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Frequency of PSA Test

Prostate Cancer | Last Active: 1 hour ago | Replies (23)

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Profile picture for northoftheborder @northoftheborder

@brianjarvis So about the same as here in Canada (it's free if ordered by a doctor, but costs US $30 and up if self-ordered).

It's absolutely inexplicable that doctors would be reluctant to order that either for annual screening, or for frequent monitoring after a cancer diagnosis.

Women have to put up with what feels like having their breasts crushed in a vise for mammograms, or sandpaper scraped inside their vaginas for pap smears; all we have to worry about is a tiny needle poking into our arms (and they can draw blood for dozens of other tests at the same time).

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Replies to "@brianjarvis So about the same as here in Canada (it's free if ordered by a doctor,..."

@northoftheborder Same here. If ordered by my doctor, it’s covered. A couple of times I’ve ordered one myself - just out of curiosity. I started PSA testing in 2000 (at 45y/o) after reading an article (similar to this 1992 article) a few years earlier.

What often happens here is that doctors won’t order a test unless you ask for it. That’s it! All a guy has to do is to ask for it.

I’ve asked my wife about mammograms - do they make you have one? She said no; they bring it up, but it’s totally up to her whether or not to have one. Similar with pelvic exams - do they make you have one? She said no; they bring it up, but it’s totally up to her whether or not to have one. But, women know about them (and the value), so they get them done.

On the other hand, I’ve heard guys (even some mention on this forum) say they never heard about prostate cancer or PSA tests until they started having issues. That seems impossible to believe.

Recently, I was curious as to how many celebrities and other notable figures (athletes, actors, politicians, business leaders, and others in the spotlight) over the past few decades have been in the news with a diagnosis (or death) from prostate cancer. After less than an hour of searching, this was the list I amassed: Al Roker, Andre Dawson, Andre Patterson, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Andy Grove, Andy Taylor, Arnold Palmer, Ben Stiller, Bill Bixby, Bjorn Borg, Bob Casey, Bob Dole, Brooks Robinson, Cal Ripken, Carlton Fisk, Charlton Heston, Chuck Tanner, Cliff Richard, Colin Egglesfield, Colin Powell, Dan Fogelberg, Darwin Deason, Davey Lopes, David Koch, Dennis Hopper, Derrick Hall, Dexter Scott King, Dick Sargeant, Don Ameche, Dusty Baker, Elton John, Francois Mitterrand, Frank Zappa, Gary Cooper, Glenn Thompson, Gregg Olson, Harry Belafonte, Hugh Freeze, Ian McKellen, Jake Abraham, James Michael Tyler, James Pickens, Jr., Jay Harris, Jerry Brown, Jerry Orbach, Joe Torre, John Kerry, Johnny Ramone, Ken Griffey, Sr., Langston Hughes, Linus Pauling, Lloyd Austin, Lord Cameron, Mandy Patinkin, Michael Bennet, Michael Milken, Michael Ray Richardson, Mitt Romney, Montel Jordan, Nelson Mandela, O.J. Simpson, Phil Lesh, Phil Niekro, Ram Herrera, Rick Steves, Rob Halford, Ryne Sandberg, Rob Gardenhire, Robert DeNiro, Rod Stewart, Roger Moore, Ron Wyden, Rudy Giuliani, Ryan O’Neal, Shannon Sharpe, Sidney Poitier, Sir Chris Hoy, Sir Roger Moore, Stephen Fry, Steve Garvey, Steve Ross, Stokeley Carmichael, Telly Savalas, Terrell Williams, Thom Tillis, Tim Commerford, Timothy Leary, Ty Cobb, Warren Buffet, & William Hurt.

I’m sure there are many others. All of us have heard of many (or most) of those in that list. Despite all the media
attention given to these celebrities and their diagnoses, most men say they never even
heard about prostate cancer or PSA testing; as a result, never choose to get their PSA tested. I don’t get it.

That’s an unfortunate choice.