Sir Rod’s right: Get yourself checked
SIR ROD STEWART has disclosed his battle with prostate cancer and joined celebrities Bill Turnbull and Stephen Fry in urging men to go to their doctor and get checked. As he pointed out, he was lucky because his prostate cancer was detected early, giving him the best chance of being successfully treated. Yet despite such publicity I suspect many men will dither because they may have heard that the PSA test is not 100 per cent reliable and biopsies that are used to check for cancer can be uncomfortable. They need to be made aware that some hospitals adopt a more detailed procedure that involves using MRI scans to detect cancerous cells and tumours before biopsies are performed. When I was referred to the Queen Elizabeth in Birmingham for suspected prostate cancer, I was given an ultrasound to check the condition of my prostate. This was followed by an MRI scan, which showed a tumour in my prostate. This meant the biopsy could be performed with greater accuracy and a more reliable analysis obtained. Yes, biopsies are uncomfortable and do carry risks, but until there is a more accurate and painless method for accurately detecting the presence and location of the cancer in the prostate they seem to be the most reliable means of determining whether the cancer is aggressive and could spread. They can also determine if the cancer is slow-growing and unlikely to spread beyond the prostate during a man’s lifetime. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer four years ago and following a CT scan to check my bone density, I was treated with radiotherapy and androgen injections. I am now in my fifth year of being monitored and my oncologist is satisfied with my progress and expects to be able to discharge me next year. Like Sir Rod Stewart, I have found maintaining a positive attitude during my treatment has been helpful. But the biggest difference is that my cancer was detected before it spread. So men, go and speak to your GP and get checked. If you end up needing biopsies, the discomfort could be worth it if they save your life. DEREK G. ADAMS,
Birmingham.