Robin Gibb, PSA Tests, and RFL of Greater Bridgewater!

Let's start with the fun part:  We have finalized the lap and event schedules!  Get excited, because we have a lot going on this year.  Make sure to pack for the theme laps, as we want to see as many people participating as possible!

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Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees died on Sunday, May 20th of colon cancer at the age of 62.  He suffered through aggressive chemotherapy and 2 emergency surgeries in the past couple of months, and he eventually was stricken with brain swelling and pneumonia.  What makes his story even worse is that colon cancer is relatively preventable with routine screening. 

There are no early warning signs of colon cancer.  Robin Gibb wasn't diagnosed until the disease spread to his liver, giving him a stage 4 diagnosis.  At that point, the disease is often rapidly fatal even with the aggressive treatment he underwent.   Colon cancer affects the large intestine and can spread as far as the rectum (the last few inches of the intestine - this was what killed Farrah Fawcett).  The disease develops very slowly, starting as polyps, and it can take 10+ years for these polyps to become cancerous. 

In 2012, over 100,000 people will be diagnosed with colon cancer, and it is expected to kill more than 50,000 people this year alone.  Many of these deaths are preventable with a colonoscopy, but less than half of Americans who should be tested are!  No, the test isn't a walk in the park, and many put off the testing because of the preparation (clear food and laxatives for about 2 days prior to the test).  BUT!  This test is 60-90% effective at preventing this disease.  Isn't it worth the inconvenience?

Colonoscopies are recommended every 10 years starting at age 50, but those with a family history of colon cancer are typically advised to start earlier and test more frequently.  Other risk factors (much like all cancers) include diabetes, smoking, obesity, poor diet, and a sedentary lifestyle.  There is also some evidence that heavy drinking increase the risk for men and may increase the risk for women.  Caveat - Robin Gibb did not drink and he was a vegan.  This is why screening is so important.

A new study by the World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research showed that increasing our fiber intake, moderate exercise, and staying at a healthy weight could prevent about 45% of colon cancer cases each year.  There are also 24 studies that link eating red and processed meat to a higher risk of colon cancer.  The AICR recommends limiting these foods to 18 ounces or less a week (approximately 6 servings). 

The main takeaway?  Get screened.  The test may be uncomfortable and inconvenient, but it's better than dying.  (Source)

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A new recommendation was published today in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.  An American government advisory panel has recommended men of all ages no longer undergo PSA testing for prostate cancer screening.  Previous guidelines recommended testing beginning at age 50. 

The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force has determined that PSA screening results in overdiagnosis of prostate cancer and unnecessary treatment.  This task force was the same one that determined regular mammograms for women in their 40s weren't necessary, as the benefits didn't outweigh the harm. 

The PSA test can detect when a man is developing a malignancy, but it cannot discern between those requiring treatment and those that will not become life-threatening.  The Task Force concluded that only 1 out of 1000 men will be helped by the screening, while 15-75 out of 1000 will suffer lifelong adverse effects or death.   

Those critical of the decision believe "... they're throwing away the baby with the bathwater," said Dr. William Catalona, a professor of urology and director of the clinical prostate cancer program at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, who wrote an accompanying journal editorial condemning the move.  "There's just no other way to detect prostate cancer early than through PSA testing," Catalona added. "If we were to completely stop PSA testing in all men . . . it would result in countless men dying of metastatic prostate cancer. People are happy to be cured of their prostate cancer, even if they have some side effects."

Dr. Otis Brawley, the chief medical officer of ACS, encourages men to make their own choices, especially since some groups (blacks and those with a family history) are at a much higher risk of developing the disease.  He also said, "I am hoping this (recommendation) shuts down mass screenings, where men are only told that this will help them, which is stretching the truth.  They're rarely told about the potential for harm and that, for the people running the screening, the [venture] is usually quite lucrative for them."

The main takeaway?  Do you research on screening.  If you are in one of the higher risk groups, it is likely better to continue with testing, as we have no other way of finding prostate cancer early.   But, do not automatically opt for treatment without due diligence (as with any and all medical procedures). (Source)

Also, here are 3 articles from the journal above regarding the research:

1. Screening for Prostate Cancer: US Preventative Services Task Force Recommendation Statement
2. Prostate Cancer Screening: What We Know, Don't Know, and Believe
3. What the US Preventative Services Task Force Missed in Its Prostate Cancer Screening Recommendation

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