Originally Posted by
Trsnrtr
One of the problems with prostate cancer is that is generally asymptomatic. By the time symptoms develop, it can be too late for treatment.
What kind of symptoms do non-testers think they will get before the cancer has progressed beyond normal treatment?
I had a very aggressive cancer with a lot of peripheral damage, yet no symptoms at all. In fact, my cancer returned aggressively 6 years later, again with no symptoms.
Who wants to risk no testing until they ejaculate blood or have no ejaculate at all? Or, even worse, starts having back or hip pain through metastases? If that happens, your treatment has gone way beyond normal prostate cancer treatment.
I've been told this is one of the side effects of Flomax. Which if we believe the ads significant numbers of men are using.
I guess whether to have a lab test and then have to make analysis and decisions following the test; or just do nothing and take what comes when symptoms arise depends a lot on an individual's personality. Some have a greater degree of self-discipline than others and so can make a decision and live with it. Others don't. Some providers are more willing to spend the time explaining and counseling their patients and other's aren't. Right now the system puts a premium on after test decision making; which evidence shows has not been up to par in all cases. But, if the test is not available neither patient nor doctor gets to make any decisions; until the disease manifests itself in other ways.