[Leica] Off Topic - Prostate

[afirkin at afirkin.com (Alastair Firkin)]

Same as breast Screening: in reality it "should" be beneficial to the 
community, but the real benefits (and problems ie false positives) are for 
the individual. I suspect, that if you have a normal PSA ie you had it done, 
then its worth continuing to measure it: a rise is much more significant 
than a simple borderline high value one off. Not sure if yearly is 
necessary: I suppose I should have another now that 3 years have passed ;-)

Cheers

--- ricc@embarqmail.com wrote:

From: Ric Carter <ricc@embarqmail.com>
To: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org>
Subject: Re: [Leica] Off Topic - Prostate
Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2008 18:26:14 -0500

I recently had my doctor (a new one) question whether I should test  
PSA, as I have for some years.

I understand the statistical analysis that says it may not make sense  
for the entire medical system to recommend testing yearly. But, the  
financial interests of the system do not necessarily match those of  
the individual.

If I get a result of concern, I may have a difficult decision to make.  
If I do not test, I do not have the tough decisions to make, but I may  
be allowing a cancer to develop unchecked.

It's the old statistical dilemma--adding a $5 part to the cost of one  
car, but if  you are figuring your profit on 5 million cars, it's  
pretty substantial.

Ric Carter
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/ricc/






On Nov 6, 2008, at 6:09 PM, Alastair Firkin wrote:

> I am 52 going on 53 and agonised over having my PSA done.


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