Check Yourself Out
There are 12,000 UK deaths annually from prostate cancer, having recently overtaken the breast cancer mortality rate and it’s on track to become the highest cause of male cancer deaths
To put that figure into even more perspective, it’s 200 times the 60 UK deaths from testicular cancer. There is no national screening programme for prostate cancer, therefore the charity Mancheck focuses on informing men of the alternatives available so that they might avoid the disease. Mancheck also campaigns for targeted screening, now that reliable techniques, that avoid unnecessary invasive investigations and over-treatment, have become available.
So why no screening? For both good reasoning based on sound medical science and for reasons that are contentious, the NHS has not yet committed to screening. It is argued that mass targeted screening might not produce a net benefit or extension of life. In other words, the downside of screening outweighs the upside. One argument centres on the Prostate Specific Antigen blood test (PSA test). There is historic evidence that this test was over-relied upon as the screening gold bullet, especially in the USA and in private medicine, causing men to be over treated and suffer the side effects of unnecessary procedures.
Mancheck believes this argument to be long out-of-date and that urologists are not only ‘PSA clever’ but know full well not to over-treat; preferring where possible to put men on active surveillance. The downside risks of interfering with the prostate should not be understated; they are sepsis, single or double incontinence, erectile dysfunction and more – certainly not a path many men would want to go down unnecessarily. However, should men not be given the choice between treatment and advanced metastasised cancer leading to palliative care? Mancheck takes issue with the current situation, believing it to be unacceptable and that men are being disadvantaged.
I’m a man, what can I do? From the age of 45 men of Afro-Caribbean ethnicity, and white males from age 50, have the right to PSA testing and if it doesn’t scare you too much – a brief digital examination. Inform your GP of any family history of cancer in both male and female lines and especially if you have any symptoms. The majority of men get no symptoms, which is why screening is so important, however a list of symptoms are listed on Mancheck and NHS websites. Mancheck is looking to work with other small charities that have become proficient in holding PSA testing events; the Graham Fulford Trust, Chris Booth’s CHAPS, PCaSO, and Barry Kilby’s charity based in Burnley.
The 12th June sees Mancheck holding its second Art at the Inn event at the iconic Inn at Whitewell, and beautiful Forest of Bowland where artists will paint for charity. The works are to be exhibited and sold over June and July at Platform Gallery, Clitheroe, and Whitewell Social Hall.
For further information visit www.ArtAtTheInn.org or www.mancheck.org.
