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Showing posts with label doctors' fingers in orifices that maybe they shouldn't be; reasons why men don't go to the doctor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label doctors' fingers in orifices that maybe they shouldn't be; reasons why men don't go to the doctor. Show all posts

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Friends don't let friends have a prostate exam uninformed

While I definitely would not let this "doctor"  examine my prostate, I applaud CBS for this educational video for several reasons:  it is almost as funny as this doctor (does anybody know if he's still taking new patients) and is as accurate as this guy (talk about doctors who only use their left side of their brain) without being such a bore.

Dr Schloffengut's message essentially boils down to this: if you're a man over 50, talk to your doctor about whether or not you need a prostate exam.   Is Dr Schloffengut recommending talk therapy for the prostate?  Hardly.  He is recommending that men talk to their doctor before diving into a prostate exam (does that sound wrong), not only because it is always a good idea to talk to letting any doctor plunge a finger into any of your orifices, but because the decision to try to screen for prostate cancer simply isn't a slam dunk.

In a nutshell:  some men may benefit from prostate cancer screening, and some may be harmed by prostate cancer screening, and it is not entirely easy to sort it all out.  Consequently--before men consent to this graceless experience (unless Lou Rawls is your doctor), they deserve to partake in a discussion and share in the decision about whether this will benefit them.  

His recommendation is consistent with that from the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommendation.