plan NOW for next year's Prostate Cancer Awareness Week UK

[Guest guest]

PCC: Prostate cancer awareness week

Monday, 11 Dec 2006 15:34

Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the UK

- every hour at least one man dies from this disease.

It is a cause that has suffered from years of neglect, so plan NOW for

next year's Prostate Cancer Awareness Week, 19-25 March 2007 - it's

your chance to make a difference.

During the week, thousands of individuals and groups across the UK will

join forces to help raise awareness of prostate cancer and raise vital

funds to improve research, information and support services for men and

their families who are affected by this disease.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Prostate Cancer Awareness Week is an annual health awareness campaign

organised by The Prostate Cancer Charity.

INTERVIEWS Prostate cancer case studies and Prostate Cancer Charity

staff will be available for interview plus nurses and regional event

organisers.

We can also suggest case studies and story ideas now.

Every year nearly 32,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the

United Kingdom and 10,000 men die from it.

African Caribbean men are three times more likely to be diagnosed with

prostate cancer than their white counterparts.

If you have any queries about prostate cancer call The Prostate Cancer

Charity's confidential helpline 0 which is staffed by

specialist nurses and open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday and

Wednesdays from 7 - 9pm. End of story

[Guest guest]

While I applaud the planning process outlined here, I do need to

comment that the numbers don't seem accurate. According to this press

release, the ratio of deaths to diagnoses in the UK is 10:32, or 32%.

But according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, in the US in 2006 we

expect 27,000 deaths and 234,000 diagnoses, giving a ratio of 11.5%.

(see this link for further information:

http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org/site/c.itIWK2OSG/b.189965/k.743F

/FAQs_About_Prostate_Cancer.htm

What this data means is that 3 times as many men in the UK are dying of

their prostate cancer than in the US. In other words, you are 3 times

more likely to die of your prostate cancer in the UK than in the US. I

find it hard to believe this is accurate. Any comments?

Mike/Minnesota

>

> PCC: Prostate cancer awareness week

> Monday, 11 Dec 2006 15:34

> Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the

UK

> - every hour at least one man dies from this disease.

> Every year nearly 32,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the

> United Kingdom and 10,000 men die from it.

[Guest guest]

Hi Mike,

Statistics, especially population

statistics can give some weird comparisons unless you look at other statistics

to explain them.

The overall mortality rate in UK and USA

isn’t tremendously different, but because so many more men are diagnosed

as having prostate cancer in the US,

the number of men dying from the disease compared to the number of men

diagnosed is much lower than in Britain,

where fewer men are diagnosed. The reason for this difference in the numbers

diagnosed is because of the emphasis on screening in the US.

The other big factor in looking at mortality

rates in populations is the spread of ages of the male population. Since the

majority of PCa deaths occur in men in men aged older than 70, it stands to

reason that if there is a larger proportion of males under that age in one

country compared to another, the mortality rate will be lower.

Then, of course, we get to the definition

of death from PCa and how the records are kept and how accurate they are and……

As Dr Myers said in another discussion on this subject, population based

statistics are rubbery.

All the best

Terry Herbert

in Melbourne Australia

Diagnosed ‘96: Age 54: Stage T2b: PSA 7.2: Gleason

3+3=6: No treatment. June '04: TURP. Nov '06 PSA 31.4

My site is at www.prostatecancerwatchfulwaiting.co.za

It is a tragedy of the world that no one

knows what he doesn’t know, and the less a man knows, the more sure he is

that he knows everything. Joyce Carey

From: ProstateCancerSupport

[mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ]

On Behalf Of Sellon

Sent: Wednesday, 13 December 2006

7:31 AM

To: ProstateCancerSupport

Subject: Re: plan NOW for next year's Prostate

Cancer Awareness Week UK

While I applaud the planning process outlined here, I

do need to

comment that the numbers don't seem accurate. According to this press

release, the ratio of deaths to diagnoses in the UK is 10:32, or 32%.

But according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, in the US in 2006 we

expect 27,000 deaths and 234,000 diagnoses, giving a ratio of 11.5%.

(see this link for further information:

http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org/site/c.itIWK2OSG/b.189965/k.743F

/FAQs_About_Prostate_Cancer.htm

What this data means is that 3 times as many men in the UK are dying of

their prostate cancer than in the US. In other words, you are 3 times

more likely to die of your prostate cancer in the UK

than in the US.

I

find it hard to believe this is accurate. Any comments?

Mike/Minnesota

>

> PCC: Prostate cancer awareness week

> Monday, 11 Dec 2006 15:34

> Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the

UK

> - every hour at least one man dies from this disease.

> Every year nearly 32,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the

> United Kingdom

and 10,000 men die from it.

[Guest guest]

Mike,

The survival at 5 years is not as good in the UK as it is in the US. It

may be related to lead time bias.

A better way to look at survival is to look at death rate per 100,000

population.

In 2003, the observed rate was 26.6. The estimated rate was 26.8. in the

US.

In the UK crude rate is England 34.8, Wales 44.1, Scotland 32.9, N

Ireland 28.8. UK 34.9

Detailed UK statistics can be found at:

http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/types/prostate/mortality/

Detailed US statistics can be found at:

http://statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov/

There are screening and treatment variations between the two countries.

Maybe someone from the UK could explain what the history and current

situation is, especially the difference in Wales.

Kathy

> --- Re: plan NOW for next year's Prostate Cancer

Awareness Week UK

>

> While I applaud the planning process outlined here, I do need to

> comment that the numbers don't seem accurate. According to this press

> release, the ratio of deaths to diagnoses in the UK is 10:32, or 32%.

>

> But according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, in the US in 2006 we

> expect 27,000 deaths and 234,000 diagnoses, giving a ratio of 11.5%.

>

> (see this link for further information:

>

> http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org/site/c.itIWK2OSG/b.189965/k.743F

> /FAQs_About_Prostate_Cancer.htm

>

> What this data means is that 3 times as many men in the UK are dying of

> their prostate cancer than in the US. In other words, you are 3 times

> more likely to die of your prostate cancer in the UK than in the US. I

> find it hard to believe this is accurate. Any comments?

>

> Mike/Minnesota

>

>

> >

> > PCC: Prostate cancer awareness week

> > Monday, 11 Dec 2006 15:34

> > Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the

> UK

> > - every hour at least one man dies from this disease.

> > Every year nearly 32,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the

> > United Kingdom and 10,000 men die from it.

[Guest guest]

As I said in my post, you have to be very

careful with population based statistics and make sure you are comparing

apples with apples. For example, figures from a French site (all deaths per

100,000 of population) show a mortality rate of 26.16 for the USA and 32.83 for UK, pretty similar to those quoted

by Kathy. Yet look at some other countries:

Sweden 56.75

Switzerland 45.78

Albania 8.13

Russian Federation 8.08

Bangladesh 0.10

China 0.91

Barbados 60.62

Haiti 9.52

Does anyone seriously think that there are

natural causes that result in such a wide variation? Or is the difference

explained by the way in which the data is collected and presented?

All the best

Terry Herbert

in Melbourne Australia

Diagnosed ‘96: Age 54: Stage T2b: PSA 7.2: Gleason

3+3=6: No treatment. June '04: TURP. Nov '06 PSA 31.4

My site is at www.prostatecancerwatchfulwaiting.co.za

It is a tragedy of the world that no one

knows what he doesn’t know, and the less a man knows, the more sure he is

that he knows everything. Joyce Carey

From: ProstateCancerSupport

[mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ]

On Behalf Of kmeadelist@...

Sent: Wednesday, 13 December 2006

11:13 AM

To: ProstateCancerSupport

Subject: RE: Re: plan NOW for next year's Prostate

Cancer Awareness Week UK

Mike,

The survival at 5 years is not as good in the UK

as it is in the US.

It

may be related to lead time bias.

A better way to look at survival is to look at death rate per 100,000

population.

In 2003, the observed rate was 26.6. The estimated rate was 26.8. in the

US.

In the UK crude rate is England 34.8, Wales

44.1, Scotland

32.9, N

Ireland

28.8. UK

34.9

Detailed UK

statistics can be found at:

http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/types/prostate/mortality/

Detailed US

statistics can be found at:

http://statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov/

There are screening and treatment variations between the two countries.

Maybe someone from the UK

could explain what the history and current

situation is, especially the difference in Wales.

Kathy

> --- RE:

Re: plan NOW for next year's

> Prostate Cancer Awareness Week UK

> From: " Terry Herbert "

<ghenesh_49optusnet.au>

> Date: Tue, December 12, 2006 3:01 pm

> To: <ProstateCancerSupport >

>

>

>

> Hi Mike, Statistics, especially population statistics can give some weird

comparisons unless you look at other statistics to explain them. The overall

mortality rate in UK and USA isnt tremendously different, but because so many

more men are diagnosed as having prostate cancer in the US, the number of men

dying from the disease compared to the number of men diagnosed is much lower

than in Britain, where fewer men are diagnosed. The reason for this difference

in the numbers diagnosed is because of the emphasis on screening in the US. The other

big factor in looking at mortality rates in populations is the spread of ages

of the male population. Since the majority of PCa deaths occur in men in men

aged older than 70, it stands to reason that if there is a larger proportion of

males under that age in one country compared to another, the mortality rate

will be lower. Then, of course, we get to the definition of death from PCa and

how the records are kept and how accurate they are and & & As Dr Myers said

in another discussion on this subject, population based statistics are rubbery.

All the best Terry Herbert in

Melbourne Australia Diagnosed 96: Age 54: Stage T2b: PSA 7.2: Gleason 3+3=6: No

treatment. June '04: TURP. Nov '06 PSA 31.4 My site is at www.prostatecancerwatchfulwaiting.co.za

It is a tragedy of the world that no one knows what he doesnt know, and the

less a man knows, the more sure he is that he knows everything. Joyce Carey

From: ProstateCancerSupport

[Guest guest]

If you look at developed countries with adequate access to medical care

the numbers can be compared. We know in Sweden that they have not until

recently treated PCa. Most men were treated with watchful waiting or

hormones. That could account for their higher rate. I do not know what

they system is in Switzerland. My guess is that they have decent access

to treatment in Barbados but the country is populated heavily by

individuals of African decent and black men in the US and the UK both

have a higher rate than others in the population. I do not know if they

are using PSA screening or relying on DRE only. The rate was

significantly higher in the US prior to PSA screening. When I talk to

epidemiologists in the US, who come up with the figures, they think

that the change is related to better treatments now than in the past.

There was a study in Africa that showed that deaths in hospitals were

shown to be similar to rates from other countries but that most people

who died outside of hospitals, most men, had a significantly lower

rate. That would lead us to think that there may be an under reporting

of prostate cancer deaths but I do not think that means there is an

over reporting. The situation is complex. Genes, diet, lifestyle,

access to care and average age of death can all play a role.

What were were discussing the difference between the US and the UK.

Lets not confuse the situation by bringing in other countries with other

systems where the numbers may be less accurate.

I do not think we can just throw out all statistics because they may not

be accurate in some areas of the world. My guess is that the statistics

for the US and the UK are pretty accurate.

Kathy

> --- RE: Re: plan NOW for next year's

> > Prostate Cancer Awareness Week UK

> >

> > Date: Tue, December 12, 2006 3:01 pm

> > To: <ProstateCancerSupport >

> >

> >

> >

> > Hi Mike, Statistics, especially population statistics can give some weird

comparisons unless you look at other statistics to explain them. The overall

mortality rate in UK and USA isnt tremendously different, but because so many

more men are diagnosed as having prostate cancer in the US, the number of men

dying from the disease compared to the number of men diagnosed is much lower

than in Britain, where fewer men are diagnosed. The reason for this difference

in the numbers diagnosed is because of the emphasis on screening in the US. The

other big factor in looking at mortality rates in populations is the spread of

ages of the male population. Since the majority of PCa deaths occur in men in

men aged older than 70, it stands to reason that if there is a larger proportion

of males under that age in one country compared to another, the mortality rate

will be lower. Then, of course, we get to the definition of death from PCa and

how the records are kept and how accurate they are and & & As Dr Myers said in

another discussion on this subject, population based statistics are rubbery. All

the best Terry Herbert in Melbourne Australia Diagnosed 96: Age 54: Stage T2b:

PSA 7.2: Gleason 3+3=6: No treatment. June '04: TURP. Nov '06 PSA 31.4 My site

is at www.prostatecancerwatchfulwaiting.co.za It is a tragedy of the world that

no one knows what he doesnt know, and the less a man knows, the more sure he is

that he knows everything. Joyce Carey From:

ProstateCancerSupport

[Guest guest]

I was no suggesting for a minute that we

should “throw out all statistics” - I was trying to demonstrate

the unreliability of using comparative figures when one didn’t know the

basis on which they had been assembled. As a further illustration see the variances

in mortality rates between the following First Woreld European countries where the

people might conceivably have similar access to similar medical attention (plus

a couple of countries Downunder). Also if you look at the statstics for each

State in the USA

there are significant variances that cannot be explained superficially.

Norway

48.01

Sweden

56.75

United Kingdom

34.83

Greece

23.69

Italy

25.55

Portugal

32.44

Spain

29.95

Austria

30.01

Belgium

37.8

France

35.09

Germany

33.15

Luxembourg

27.91

The Netherlands

31.8

Switzerland

45.78

Australia

26.84

New Zealand

30.3

All the best

Terry Herbert

in Melbourne Australia

Diagnosed ‘96: Age 54: Stage T2b: PSA 7.2: Gleason

3+3=6: No treatment. June '04: TURP. Nov '06 PSA 31.4

My site is at www.prostatecancerwatchfulwaiting.co.za

It is a tragedy of the world that no one

knows what he doesn’t know, and the less a man knows, the more sure he is

that he knows everything. Joyce Carey

From: ProstateCancerSupport

[mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ]

On Behalf Of kmeadelist@...

Sent: Wednesday, 13 December 2006

4:05 PM

To: ProstateCancerSupport

Subject: RE: Re: plan NOW for next year's Prostate

Cancer Awareness Week UK

If you look at developed countries with adequate access to medical care

the numbers can be compared. We know in Sweden that they have not until

recently treated PCa. Most men were treated with watchful waiting or

hormones. That could account for their higher rate. I do not know what

they system is in Switzerland.

My guess is that they have decent access

to treatment in Barbados

but the country is populated heavily by

individuals of African decent and black men in the US

and the UK

both

have a higher rate than others in the population. I do not know if they

are using PSA screening or relying on DRE only. The rate was

significantly higher in the US

prior to PSA screening. When I talk to

epidemiologists in the US,

who come up with the figures, they think

that the change is related to better treatments now than in the past.

There was a study in Africa that showed that

deaths in hospitals were

shown to be similar to rates from other countries but that most people

who died outside of hospitals, most men, had a significantly lower

rate. That would lead us to think that there may be an under reporting

of prostate cancer deaths but I do not think that means there is an

over reporting. The situation is complex. Genes, diet, lifestyle,

access to care and average age of death can all play a role.

What were were discussing the difference between the US

and the UK.

Lets not confuse the situation by bringing in other countries with other

systems where the numbers may be less accurate.

I do not think we can just throw out all statistics because they may not

be accurate in some areas of the world. My guess is that the statistics

for the US and the UK are pretty

accurate.

Kathy