With the new year approaching, we’ll be heading into Hollywood blockbuster season soon. All the major studios will be dropping their biggest and best bets for a hit on us.
But there’s one sequel that’s already dropped that you’re going to want nothing to do with. And guys, this one is aimed at you… and your prostate.
The disturbing truth is the cancer industry has already raked in billions of dollars from unnecessary treatments for prostate cancer. And make no mistake about it, it IS an industry. And in this case, they’ve probably ruined far more lives than they’ve saved.
After years of dragging their feet, the feds finally did the right thing for once. They urged a stop to routine prostate cancer screenings for most men.
But, of course, the industry had no intention of letting go of this cash cow quietly. And if we ever believed it would actually lead to fewer unnecessary screenings, in the long run, some new research offers a sobering wake-up call.
And what this study uncovered is worth sharing with EVERY man in your life. I know I will be with the men in mine.
The PSA test is back for an encore
First, the feds urged an end to nearly all routine PSA tests. It was a simple message that led to a big step in the right direction as prostate cancer screenings fell.
But then they tried to tweak it.
The feds changed the messaging to say PSA tests are still unneeded for most men. But then allowed that men from 55-69 could consider a prostate cancer screening test as part of “individual decision-making” based on a conversation with a doctor.
And that’s when the industry saw its opening and pounced. As a result, the new study finds PSA tests are back in a big way. And spoiler alert, it’s not just in guys 55-69.
They’re back to giving the PSA to nearly every guy who walks in the door, across all age groups and categories. And that includes men over 70, who, for the most part, should NEVER get a routine PSA test.
Tests in older men are up 16 percent in just three years.
We learned a pretty tough lesson last time prostate cancer screening tests took off. Far too many of them detected low-risk, slow-growing cancers.
To be clear, in these cases, they were prostate tumors that likely would never hurt most guys in their lifetime and are best left alone. But once detected, they get treated. And that leads to unnecessary biopsies, surgeries, radiation, drugs, and more.
Take control of your own prostate health
In other words, instead of enjoying their golden years to the fullest as they should be, routine prostate cancer screening leaves countless older guys locked in a fight they should never have been in in the first place.
They’re put through this wringer and, as a result, can be left struggling with:
- pain
- infection
- incontinence
- impotence
To be perfectly honest, I’m not a big fan of many government guidelines. In fact, they often range from gross oversimplifications to downright wrong.
But this is a case where the feds FINALLY got it right when they recommended against routine prostate cancer screening for all men (even if it took them far too long to get there).
So consider ALL of your options before a PSA test. And go over ALL of the potential risks and (unlikely) benefits with a doctor you trust.
And if it turns you do have prostate cancer, don’t assume treatment is automatic, either. It’s NOT.
Many men do just fine with what’s called “active surveillance.” That’s when a slow-growing prostate tumor is left alone. No drugs, surgery, or radiation.
Every now and then, your doc will run a scan or other tests to ensure it hasn’t suddenly started growing faster. But in the end, many men will never need those treatments.
Oh, and guys, if you’re struggling with a stop and start stream when you pee, urgency, or dribbling, you’re not alone. These are often symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia or an enlarged prostate.
The good news is recent research has confirmed there isn’t a link between BPH and prostate cancer. You can read all about it right here and get some tips on relieving your symptoms while you’re at it.
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