October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Be aware. Get your mammogram. And then consider this. . .
A few years ago I had a 50-something aged couple in my clinic. They were there for him this time and I was talking to the gentleman about recommended preventive screening. We got to the topic of prostate cancer screening. I explained to him the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test and the infamous digital rectal exam were the extent of the screening and, unfortunately, those tests had not proven to be very effective at prolonging life or reducing suffering. In fact, prostate cancer screening is so ineffective, many experts recommend against screening at all. In short, it was a controversial screening at best.
The gentleman became irate.
“It just isn’t fair, doc!!” the man exclaimed.
“What isn’t fair?” I asked.
The man continued. “Think about it! Just last weekend you had a gazillion people running through the streets of St. Louis in the Susan Komen Race for the Cure to help with breast cancer. T-shirts and bumper stickers everywhere with ‘Save the Tatas!’ Pink ribbons galore! And what does prostate cancer get? NOTHING!!”
The wife turned to her forlorned husband, placed her hand on his shoulder and in a thick Texas drawl offered a bit of perspective. “Now, now dear. We ladies love our breasts. And we know you men love our breasts. But no one loves the prostate, stuck up there next to the rectum. Seriously, dear! What did you expect?”
The man reflected for a second or two and turned to me with a sheepish grin. “You know doc, she does have a point.”
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