4 ms·

That may be partly because breast cancer survival rates are shorter and lower. In short breast cancern is far more deadly (I also believe it is more likely to a

That may be partly because breast cancer survival rates are shorter and lower. In short breast cancern is far more deadly (I also believe it is more likely to affect younger women but I have no source for that). http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/overviewguide/breast-cancer-overview-survival-rates http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/overviewguide/brea... http://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostatecancer/detailedguide/prostate-cancer-survival-rates http://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostatecancer/detailedguide/pr... You should also read the article I linked. The point is not simply that the PSA test is ineffective and treatment can be harmful, but that prostate cancer itself is not a big enough threat to justify treatment in most cases. > not prostate exams in general (i.e. rectal exam palpation). And like mammograms it depends on the population of interest and repeated tests. BTW do you have a source that shows this is true.

hashmymustache 14y ago
They're not as unequal as this says. http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast.html http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast.html http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/prost.html http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/prost.html 23.0 deaths per 100,000 women by breast cancer 23.6 deaths per 100,000 men by prostate cancer But, yea often prostate cancer isn't enough to warrant it because more likely than not on autopsy you'll find some kind of prostate cancer on a guy that didn't cause his death.
- lucisferre 14y ago
  Thanks for that link, it's really interesting data. I noted though the difference in the age distributions. Breast cancer does seem to have significantly higher incidences at younger ages.
  - hashmymustache 14y ago
    yea you're right that there's a big difference in the mean age and a more benign prognosis for prostate cancer in general. I just get uppity with all the focus in society on breast cancer with the high rates of lung (3rd most often, 1st most deadly - no screening procedures), colon, prostate, etc. With regard to your question on the effectiveness of digital rectal exams for prostate screening, I'm not sure about specific studies. From the us preventative services task force site where they suggest against the PSA test for screening they mention: "Periodic digital rectal examinations could also be an alternative strategy worthy of further study. In the only randomized trial demonstrating a mortality reduction from radical prostatectomy for clinically localized cancer, a high percentage of men had palpable cancer." http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/prostatecancerscreening/prostatefinalrs.htm http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/prostatecancers...
    - lucisferre 14y ago
      I think what's most disappointing is that it seems more effort and money is expended promoting awareness of this cancer or that cancer rather than just investing in medical research that could save lives. Maybe that's just my perception.

hashmymustache 14y ago

They're not as unequal as this says. http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast.html http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast.html http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/prost.html http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/prost.html 23.0 deaths per 100,000 women by breast cancer 23.6 deaths per 100,000 men by prostate cancer But, yea often prostate cancer isn't enough to warrant it because more likely than not on autopsy you'll find some kind of prostate cancer on a guy that didn't cause his death.

lucisferre 14y ago
Thanks for that link, it's really interesting data. I noted though the difference in the age distributions. Breast cancer does seem to have significantly higher incidences at younger ages.
- hashmymustache 14y ago
  yea you're right that there's a big difference in the mean age and a more benign prognosis for prostate cancer in general. I just get uppity with all the focus in society on breast cancer with the high rates of lung (3rd most often, 1st most deadly - no screening procedures), colon, prostate, etc. With regard to your question on the effectiveness of digital rectal exams for prostate screening, I'm not sure about specific studies. From the us preventative services task force site where they suggest against the PSA test for screening they mention: "Periodic digital rectal examinations could also be an alternative strategy worthy of further study. In the only randomized trial demonstrating a mortality reduction from radical prostatectomy for clinically localized cancer, a high percentage of men had palpable cancer." http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/prostatecancerscreening/prostatefinalrs.htm http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/prostatecancers...
  - lucisferre 14y ago
    I think what's most disappointing is that it seems more effort and money is expended promoting awareness of this cancer or that cancer rather than just investing in medical research that could save lives. Maybe that's just my perception.