Prostablog

Maori TV does stunning programme about prostate cancer on Chatham Islands

Jim Tucker — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 03:02:47 +0000

CHATHAMS MESSAGE: The Maori TV and NZ Prostate Cancer Foundation team at Chatham Islands airport. Dene Ainsworth is second from left.

PROSTABLOG NZ: NZ’s Maori television channel has broadcast a beautifully produced programme on men and prostate cancer on the Chatham Islands.

It features Dene Ainsworth (Te Ati Awa), who goes to the remote islands, 800km east of NZ, with Hawkes Bay urologist Dave Mason to talk to people about the dangers of undetected prostate cancer.

Their visit was funded by the NZ Prostate Cancer Foundation. See the programme here:

Prostate cancer and me – we’re finished (hopefully)

Jim Tucker — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:34:50 +0000

I’m over prostate cancer.

I’m not claiming to be cured. It’s just that spending three or more hours a day monitoring, translating and posting on the prostate cancer web discourse is no longer viable.

The blog is parked for now, although this does not seem to have made any difference to the interest shown: hits still average 300 a day (nearly 400 some days), even though I haven’t posted anything much for a fortnight.

This suggests the site has a life of its own, which is kind of weird, but saves me from being a slave to the PC.

One word may explain the continued traffic – “CATHETER”. When I look at tag terms (key words) that attract people to Prostablog, “catheter” averages about 100 a day, with whatever is next ranking in single figures. READ MORE>

You’re still looking at this blog – what is it I don’t understand about blogging?

Jim Tucker — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:05:12 +0000

PROSTABLOG NZ: Um…what’s going on?

I haven’t posted new prostate cancer stories for 10 days…and I’m getting record hits on this site.

What is it with you people? I’m trying to retire (temporarily, probably) here, and still you keep coming in for a look.

Obviously, I’ve got a lot to learn about blogging.

Incidentally, did anyone catch the RadioNZ item about Movember this morning? Pure PR. Hopeless journalism.

I’m ashamed at my own so-called profession’s (journalism) lack of ability to drill down into the story of NZ’s dual prostate cancer awareness and fund-raising campaigns.

One question, though: how much money did Blue September raise and what will it be used for? Anyone care to enlighten us?

Meantime, I noticed a poster on the bus on my way home from work today. It was about the breast cancer Pink Ribbon campaign and it said one in nine NZ women is “affected” by breast cancer.

Not good.

But how much worse is the possibility that one in two Kiwi men is affected by prostate cancer?

Prostablog closes down…for now

Jim Tucker — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:32:06 +0000

PROSTABLOG NZ: This blog is now closed, indefinitely.

Many thanks to those who have offered feedback and support over the past year.

The blog averages 280 hits a day, has had 32,000 since I started in April, most of them on My PC Adventure.

I have nothing further to add to that at the moment, and probably won’t for a while.

Keeping the rest of it going is a good winter job when sitting at the PC every night for several hours is not too much of a grind. But Lin and I have the new campervan to try out and there’s a lot of NZ to see.

So, I’m off line for now.

Good luck to my fellows in the prostate community.

No support for US official bodies’ policy to not test PSA in over-75s

Jim Tucker — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:34:57 +0000

URO TODAY: New research shows there is little medical profession or public support for a US Preventative Services Task Force recommendation to discontinue PSA screening at age 75. READ MORE>

Sticking with prostate cancer screening gives men far better chance of not dying from the disease

Jim Tucker — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:28:20 +0000

URO TODAY: Men who stick with prostate screening have a much better chance of not dying of prostate cancer, Swedish researchers have established. READ MORE>

How can couples cope with prostate cancer? This report won’t enlighten you much

Jim Tucker — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:16:50 +0000

URO TODAY: Only a few programmes are designed to help couples cope with the effects of prostate cancer, and typically, only their intervention outcomes are reported. READ MORE>

WARNING: This report is virtually impenetrable because of the bureaucratic language. I gave up trying to make sense of it, but have included it because of the importance of the topic.

Benefit seen in having chemo-radiation treatment prior to prostate removal

Jim Tucker — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:42:10 +0000

SCIENCE DAILY: A combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy given before prostate removal is safe and may have the potential to reduce cancer recurrence and improve patient survival. READ MORE>

Death risk greater if prostate cancer patients’ PSA rises with 18 months of radiotherapy

Jim Tucker — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:35:48 +0000

ATLANTA JOURNAL: Prostate cancer patients whose prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels rise within 18 months after radiotherapy have an increased risk of death, say U.S. researchers. READ MORE>

‘Prostate surgery shrank my dick – but I don’t care,’ say majority in new study

Jim Tucker — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:12:38 +0000

URO TODAY: More than two-thirds of men who have radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer end up with a shorter penis – but apparently it’s not a big issue for most, according to new Canadian research. READ MORE>