OJ and prostate cancer

[Braunlow]

With the death of OJ Simpson due to complications from prostate cancer, we can once again see the importance of men getting a prostate check as a routine part of their physical exams. Too many men have neglected their health ( " I haven't been to a doctor in 30 yrs") as almost a form of trying to prove how tough they are. Then, when they do get sick, it is much worse than if they had been taking care of themselves. The prostate exam is one of the culprits. A PSA test is a minimal precaution, but many physicians say that a DRE, in conjunction with a PSA, is the safest way to go, because a PSA cannot detect early signs of hardening or cancerous growth, which a DRE can do. But of course, macho men don't feel comfortable with someone sticking a finger up their ass. Get over it; your life might depend on it.

One of my pet peeves, which has an effect on men and prostate health, is the humorous tone taken when the subject is broached. Comedians, tv shows, and many talk show hosts make jokes about the test, making it seem like something to be avoided at all cost. "If you are a real man, you don't let a dr stick a finger up your ass," is the joke. Look on YouTube; even med students were making humorous films about it. I don't ever remember hearing a comedian or a tv show making a joke about breast cancer. Oh yeah, some dr has to feel your tits. Isn't that hysterical?" No, there is no place for that, just as there is no place for jokes about prostate cancer.

So men, let's not fall victim to the idiocy surrounding prostate health. We need to treat it with as much concern as our heart, lungs, and stomach. And, if you know anyone who makes a joke about it or brags about not going to a dr, please set him straight about the possible consequences.

 

[art]

In 2011, the American Cancer Society updated its screening guidelines, making DRE optional. (My doctor quit doing them as a yearly routine when the recommendation changed.) An ACS review in 2020 found that DRE detected only 28% of prostate tumors, making it an inaccurate method for identifying cancer. In fact, a negative DRE does not rule out prostate cancer, and a positive DRE does not definitively indicate the need for a biopsy. The BPH blood test is more reliable than this. I hope all of us keep up all aspects of our health for long and happy life.

 

[Braunlow]

In 2011, the American Cancer Society updated its screening guidelines, making DRE optional. (My doctor quit doing them as a yearly routine when the recommendation changed.) An ACS review in 2020 found that DRE detected only 28% of prostate tumors, making it an inaccurate method for identifying cancer. In fact, a negative DRE does not rule out prostate cancer, and a positive DRE does not definitively indicate the need for a biopsy. The BPH blood test is more reliable than this. I hope all of us keep up all aspects of our health for long and happy life.

Which is why a combination of both is the most effective, which I stated in my post. But, we all need to be vigilant.

 

[Braunlow]

Psychologists say cultural attitudes and pressures regarding masculinity can play a role in men's hesitancy to reveal a prostate cancer diagnosis.

These expectations include that men remain sexually vigorous and self-sufficient throughout their lives. Prostate cancer can sometimes cause erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence, according to the Mayo Clinic, causing deep shame for some men.

"Masculinity is, in part, based on self-efficacy, and things like losing control of your bladder or experiencing pain when urinating or having a difficulty with sexual functioning can really impact men's self-esteem," Erik Anderson, a licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in men's issues and anxiety, previously told USA TODAY. "To admit that difficulty in functioning, it really feels like talking about a very vulnerable part of yourself."


O.J. Simpson died from prostate cancer: Why many men don't talk about this disease