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African Americans and PC

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Prostate Cancer
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Posted 2/4/2016 5:06 PM (GMT -5)
Interesting article in Discovery Newsletter at John Hopkins

“Our African American patients need to know that they are likely to harbor more aggressive disease than the biopsy suggests, and that their prostate cancer may be more aggressive than prostate cancer in other men.”

http://urology.jhu.edu/newsletter/2015/detecting_prostate_cancer_4.php

Thus, I stress to AA dudes in my family and friends to get tested but some say that I am not going to let another man stick a finger in my butt. Utterly stupid.
Posted 2/4/2016 7:52 PM (GMT -5)
Stupid for sure Howard.
Of course, most guys have a level of modesty that leads to them not wanting the DRE. We already diagnosed guys, on the other hand, have already lost our modesty, and I guess, our dignity, out of necessity.
Posted 2/4/2016 10:51 PM (GMT -5)
I am going through this with my friends now. They all say the same thing. I am not letting a dr stick their finger up my ass. I tell them I am 40 and have PC. I tell them I am glad I didn't wait until I am 50 like most men are told. I probably wouldn't have made it that long since the Ca has probably already been in there for years. If anything good comes from this is I hope people start getting checked earlier the better in my opinion.
Posted 2/5/2016 6:50 AM (GMT -5)
Howard and Krg, welcome to the side of this disease that bothers many of us, and it seems magnified among AA men. I note the recent passing of Hotrod Williams (NBA player) of PC at a fairly young age. Education is huge, and I believe that those of us who are dealing with this disease are the best ones to take on the role of educator with our family members, co-workers, and friends. Big splashy ad campaigns won't work with PC. It's a one on one thing.

If your efforts to pass it on get even ONE man through the door of a doctors office, you're doing well.

Don't get me started on screening recommendations.
Posted 2/5/2016 6:21 PM (GMT -5)
Trust me, a finger up your black ass, or your white ass, is a piece of cake compared to a 12-core biopsy in the doctor's office. I've had both, along with two hospital biopsies. Biopsies in the doctor's office are like having a pipe bomb shoved up your butt.

Despite the discomfort, I'll continue doing whatever it takes to fight PCa.

I am African-American, and I say that all guys -- regardless of their race -- who refuse to get tested are cheating themselves and their families.

The first finger up my ass to check my prostate was from an African-American general practitioner, a male. Then an older, white male urologist. Then a black female urologist. Then two hospital biopsies by the black female urologist.

And I'm going to keep doing whatever I have to do to stay healthy. Every man, regardless of race, should be doing the same.

Fellas, get over your insecurities and live.
Posted 2/5/2016 7:52 PM (GMT -5)
I remember a time when I was uncomfortable with the old hernia check, "turn your head and cough". Things sure change after the PC diagnosis. Any sense of dignity is long gone. All the probing is now just an annoyance. But by far, the most unpleasant experience for me was the hour long MRI with coil. I found this more difficult than the biopsy.
Posted 2/5/2016 8:26 PM (GMT -5)
If they won't let another man stick a finger up their butt, they could always get a female urologist.

And has been noted, there can be a lot worse in store than a simple DRE...
Posted 2/5/2016 9:43 PM (GMT -5)

Cigar56 said...
Trust me, a finger up your black ass, or your white ass, is a piece of cake compared to a 12-core biopsy...

You ain't NEVER lied, my good man. NEVER
Posted 2/5/2016 9:50 PM (GMT -5)

JFL1957 said...
...the most unpleasant experience for me was the hour long MRI with coil.

would you mind explaining to me why this was an unpleasant deal for you? my uro recommended i have a MULTI-PARAMETRIC MRI of my prostate. so, this is why i am asking.
Posted Yesterday 3:22 AM (GMT -5)
I have read some of the literature relating to PC and AA but I am not completely convinced. Many of my friends, including my brother, have never had a physical checkup, so by the time he had symptoms he as stage 4. So this may add to the numbers but younger whites have this same issue. I was talking to a young man in the gym and he was telling me that he was bleeding. He does not have regular doctor and has never had an annual checkup. So not only do we have to get tested we have to monitor our overall health. Like many of you my doctors discovered my PC. So many minorities get to the game late.
Posted Yesterday 8:08 AM (GMT -5)
Sammas, my RO requested the MRI with coil to rule out any spread before starting radiation. I had assumed a "coil" would be a small slender tube. It is not. And they inflate it after insertion for stabling during the procedure. My tech evidently wasn't convinced it was in all the way and continued to shove until I repeatedly said "no mas". My MRI lasted over an hour with that "coil" lodged up there. I'm glad I had the test, as it ruled out the need for HT before radiation, but if I had to do over again I would want a stronger anesthesia.
Posted Yesterday 9:08 AM (GMT -5)
As if the threat of PC was not bad enough for all men, it is a cancer that definitely discriminates based on race. The point of this thread hopefully will be emphasized at places other than this forum. In our work places, churches, on TV, etc.

www.pcf.org/site/c.leJRIROrEpH/b.5900541/k.6F84/A_Top_10_List_of_Epidemiological_Factors_at_Stake_for_African_Americans.htm
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