Don’t look, don’t tell
This August has seen an interesting recommendation from the US Preventative Services Task Force. Men aged more than 75 years should not be screened for prostate cancer. Indeed, younger men should be counseled on whether screening is necessary or desirable. Why should the medical profession, which is supposed to be there to save lives, be leaving older men out of the diagnosis and treatment loop? Well, it’s not quite as heartless as it might appear. Prostate cancer grows quite slowly and men are likely to die of old age before the cancer kills them. Indeed, if men are diagnosed with cancer, this is distressing. The men and their families obviously worry. The Task Force argues it is better not to know. If men do begin to have problems with erectile dysfunction, they can simply take Levitra which almost inevitably allows sexual activity to resume. Taking biopsies is invasive and can be painful. Some of the medications and treatments short of surgery can cause impotence. Surgery more often than not does cause sexual problems that Levitra can only partially solve. Thus, if there are no serious symptoms to investigate, it’s better not to look. Letting life take its course is the kindest option.