Prostate Health and Cancer Wealth

It would seem urology has come to prize results of a simple PSA blood test.  With only one visit and a small sample of my blood, all ready a prostate biopsy was on the table.  Huh?  The primary impetus for my visit, either lower abdominal or pelvic discomfort was of no interest.  It would seem the radiologist's findings of both a CT and MRI scan were of more interest.  He liked to play with numbers opting to write out the "normal" PSA results for specific age groups of men.  The list of other non-cancerous things which can cause a rise in PSA levels also was not of interest.  Only this number, a simple number, was instigating a biopsy of my deeply embedded prostate gland.  Three doctors later, a surgical hernia repair, a round of Ciprofloxacin, and a colonoscopy in addition to the aforementioned CT and MRI scans, the only thing of interest to the urologist was an elevated PSA level from blood drawn at his own clinic.  He did scrutinize my film, and not to my surprise were the results "unremarkable."  There were no tumors.  His own hand felt my prostate gland.  A streetwalking male prostitute economically is comparable.  Asymptomatic.  There were no tumors.  My prostate was not hardened.  It mildly was enlarged, as I have known for several years.  I have been dealing with the consequences urologically.  Saw Palmetto seems to help a bit.  Stress does not.  I have no symptoms.  My sex drive is normal as is my performance.  I have no problems urinating.  My stream is strong.  My erections are palpable.  Other than being overworked, I believe my prostate is fine.  Give it a rest.  Urology has come to prize results of a simple PSA blood test.  Ten thousand men a year die of prostate cancer, and most of them are elderly.  It can be difficult to discern the normal process of aging and related disease from cancer.  Cancer is more lucrative.  Fifty percent of the people diagnosed with cancer didn't have it.  I am all for early detection, usually because cancer in the prostate gland is slow growing.  Get it early, so early in fact that you will begin worrying about it for the rest of your life.  Your life could begin to revolve around your prostate.  Let's worship the royal order of the prostate.  Let me lie prostrate, while you insert a sonographic probe into my anus followed by a spring loaded needle.  Good times.  It is likely to get infected, the rectal insertion point.  Take some more Ciprofloxacin. Three different doctors later, a finger in my anus that lasted a second or two, not long enough to deduce anything, and almost no physical examination.  Doctors don't practice medicine they way they used to.  Common sense.  A good exam.  Three doctors later and not one of them physically examined my area of discomfort.  When I was diagnosed with my first umbilical hernia in midtown New York city, the African-American doctors examined me.  He pushed his fingers into the tear in my muscle and told me to cough. It was painful, and he apologized.  This is how you diagnose a hernia without an CT scan.  When you self pay without Obamacare, you receive a sixty percent discount.  That means you pay forty percent of the price charged to an insurance provider.  The insurance provider receives sixty percent of your payment for medical attention.  Sixty percent.  Do we really need this system?  Of course not.  This is why my visit to a urologist resulted in a $105.00 blood test that cost $65.00 at Health Works.  This is why a biopsy preemptively is necessary, to pay for his home in Vass, North Carolina.  No longer does it seem to be about medicine, solving a problem, and enjoying the success of your arrived upon wisdom.  It's all about the money, Jerry.  Cancer in America has become all about the money.