Saturday, September 24, 2011

Settle a family bet...Why is more money spent on breast cancer than prostate cancer

Settle a family bet...Why is more money spent on breast cancer than prostate cancer?
Breast cancer has 50 times the funding of prostate cancer, and kills only about 5,000 more people annually. I just don't get it.
Cancer - 5 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
It's not just the number of deaths, it's how many are affected. Breast cancer occurs in one out of 5 women. Five women die every HOUR from breast cancer. So I don't know where you get your figures from. It also affects much younger people, in the prime of life. Prostate cancer occurs in 1 out of 11 men. Prostate also occurs late in life and as my dad's doctor said, he was more likely to die with it than of it. Prostate cancer has a 90% survival rate for five years.
2 :
About 1 in 8 women and 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with these cancers sometime in their life. Almost 30000 men each year die from prostate cancer. Almost 40500 women and about 450 men died last year of breast cancer. Don't know where your info came from. The United States invests approximately $16,700 to find a cure for each life lost to prostate cancer; more than $21,800 for each life lost to breast cancer, and about $160,000 for each life lost to AIDS. Those are the actual stats and I know where you're coming from. I had a brain tumor and everytime I went to my various drs offices, there was breast cancer awareness info everywhere. Pink things everywhere. All the magazines I got to read were about breast cancer. I felt left out! I told my dr I was jealous and felt left out of the "group" because I had brain cancer. He just smiled! He's always told me I'm his most unique patient.
3 :
April gave you some good information. I would like to add that breast cancer has a powerful lobby that pushes a lot of the funding by Congress. Additionally, most women that are diagnosed with breast cancer eventually die from the cancer. However, most men with prostate cancer die from something other than the prostate cancer (because most cases of prostate cancer are slow-growing types). Best wishes and good luck.
4 :
Thanks April for those statistics. I'm going to address myself to the issue of fundraising and breast cancer. I agree that awareness needs to be raised about other cancers too.and while I hate 'competitive illness' I can see why there is resentment about an imbalance in awareness raising and fund raising. BUT...the reason breast cancer is so high profile is simple - sheer hard work. Breast cancer awareness campaigns and BC Awareness Month started as a campaign by ordinary women, many of them with cancer, to raise awareness so that people knew the symptoms, examined themselves regularly, attended their routine mammograms etc. Enthusiastic participation and hard work by women made it grow into something nationally, then internationally, recognised (and then big business cashed in). Any group of people can start such an awareness campaign for any illness. There are other cancer awareness months, ribbons etc; but no cancer campaign has had the sheer hard work put into it that breast cancer awareness has. If prostate cancer awareness is a cause close to your heart (good for you if it is) there is nothing to stop you and a few friends starting a campaign in the same way those few women who started the whole breast cancer awareness campaign did. You'll have to be as dedicated as they were and work as hard as they did though.
5 :
It all depends on what has a high profile image that celebrities can identify with. There are about 200 cancers; many receive very little funding for research, until a celebrity becomes involved - look at Kylie Minogue (her having cancer did an enormous amount of profile raising for younger women with cancer); I am sure Patrick Swayze and Jade Goody would rather not have the publicity, but the one good thing to come out of their cancers is that charities will receive more money. In the 80s and 90s it became 'fashionable' for women to support breast cancer charities. Suddenly this had a high profile, and celebrities were kind enough to fund raise. Then along came AIDS, and celebs. such as Elton John and Elizabeth Taylor became involved in fund raising. Sadly, there are many, many diseases that do not have a high profile, that desperately need funding, but have to rely on the enthusiasm of a few supporters. That is why, on my website www.after-cancer.com, under Events I list both large and small events in aid of cancer. If you want to have fun, do support one of them near you. Verite R

Read more discussions :

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

How can women equate pregnancy to a long term illness such as prostate cancer? ( see prior question)

How can women equate pregnancy to a long term illness such as prostate cancer? ( see prior question)?
Pregnancy can be avoided ,or aborted to get and stay pregnant is a choice. To be stricken with a long term illness is hardly a choice, I don't see a parallel.

Gender Studies - 12 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
I know. And what about breast cancer? None of them mentioned it. Kinda funny.
2 :
i know that was crazy! i laughed at that example wen i 1st saw it.. i thought... NO connection whatsoever.
3 :
Women love to whine about pregnancy, but to me its like whining about your clothes. Its a CHOICE you made. So what are you crying about exactly?
4 :
how can you complain about maternity leave as special treatment when you are entitled, by federal law, to paternity leave? he who has a clean slate... uh...someone? it is PATERNITY leave. This means that MEN are entitled to time off from work when their partner/wife/girlfriend has a baby. how much clearer does that really need to be?
5 :
Because the foetus is essentially a parasite. I mean sure, it can be removed... but it is a traumatic thing to do on par sometimes with seeing the damned thing to term.
6 :
No one can predict an accident, hence the term "accident." No one can predict who is going to get cancer. (oh I know there are telltales, family history and all that, but you never really know who's going to get it when) And neither can we predict pregnancy. I'm on the pill. I insist my partners use condoms. There is still a one in one million chance that both could fail. It equates when you do everything possible to avoid pregnancy and cancer and still wind up getting either. And if someone tells me to not have sex, I'm going to tell them to quit walking around in the sunlight...skin cancer you know.
7 :
You failed to notice my point about paternity. Because we don't yet have acontraception that is 100% effective. Therefore, if a wom an got pregnant and didn't know about it until it was too late then she wouldn't have a choice to abort or tnot - in the Uk they are trying to lower the age of abortion to 3 months. So many women wouldn't know they would be pregnant and then they would have to have the baby. The fact is, long term illness would also cause the employer to take extra money - so both would involving sick [pay and temps. And ryde on, I think it's quite ignorant to say 'why do women' think that when it was only ONE woman, ME who said that. How can you base millions of women on just one point that I made??
8 :
Some women think of pregnancy as an illness... They may think it's not a good thing (some people don't want to have babies, that's ok) But it's usually YOUR fault and you can easily "cure" it.
9 :
That sounds like a poor analogy. That's like saying an ankle sprain is akin to contracting AIDS. I'm sure they both have similarities but they truly are completely different things. Pregnancy is generally the result of two adults choosing to have sex. A long term illness like AIDS is generally not chosen nor are other diseases like cancer. Yes I know that two people can choose to have sex and then contract AIDS but those two people only chose the sex and didn't choose to contract the disease which was just a random event. Long term illness can last years and even lead to death. Pregnancy, at least in Western countries, generally doesn't lead to death and I've never heard of a case of pregnancy lasting years. Also pregnancy typically has a cut-off point in length. Long-term illness, in general, when left untreated will persist. Long-term illness is often the result of a pathogen. Babies are not generally considered pathogens by the medical community. A woman's body has evolved to give birth to children. Neither a woman's nor a man's body has evolved for the purpose of perpetuating long-term illnesses. There are probably other differences but I'll stop there.
10 :
not everyone is pro-choice. not eveyone can deal with getting an abortion. no birth control is 100% effective. and actually, some long term illnesses CAN be avoided as much as pregnancy, as well. (lifestyle choices)
11 :
If you want an answer to your question, you have to explain what you're babbling about in THIS question. I'm not going to spend hours going to your profile and trying to figure out what you're talking about, with my slow dial-up connection. I've never heard anyone, woman or man, equate pregnancy to a long-term illness. Getting pregnant is NOT always a choice, and, given the lack of available abortions in this country (US), staying pregnant isn't always a choice either. But without the context for your question, I don't get what you're asking.
12 :
No no no ! You should never compare them. I haven't read the question you are referring to, but they are just not the same. Pregnancy is a time when you feel that you are gifted in some way (of course not in all cases), but no one would feel gifted because they had prostate cancer.

Read more discussions :

Friday, September 16, 2011

My dad has prostate cancer for 5 yrs, and the doctor ran tests and stated his PSA level is .08 should i be

My dad has prostate cancer for 5 yrs, and the doctor ran tests and stated his PSA level is .08 should i be?
Worried? The Dr. Said the medicine he has been taking is the best for him,but, it appears his body has gotten ammune to it and its not doing what it should anymore.
Cancer - 3 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
.08 is low. What medicine is he taking? edit. Went through radiation, still recovering...well I hope things get better than what they are :)
2 :
I have never heard of a PSA as low as .08. It's usually given in whole numbers. Prostate cancer is not treatable with medication or chemo. Radiation or removal are the only two options. I had it, so I know. I opted for removal. Maybe your dad just has an enlarged prostate. It's called displasia.That can cause problems and it is treatable with medication. Maybe your dad does have cancer and decided not to do anything about it except to take medication that is keeping his PSA at an incredibly low level. At any rate if he does nothing to cure the cancer his life expectancy is another 5 to 10 years. I wish both of you the best.
3 :
Good answers above. One minor addition to Jughead's comments - the important quality of a PSA number is not so much the number, but its change over time. If the number stays the same over a long time, that's good. If the number increases over several tests, then its time for concern - its referred to as the PSA acceleration. My number went from a 2.0 to a 2.9, which triggered the need for a biopsy, then surgery. 2 years now - PSA is 0 and holding steady.

Read more discussions :

Monday, September 12, 2011

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer? Are there any tests you can do on your own

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer? Are there any tests you can do on your own?

Cancer - 3 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :

1 :
Frequent urination is a symptom of an enlarged prostate, but you really need to see the doctor, have a PSA blood test and probably a biopsy to be sure.
2 :
http://www.google.com/search?q=prostate+cancer+symptoms&sourceid=mozilla-search&start=0&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=mozilla&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:unofficial Google is your best friend... learn to use it. :)
3 :
From starman's google: A need to urinate frequently, especially at night; Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine; Weak or interrupted flow of urine; Painful or burning urination; Difficulty in having an erection; Painful ejaculation; Blood in urine or semen; or Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs. Any of those symptoms is a test you can do on your own. Doesn't mean cancer though, means enlarged prostate.

Read more discussions :

Thursday, September 8, 2011

How much money is invested in research of prostate cancer

How much money is invested in research of prostate cancer?

Men's Health - 1 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
a lot...

Read more discussions :

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Man that has undergone to prostate cancer treatment can still have sex

Man that has undergone to prostate cancer treatment can still have sex?
Does Viagra resolve the problem?
Cancer - 3 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :

1 :
Probably. There is a risk of impotence when doing surgery on the prostate etc, but a good chance that plumbing will still work as advertised.
2 :
I had prostate cancer but I had radioactive seed implants. I've had no side effects and still have sex. I'm 62. I would check into the seeds before surgery.
3 :
hi, maybe you can find answer from this site that i have just found. there are some article about prostate cancer.

Read more discussions :

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Does an ultrasound detect prostate cancer

does an ultrasound detect prostate cancer?
I was wondering if a normal pelvic ultrasound detects prostate cancer. My prostate was checked in an ultrasound about a month ago and it was normal. I'm wondering because I've had a lot of prostate problems and I'm only in my 20's. I knew a guy who was only 28 that had prostate cancer.
Cancer - 5 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Prostate cancer can be detected through anal ultasound test.It can be detected through normal abdominal sonogram scan.
2 :
I don't know about prostate cancer but it did show my wife's breast cancer when there were not any lumps yet.
3 :
Ultrasound should work, or CT scan. If you are having problems, don't stop bugging the docs. It's your life. Best of luck.
4 :
I am an ultrasound tech, but we do not do prostate ultrasound at my facility. But from what I know, prostate ultrasound is not a great screening tool to detect cancer. The experts recommend DRE (digital rectal exam) and PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen - a simple blood test). Here is what I found: "Transrectal Ultrasound (TRUS) This procedure uses a small probe that is inserted into the rectum. The probe emits and picks up high-frequency sound waves. The sound waves bounce off the prostate, producing a pattern that is converted into a video image. Areas of cancer produce a different pattern than healthy tissue. The value of a TRUS is strongly influenced by the quality of the equipment and the skill of the person operating it. While ultrasound does not provide enough specific information to make it a good screening tool by itself, doctors find it useful as a follow-up to a suspicious DRE or PSA. TRUS is also used to guide biopsies in sampling abnormal areas of the prostate, to estimate the volume of the prostate for calculating PSA density, and to situate radiotherapy implants." http://www.health-alliance.com/Cancer/Prostate/detection.html "There is a strong correlation between increasing age and developing prostate cancer. The incidence of prostate cancer increases steadily from fewer than 1 in 100,000 for men aged 40 years to 1146 per 100,000 in men aged 85 years. The median age at diagnosis of prostate cancer is 70.5 years. More than 80% of prostate cancers are diagnosed in men older than 65 years. Autopsy records indicate that 70% of men older than 90 years have at least one region of cancer in their prostate." http://www.emedicinehealth.com/prostate_cancer/page2_em.htm
5 :
You don't indicate what your prior prostate problems were-but with your age,I presume it's prostatitis. I dont believe there's a correlation between that and prostatic cancer. A "normal" transrectal ultrasound exam does not gaurantee that it's cancer free- depends on the quality of the scan, the experience of the sonographer,etc. Nornally though,if your PSA is in a normal range and does not significantly rise over a sequential period of time, and no abnormalities are felt by your physician on a digital rectal exam, I would not lose any sleep on it. Prostate cancer is very rare in your age range (as opposed to testicular cancer),but again,your friend's case shows that rarities exist.

Read more discussions :