Posted on 03/15/2012 8:53:33 PM PDT by Pining_4_TX
Recently, however, there have been rumblings within the medical profession that suggest that the enthusiasm for early diagnosis may be waning. Most prominent are recommendations against prostate cancer screening for healthy men and for reducing the frequency of breast and cervical cancer screening. Some experts even cautioned against the recent colonoscopy results, pointing out that the study participants were probably much healthier than the general population, which would make them less likely to die of colon cancer. In addition there is a concern about too much detection and treatment of early diabetes, a growing appreciation that autism has been too broadly defined and skepticism toward new guidelines for universal cholesterol screening of children.
The basic strategy behind early diagnosis is to encourage the well to get examined — to determine if they are not, in fact, sick. But is looking hard for things to be wrong a good way to promote health? The truth is, the fastest way to get heart disease, autism, glaucoma, diabetes, vascular problems, osteoporosis or cancer ... is to be screened for it. In other words, the problem is overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
You can never be over tested. A good diagnostician is your best friend be it a cold or cancer.. communication is key..
If I can't figure out what is broke or bleeding, I'll just make right with Jesus, and go from there.
I lived through one bad time... never, ever again. I was "THIS" close. And now, eventually, I gotta do it all over again.
/johnny
I’m guessing this is a feel good article about impending changes in people’s (lack of) health care through Obama.
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Um. |
I disagree.
Overtesting is often done on elderly people(I’m one of them).
I haven’t developed colon cancer or osteosporosis at age 79 so I refuse to be tested for them anymore. If I get them,I get them.
I am having another test done in a few weeks for something that may or may not be be prevented by early detection but I’m giving this one a shot since I’ve never had this test before.
Some commonly held beliefs about Prostate Cancers (PC):
Most PC are slow growing, one of the slowest growing of all cancers.
Your chances of having a PC already are aprox (age-20)%
So if you are 60, there is a 40% chance of a PC already in you. Small tumors are difficult to find with DRE. PSA is a better tool.
For men over 60, with PC, you will most likely die from something other than your PC.
As I said these are only beliefs. Your urologist is best qualified to make diagnosis.
What about people that never get tested? I hear about the 85 year olds that never get tested, but id prefer to get routine physicals and bloodwork to be on the preventive side. As a sidenote, im 41..
“The truth is, the fastest way to get heart disease, autism, glaucoma, diabetes, vascular problems, osteoporosis or cancer ... is to be screened for it.”
I have said this for years.
That and the lowering and lowering of levels of what “is sick” will put you in the sick category faster than you can turn your head.
That’s true. Men usually die with pc than from it.. doesn’t hurt to be tested for it.. well, maybe a little bit. Make sure the doctor doesn’t have both hands on your shoulders during the digital exam.. you get my point..
“What about people that never get tested? “
My mother never got tested(most of the current tests weren’t around).
She made it to 91.
After my last child was born when I was 35 I didn’t see a doctor for 15 years-—I didn’t even have one,but at age 50 things started to change so I had annual physicals,often including the tests I am now refusing to do.
lol which is why I prefer female MD’s or PA’s (physician’s assitants) They have smaller fingers.
I had my first colonoscopy at 66 and that will be my last. The procedure itself was painless, but hated the prep. Anyway there was not even a hint of polyps, and I do not drink or smoke and eat lots of fiber. However I intend to have regular Hemocult tests.
My SIL’s both went to doctors regularly, they had all the regular tests and both of them ended up with stage 4 cancers, one melanoma and the other advanced breast cancer, both have survived but it was touch and go. So, to me, anecdotally, the tests don’t seem to help because neither were diagnosed until they started having disturbing symptoms.
If I didn’t get my skin checked about 10 years ago I’d be dead now from melanoma.
My MIL is 89, they wanted to run tests on her heart and she wouldn’t let them.
Every so often she has some gastrointestinal problems and we have to take her in to get an IV because she stops eating and drinking and they get so mad when we don’t let them do any tests, we know what is wrong with her and what she needs.
That is probably the crux of the matter.
The accepted levels of everything are so low that no one can comply without medication. The medication has side affects as well. And so it goes.
I suspect when OCare kicks in, this trend will reverse.
I have noticed in the last few years, it even extends to veterinarians. Go figure.
Genes...it’s all in the genes.
Look at your family history, and adjust accordingly.
One of my grandmothers had colon cancer, so I am screened for that.
The other grandmother had a heart attack at 72, but lived to be 91. She spent 12 days in a nursing home.
Those are the two problems with my genetic history.
If there is a history of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, whatever...be aware, and take care of yourself.
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