We LOVE Men - Long May They Live!
This is primarily a political blog, dealing with foreign and domestic issues, although we occasionally publish on other matters. What is a more timely and pressing issue than the health of our fellow citizens? Granny broached the subject of breast cancer/mastectomies and we had a few followup articles on that subject. Since we love our menfolks it is good to address the problem of prostate cancer, a major killer of our men.
First, I received an email complaining about my post publishing (gasp! the vulgarity of it all!) images and photos of women's BREASTS! Well, excuse me, my prudish correspondent, but MEDICAL information and education is NOT PORN! Prepare yourself and brace your puritanical mores for further outrage because I am about to publish images of men's GENITALIA! with drawings of a PENIS, TESTICLES and PROSTATE!! In my world, the human body is not vulgar nor pornographic; the context in which such photos are used is what constitutes pornography. Medical information to help save lives is not porn. ( Are you a fundie?)
Second, a very brief anatomy lesson: sperm are formed in the testicles, travel up a little tube to the seminal vesicles and prostate where ejaculate fluid (semen) is made. From there, the little wigglers are carried on their river of fluids to the outside upon ejaculation.
Note that the walnut sized prostate partially encircles the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder, down the penis to be expelled to the outside upon urination. In some men around middle age the prostate becomes enlarged, pinching off the flow of urine to some extent and causing symptoms very similar to to those of prostate cancer. ONLY A MEDICAL EXAM can determine if the condition is benign, requiring one type of treatment, or cancerous, requiring a different and more aggressive type of treatment.
As with any cancer, EARLY DETECTION is the key to survival or at the least, less aggressive treatment. And as with many types of cancer, left untreated it can spread to other parts of the body and virtually assure a death sentence. Just as women need their annual well-woman checkups and mammograms, so do men need annual checkups for general health and prostate health.
I am paranoid about cancer. I have cared for many cancer patients plus cancer is prevalent in one branch of my family; I have come to despise that disease. A dearly beloved aunt died from breast cancer that had spread to her bones; an equally dearly beloved brother-in-law died from prostate cancer. The husband of one of my long term private patients died from prostate cancer that had spread to his bones; I was called back in to nurse him during his final, agonizing months. All three of these specific patients were otherwise healthy, active, dynamic individuals with richly productive lives and it was horrific to watch them slowly die from this insidious disease.
Men, we love you! Please get your checkups so those who love you do not lose you.
Prostate Cancer links: here ; here (numerous links) ; and here .
COMMENTS:
First, I received an email complaining about my post publishing (gasp! the vulgarity of it all!) images and photos of women's BREASTS! Well, excuse me, my prudish correspondent, but MEDICAL information and education is NOT PORN! Prepare yourself and brace your puritanical mores for further outrage because I am about to publish images of men's GENITALIA! with drawings of a PENIS, TESTICLES and PROSTATE!! In my world, the human body is not vulgar nor pornographic; the context in which such photos are used is what constitutes pornography. Medical information to help save lives is not porn. ( Are you a fundie?)
Second, a very brief anatomy lesson: sperm are formed in the testicles, travel up a little tube to the seminal vesicles and prostate where ejaculate fluid (semen) is made. From there, the little wigglers are carried on their river of fluids to the outside upon ejaculation.
Note that the walnut sized prostate partially encircles the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder, down the penis to be expelled to the outside upon urination. In some men around middle age the prostate becomes enlarged, pinching off the flow of urine to some extent and causing symptoms very similar to to those of prostate cancer. ONLY A MEDICAL EXAM can determine if the condition is benign, requiring one type of treatment, or cancerous, requiring a different and more aggressive type of treatment.
As with any cancer, EARLY DETECTION is the key to survival or at the least, less aggressive treatment. And as with many types of cancer, left untreated it can spread to other parts of the body and virtually assure a death sentence. Just as women need their annual well-woman checkups and mammograms, so do men need annual checkups for general health and prostate health.
I am paranoid about cancer. I have cared for many cancer patients plus cancer is prevalent in one branch of my family; I have come to despise that disease. A dearly beloved aunt died from breast cancer that had spread to her bones; an equally dearly beloved brother-in-law died from prostate cancer. The husband of one of my long term private patients died from prostate cancer that had spread to his bones; I was called back in to nurse him during his final, agonizing months. All three of these specific patients were otherwise healthy, active, dynamic individuals with richly productive lives and it was horrific to watch them slowly die from this insidious disease.
Men, we love you! Please get your checkups so those who love you do not lose you.
Prostate Cancer links: here ; here (numerous links) ; and here .
COMMENTS:
- Granny said...
My sons' dad died at 54 from metasticized prostate cancer. Early diagnosis might have saved him. Instead we spent five years watching him die.
My birth mom from cervical cancer, my adoptive dad from pancreatic, and my daughter from metasticized colon cancer.
I can't believe someone took issue with spreading the word about cancer.- Worried said...
I suppose the correspondent didn't object to cancer warnings. He/she objected to the publication of breasts! Seemed to think it was vulgar and a type of soft porn, for crying out loud!
Granny; it seems like your family has as much cancer as my family does.
Labels: Prostate cancer.
posted by Anonymous @ 7/23/2007 02:49:00 PM
Hey, Worried, I haven't got time to comment...I'm on my way to the doctors...great post and...
Monday, July 23, 2007 6:34:00 PM