Leader.com, MO - Jun 10, 2007

Free tests include blood pressure and hearing;
colorectal cancer take-home test kit, $5;
cholesterol profile, $10 with a 12-hour fast required,
and PSA ...

PLEASE make sure you get a test for Breast Cancer! I've been in the fight for this one for a long time too. No woman should be placed in a psotion to die because of Breast Cancer, it is treatable if caught early...no more deaths!

Their is no good evidence that it is any good for screening due to high false positives and the resultant treatment protocols.

From U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (2002):

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concludes that the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against routine screening for prostate cancer using prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing or digital rectal examination (DRE).

AHRQ Website

This is reinforced by in the latest guidelines issued by the American Association of Family Physicians in a Cochrane brief published in February 2007: Link to the article.

About 70% of positive PSA's are false positives, and there is no way to distinguish between aggressive (deadly) prostate cancer, and benign cancer which is found in most autopsy's of those who die of old age. AAFP PSA Screening Counseling Tools

I've had two PSAs and one "digital" exam.

Thanks for posting this. I'm gonna fax it to my doctor.

but the test was too expensive unless you had been a victim of cancer. After I was operated on in 1985 a blood test once a month was ordered. One time being curious I asked the tech how come that isn't part of a physical exam for a person. She told me is was way too expensive especially if ordered for everyone.

for that PSA test. Other places are offering it for free.

They don't routinely order that cervical cancer blood test either. Same reasons, I suspect.

I had one a couple of years ago (different HMO), but he told me that they don't recommend it anymore because it's too unreliable. Just had the digital exam instead.