Why we need to talk about prostate cancer | Letters

Readers respond to news of George Monbiot’s diagnosis with their own experiences and best wishes

Both George Monbiot (I have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, but I am happy, 14 March) and Bill Turnbull (Former BBC breakfast host Bill Turnbull has prostate cancer, 6 March) have performed a service to men by sharing their shock at discovering they have prostate cancer. Bill wishes he had had PSA testing more often than every five years; George says that this standard assessment is of limited use. I agree with Bill and take issue with George. My prostate cancer was discovered by two private PSA tests taken 11 months apart. My Gleason score was nine out of 10. I was finally clear of cancer last year after 14 years of treatment. I suggest things could have been a lot worse if I had not had these two tests within a year.

George should have mentioned the Prostate cancer risk management programme whose aim is: “… to ensure that men receive information about prostate cancer and the associated risks, and clear and balanced information about the advantages and disadvantages of the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test. This will help men to decide whether they want to have the test.”

Continue reading... March 16, 2018 at 10:07PM