Jenny Potter in The North Bay Nugget, Ontario, Canada, reports “Another obstacle is out of the way for men at risk of developing prostate cancer.” Unfortunately, this is not quite yet the case. As Potter says:

The Ontario government recently announced it will cover the cost of the prostate-specific antigen tests when performed at laboratories.

Currently, publicly funded tests are only available in hospitals, but picking up the tab for those performed in laboratories will make it more convenient for rural patients to be tested.

Trouble is, as Potter’s report goes on to explain:

Men must meet a list of criteria in order to avoid paying $30 for the test at a local laboratory.

Patients showing symptoms of prostate cancer, who have received a diagnosis or who are directly related to someone with the disease qualify to be tested for free.

Receiving a free test only when you are already showing symptoms of prostate cancer or have already received a diagnosis is not helpful enough to clear any obstacles for those “at risk.”

By the time a man shows symptoms of prostate cancer (urinary symptoms, pelvic pain or skeletal pain) the disease is far advanced and may be inoperable and incurable.

The only men especially helped by this new ruling are those who have a close relative with prostate cancer. Levels of prostate cancer awareness are still dismal.

And men are so incredibly humble about their demands. Mostly they never make demands, they make efforts to raise awareness.

Jenny Potter goes on the present examples of local men’s heroic efforts. Charlie ‘Chopper’ Cameron, she says, who was was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year, “organized a fundraising motorcycle ride, raising $22,000 for research and awareness. He said he likes to think the Nipissing Ride for Dad helped bring attention to the costs of the [PSA] test.” Potter interviewed a second man:

“If it was free like a mammogram it wouldn’t be as much of an issue,” said Geoff Richardson.

He has seen one of his close friends go through prostate cancer. It was this and seeing other friends suffer that inspired his father, Phil Richardson, to raise more than $30,000 for Movember, an international fundraising organization for prostate cancer.

“He’s doing it for his friends and his four sons,” Geoff Richardson said.

Movember’s funds go toward research and to men battling prostate cancer who don’t have universal healthcare. While living in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates this year, Phil Richardson became the third highest fundraiser in the world for the organization.

“It is fantastic for someone who is so busy to take the time out of his ridiculous schedule to do this,” said Geoff Richardson.

These men know what they are talking about. Isn’t it time for government officials and healthcare flaks stopped trying to fool the press into imagining that it’s a step forward to cover the $30 cost of a diagnositic test for prostate cancer AFTER he starts showing symptoms of the disease?

This entry refers to:
Another prostate cancer obstacle set aside
Posted By Jenny Potter, The Nugget, December 26, 2008

The Motorcycle Ride for Dad is Canada’s biggest annual motorcycle event dedicated to fighting prostate cancer through research and education. In 2008, it took place in 18 cities across Canada.

Movember is a mustache growing event held during November each year. Since 2004, the Movember Foundation charity has run Movember events to raise awareness and funds for men’s health issues, such as prostate cancer and depression in Australia and New Zealand. In 2007, events were launched in Canada, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. to raise funds and awareness for men’s health.

Use of Movember raised funds varies by country. For example, Ireland’s Movember site says: “In Ireland in 2008, the Irish Cancer Society plans to use the money raised by Movember to raise awareness of men’s health issues and donate it to the Action Prostate Cancer (APC) initiative. The APC will help raise vital awareness, educate men on risk factors for developing prostate cancer and to help make a real difference in the lives of people affected by prostate cancer.”