Important note from me, the blogwriter: Posting this kind of article ALWAYS causes controversy and heated debate. Inevitably, as with all my other prostate articles, someone will write in an say that in spite of my criticism of the PSA Prostate Test, the test saved their lives. My real objective is to give men both sides of the story, so each of us can start to make our own health choices. I'm not into "writing and fighting" over the web, nor am I trying to come off as a Guru of expert. What I am trying to do is help make others aware that we are, whether we want to admit it our not, victims of "Money Driven Medicine" in this country.
So, if you disagree, that's fine let's dialog calmly and professionally, and trade information and evidence, which I always welcome as I continue to educate myself. Remember, my mantra on my "About Me" page is…….
"I don't get my kicks on being right, I get my kicks on finding truth….."
That being said, let's get down to business…….
I dived into this subject matter a while back when I ran rand across how the inventor of the PSA Prostate, Dr. Richard J. Ablin, said he was "Ashamed that the test he invented has become a 'Profit Driven', Public Health Disaster" (his words).
You can read my original article here.
PSA test inventor said the test was never meant for the widespread use…….
……..that it is being used for now, though it does have some merit in specific circumstances.
In the end, the test itself is a revenue generator for the Medical industry, causes unnecessary medication, unnecessary surgeries, unnecessary impotence and a hoard of other disastrous consequences on 50 to 100 men, for every one man that it "supposedly" detects prostate cancer (or what they now seem to call "Pre-Prostate Cancer").
I love Natural News' information, but not their "Shock Value"
I thought my boy Morgan Freeman could help me "smooth out" this subject, and give us some that calm, collective, distinguished, wise-man's vibe in this short but important article on this very controversial subject I pulled from the Natural News.com website.
I know a lot of people don't like Natural News……
…. because they are kind of "out there" in their presentation. However I find most (though not all) of their information very reliable, the problem being so many things they present are often in direct in opposition to many of the "hardwired" things drummed in our heads as pertains to health and wellness.
I don't think you can shock people into your point, I like to "smooth it out".
Here is the "Short But Not So Sweet" article I pulled word for word from Natural News
(NaturalNews) Regular prostate cancer screening has no effect on the risk of death from the disease, according to a large-scale, long-term study conducted by researchers from the National Cancer Institute and published online in the New England Journal of Medicine.
"There was little or no scientific evidence that it saved lives," said Otis Brawley, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society.
The prostate specific antigen (PSA) test…….
…… which measures blood levels of a protein produced by the prostate gland, has been controversial as a cancer screening test since it first became popular in the 1990s.
At the time, Brawley was one of many scientists who raised concern over the usefulness of the test.
"I can say firsthand………
…….that some American screening advocates were vicious in their attacks on those who dared question prostate cancer screening," Brawley said.
Some lay and physician advocates had a religious-like fervor for screening."
In the current study………
……….part of the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial, researchers looked at rates of prostate cancer and prostate cancer death among 76,693 men, half of whom were assigned to undergo PSA screening once per year.
The other participants were assigned to continue with regular health care practices and not advised regarding prostate screening. The participants were then followed for seven to 10 years each.
The current results are considered preliminary……
……..and the study is still ongoing. By its conclusion, all participants will have been followed for 13 years each.
In the preliminary analysis, the overall rate of prostate cancer death among participants "was very low and did not differ significantly between the two study groups," the researchers wrote. An independent review committee has endorsed the findings and recommended their publication.
Because most prostate cancers are slow growing……..
………many men may die of other causes without ever experiencing symptoms from an active cancer. Neither the PSA test nor a biopsy, however, is able to determine whether a cancer is slow-growing or aggressive.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has recommended against prostate cancer screening in men above the age of 74.
My final note, I'm a "bit" of a Conspiracy Theorist at the core…….
…….I admit, but I have to not take that approach in my blog. I have to take more of a "lets deal with what's practical", as opposed to Shock Value. I'm always trying to tone it down, especially for people looking into this stuff for the first time. We are wired to go down the road like robots in our perceptions of the Medial Industry, men with our Prostate testing, and women with their Mammograms.
……with trillions of dollars vested in keeping us back for more testing as opposed to us learning and keeping ourselves well via better food and lifestyle choices.
We have to start doing our own thinking, and then make informed choices , or at least try……….
~stay healthy~
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