NEWS 9
Reporter probes fears over life saving exam
JACOB
JAC
MOSS
MO
Email
Email: jake@tbw.com.au
IT IS not often that you are stuck selecting
your best pair of striped underwear instead
of a tie for a work appointment, yet the day of
my prostate check was not one for triteness.
I admit, I was nervous and had reels of
images running through my head of me
cowardly fleeing, pantless, from Ferrers
Medical Clinic.
Thankfully, none of this madness
eventuated.
It is not commonly known that men in
rural Australia have a 21pc higher prostate
cancer mortality rate than their capital city
counterparts.
This month it became apparent to me
when covering prostate cancer stories that
the “blokey attitude” stubbornly inherent
in many Australian men and a lack of
awareness, particularly among those living
rurally, inhibited many from taking the initial
diagnostic exam that could potentially prevent
many deaths from the disease.
Upon speaking to Ferrers medical senior
partner Dr Malcolm Gale, he recounted
a scenario in which a prominent Mount
Gambier man faced such a reality.
“A well-known gent in Mount Gambier came
in and we thought he had prostate disease - he
underwent the blood test and the levels were
high, but he never followed up on it - which is
the uncomfortable part of the examination,”
he said.
“Next time he came in with back pain and
literally became paralysed overnight. We
discovered he had a very advanced prostatic
disease and he died within six to eight weeks
of that presentation - this could have been
prevented with early detection of the disease.
If he had taken the check 12 months prior it
would have been a whole different story.”
In essence, this could indicate men
fear more the embarrassment of a rectal
examination than death itself.
Dr Gale informed me that because of my
age, I did not require a prostate examination
- those below the age of 50 only require one if
they have obvious symptoms, which include
problems with their “waterworks”, he said.
However, for the sake of awareness, I
volunteered to walk through the examination
room door to openly reveal the squeamish
details of what transpires in a prostate
cancer exam and booked myself in for an
appointment to undergo a test last Friday.
I realised how anxious I was when I found
myself nagging my colleague, photographer
Clare Rawlinson, while we waited before I was
able see the doctor.
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Lucky Colour: Green
Lucky day: Friday
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Many big changes in your career matters will delight and
success should be evident in other things also. Do not let
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OPEN DOOR: The Border Watch journalist Jacob Moss prepares for his prostate examination
by Dr Malcolm Gale at Ferrers Medical Clinic in an attempt to open the door to dialogue on
prostate cancer amongst Australian men living in rural Australia.
My clammy palms dried once in with Dr
Gale as he immediately eased my nerves with
a few light-hearted remarks on the procedure,
followed by a serious talk about what it
actually entailed.
“It is quite a straight forward procedure,
which should be a regular one for all men
above 50,” Dr Gale explained.
“We begin with a blood test to read for
the hormone which the prostate puts out
and this can be done at anytime with no
need for fasting - this is followed by a rectal
examination where the doctor inserts a finger
to determine the size and consistency of the
prostate.”
At this point, I squirmed in my seat, but Dr
Gale continued to put things into perspective.
“When I was an intern, an old fella had been
admitted for a hernia and I, being thorough
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You could find something you thought lost forever.
Picture: CLARE RAWLINSON
as an intern is, decided a prostate exam was
required - I laid him down and as soon as I
touched him on the anus he went into a tight
spasm,” he said.
“Now, discretion was the better part of
valour at this time so I wasn’t going to go
any further and have my finger broken - the
patient then turned around and said to me
‘well, doc that was the first time for me’ - I
hated the thought of telling him that his first
time was still to come.”
Dr Gale fervently agreed that it was
the fear and uncertainty surrounding the
examination that deterred men from coming
in for the exam.
“I can understand men’s apprehension and
as I explain to many women, the man’s orifice
is for one-way traffic only, yet the pap smear is
a similar examination in which an individual’s
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There could be some awkward situations in your romantic
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The Border Watch, Thursday, September 30, 2010 - 9
personal space is invaded - it can become
difficult for a male unless they become relaxed
about it,” he said.
“Whereas the examination is just a medical
routine where if you are gentle and the patient
is relaxed there is no great drama with it.”
Dr Gale said for the stigma to be overcome,
the potential consequences of men avoiding
the test and the nature of the examination
needed to be brought into the open.
“Us men need to learn to accept that it is
part of an older male examination and if you
don’t have it done you may not get to the older
male stage,” he said.
“We need to stop being so sensitive and take
it for what it is.”
I had run out of questions to stall my exam
and Dr Gale’s words had put things into
humble perspective - it was merely a medical
check-up on my body.
He had effectively broken down the mental
inhibitions into what now sounded more like
a car service, an oil change, a checking of the
spark plugs.
After the blood test had been taken, Dr
Gale asked me to move to the examination
table while he applied his gloves and I lost my
pants.
For the next step, I was unexpectedly calm
as I realised the prior build up had been filled
with only airy pride.
Dr Gale instructed me to curl up and hug
my knees in the foetal position with my back
facing him on the edge of the bed.
At this vunerable point, I closed my eyes
and thought “happy thoughts” as they tell you
to do in such situations.
What followed, well, lets just say inspired
an uncontrollable urge to mimic the early
morning crow of a rooster.
This subsided, however, and before I knew it
Dr Gale was telling me I have a soft, lumpless,
meaning healthy, prostate.
As I left his office, the only discomfort
came from the thought of the unspoken code
between practitioner and patient - “what
happens at the doctor, stays at the doctors” -
would not hold up on this occasion.
The purpose of this visit was to speak about
the unspoken and open the door to one of
the least spoken about, yet greatest killers
of cancer for rural Australian men - prostate
cancer.
As prostate cancer awareness month ends,
it is important the dialogue surrounding the
disease does not.
I will not deny the experience was daunting
and the doctor’s glove intimidating, yet one
which Aussie men should not be afraid of, but
rather speak openly about.
Perhaps this account will even go as far
as to inspire a few “blokes” to misplace their
pride for a moment and brave a test, to stave
off the chances of the disease robbing them of
their pride later.
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Good fortune will find you in some way.
There are many opportunities around if you are astute
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Be very tactful during this period and you will gain.
Someone could be causing trouble if you let them. Your
own decisions are vital to your future security.
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Make sure everything is in order if planning time away or
holiday travel. Keep cool and things will sort out themselves
very soon and your loved ones will praise you.
533250
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