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What to say to guys who don't believe in doctors?
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: 15 hours ago | Replies (29)Comment receiving replies
@thmssllvn The annual FAA medical exam can't catch much (other than high blood pressure) if the pilot doesn't complain. There's no blood test required (which might catch cholesterol issues). Given the FAA's hyper sensitivity about many medical issues, most pilots don't volunteer much in their FAA exam. The FAA used to mandate a rectal prostate exam for every man at any age, until common sense stopped that. There are other silly examples (provided upon request).
Some pilots with minor medical issues have two doctors, one for the exam, & one for their health. However, hiding those visits from the FAA can get you in big trouble.
From the standpoint of this discussion, the big benefit is that pilots are used to getting medical exams, & most are sensitive to dealing early with any medical issues that might end their career.
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@dkgibson The Transport Canada aviation aviation medical is probably similar. The doctor takes a urine sample (for blood sugar, not drug testing) and checks your blood pressure, vision, and hearing. If you're over 40, every 4 years you also have to take an ECG. The rest is voluntary disclosure.
When I disclosed what happened to me in 2021, the reason they gave for taking away my medical was the spinal surgery, not the cancer drugs.
My surgeon took that personally and volunteered to write a letter, and an aviation lawyer (recommended by COPA) thought I had a strong case, but I decided not to pursue it (yet) because they still have the opportunity to fall back on the ADT and ARSI (which they ignored in their letter) if I were to win over the spinal injury.
I've went up with an instructor in a rental Cessna a couple of years ago (when I was still walking with a cane), and he said my stick-and-rudder skills and situational awareness were solid, despite 2 years away and everything that happened to me, so maybe some day I'll take up the fight. 🤷