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From: cb@hlwpc.UUCP (C Blesch)
Newsgroups: net.med,net.consumers
Subject: Re: Chiropractors, pain in the back
Message-ID: <695@hlwpc.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 20-Mar-86 13:59:39 EST
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Posted: Thu Mar 20 13:59:39 1986
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>Yes, chiropractors can be hazardous to your health...so can M.D.s
>I went to an M.D. (internist) when I had swelling and pain in my
>left testicle.  He prescribed tetracycline (i.e., treated it as
>an infection) and told me to come back if the pain did not go
>away.  Well, the pain did go away but ten months later I had...
>PAIN IN MY BACK -- from a germ cell tumor that had metastasized.
>Since then I've had surgery, chemo, radiation (I am now enjoying
>my third full remission, but with the knowledge that it probably
>won't last).

>Most M.D.s I've spoken to say that (1) the "infection" I had 10 months
>prior to diagnosis was almost certainly the cancer, and (2) this type
>of cancer is misdiagnosed by M.D.s VERY OFTEN.

>There are two points here.  One is that if you are a male aged 20 to 40
>it might be a good idea to check for lumps in your testicles -- soaped
>up in the shower, like women inspect their breasts.  If you have a
>partially or fully undescended testicle then your risk is higher.  This
>is the most common type of cancer in young males and is very curable (>90%)
>when treated early.

Glad to see this posted!  My wife recently completed her masters thesis
in oncology nursing on men's awareness of testicular cancer and
testicular self-examination.  In her review of the literature, she found
exactly what the poster of this article stated -- that M.D.s consistently
misdiagnose and mistreat testicular cancer cases as infections or other
minor ailments.

In my wife's research, she found that few men have ever heard of testicular
self examination (which the American Cancer Society endorses,
just like it endorses breast self-examination for women), probably
because their primary physicians never recommend it.  However, she
also found that those men who were made aware of it (through ACS pamphlets
and programs, for example) felt it would be a good idea.
 
When my wife told some oncologists and urologists about her research, they
generally said, "Why bother?  Testicular cancer is so rare that it's not
worth the trouble of teaching testicular self examination!"  Try telling
that to the poster of the above article!
One big problem with the MDs' logic: testicular self examination is easy --
much easier than the breast self-examination procedure women
are encouraged to perform.

If anyone would like further information on testicular cancer and
testicular self-examination, contact your local
American Cancer Society chapter.  The ACS puts out a good pamphlet on it
and they have programs available for group presentations.

Carl Blesch