This morning while driving to work I heard on NPR that doctors recommend screenings for people between 50 and 60 years of age. The guy said that older people like 70’s and 80’s have more problems and I missed exactly what the reasoning other than aggravating them with one more problem was for not screening that group actively.
But you and I know. Its simple! 50 and 60 year olds are still working do they got money. 80 year olds don’t have money. No reason to screen them. Sure the treatments work…kinda sorta. But the treatments are expensive. So if you’re 80 its not important that they find your cancer because they can’t make money from you. If you’re well to do, then sure, we can try our methods. But if you got no money, there’s no point. What are you going to do anyway with no job and no money. Even if you could pay, then what? Sell the car and house and live on the streets? Would that be worse? Not really the doctors don’t care if they got paid. Its all about the money.
It is more of a matter that the treatments at around 70+ can be worse than not doing anything. You can get impotence, incontinence (bowel and/or urinary), etc. The older you get the harder the treatments (surgery, hormone therapy, radiation, chemo) hit you. Early signs of prostate cancer, like PSA levels, are generally very slow to develop and you’ll likely have other major issues before the prostate becomes an issue.
This morning while driving to work I heard on NPR that doctors recommend screenings for people between 50 and 60 years of age. The guy said that older people like 70’s and 80’s have more problems and I missed exactly what the reasoning other than aggravating them with one more problem was for not screening that group actively.
But you and I know. Its simple! 50 and 60 year olds are still working do they got money. 80 year olds don’t have money. No reason to screen them. Sure the treatments work…kinda sorta. But the treatments are expensive. So if you’re 80 its not important that they find your cancer because they can’t make money from you. If you’re well to do, then sure, we can try our methods. But if you got no money, there’s no point. What are you going to do anyway with no job and no money. Even if you could pay, then what? Sell the car and house and live on the streets? Would that be worse? Not really the doctors don’t care if they got paid. Its all about the money.
When I’m 80 I’m not going to waste my time and money getting treated just to end up with an extra few years with a terrible quality of life.
I hate the healthcare industry, and it absolutely is a scam.
It is more of a matter that the treatments at around 70+ can be worse than not doing anything. You can get impotence, incontinence (bowel and/or urinary), etc. The older you get the harder the treatments (surgery, hormone therapy, radiation, chemo) hit you. Early signs of prostate cancer, like PSA levels, are generally very slow to develop and you’ll likely have other major issues before the prostate becomes an issue.