United Kingdom: The Royal Society of Medicine

Sounds like Professor Kirby will be a breath of fresh air.


Please excuse a small bit of divergence here from Dr. Kirby's new appointment.

I wish to comment on his discussion in the article on prostate cancer, the PSA etc.

As Dr. Kirby says the PSA cannot differentiate between BPH and prostate cancer.

We need a more accurate and modern test; a higher PSA number creates concern and perhaps unnecessary testing, sometimes including repeated biopsies - which are no picnic.

More awareness of prostate cancer is very important, but the inaccuracy of the PSA creates much concern and repeated travel through the medical system - not a pleasant journey.

As for an MRI for prostate cancer - these tests are not always accurate.
 
DokaGirl said:
We need a more accurate and modern test; a higher PSA number creates concern and perhaps unnecessary testing, sometimes including repeated biopsies - which are no picnic.

More awareness of prostate cancer is very important, but the inaccuracy of the PSA creates much concern and repeated travel through the medical system - not a pleasant journey.

As for an MRI for prostate cancer - these tests are not always accurate.
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Better tests would be good but we always have to work with what we have.

My experience of PSA is that an intelligent interpretation makes it a very useful test - which is why I am still on the forum. The same for MRI. The important thing is to have highly skilled people reporting the significance of the test in the clinical context. I had the benefit of that because I am medical. I was operated on by Kirby. The real problems are that the NHS has no resources (my own hospital could not give me a date for surgery - not even a date in three months time - because all beds were tied up with emergencies), and that people interpreting tests are often not very bright.

My impression is that the people saying these tests cause unnecessary harm are those not very bright people to be honest. Biopsy is not very nice but it gets you a diagnosis.

As far as I can see the whole thing about not looking for prostate cancer because it might worry people is part of a demedicalising obsession by people like Cochrane that the government finds very convenient because it means they do not need to spend money on real treatment. They do not have to worry that 30% of patients under UCLH urology got lost to follow up not so long ago - probably just because the appointment system was so chaotic.

As it says in Kirby's patients' waiting room - there are lots of useful things you can do about prostate cancer but doing nothing is not one of them.
 
Jonathan Edwards said:
As far as I can see the whole thing about not looking for prostate cancer because it might worry people is part of a demedicalising obsession by people like Cochrane that the government finds very convenient because it means they do not need to spend money on real treatment.
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Yes, being on this forum has made me much more astute to what is actually happening in the NHS. What seem like highly desirable approaches to most patients, such as the 'integration of services', 'extending community-based services' and 'treating people holistically', are in reality just double-speak for the demedicalisation of NHS healthcare.

The personal, social and long-term economic costs of this approach are going to be frightening, but how long will it take for this to become apparent to the average member of the public? Unfortunately, too long to put the brakes on it and reverse it in time to prevent many patients suffering serious harm.
 
Simbindi said:
Can we chip in and buy him a clock as a hint that it is time to retire?
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That could be expensive and time consuming.

As it would be preferable for him to retire several decades ago it will take a while to come up with a clock delivery system to get it to him fast enough to allow this to occur.

There is also the issue of packaging. In order to arrive on time, according to superman, the clock will need to be traveling in excess of 186,000 miles per second. Even a 1lb clock traveling at that sort of speed could cause considerable damage, to the planet, when it arrives.

So packaging...important.
 
Wonko said:
That could be expensive and time consuming.

As it would be preferable for him to retire several decades ago it will take a while to come up with a clock delivery system to get it to him fast enough to allow this to occur.

There is also the issue of packaging. In order to arrive on time, according to superman, the clock will need to be traveling in excess of 186,000 miles per second. Even a 1lb clock traveling at that sort of speed could cause considerable damage, to the planet, when it arrives.

So packaging...important.
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If only we had Dr Who as a member of the forum...
 
@Jonathan Edwards

I agree with all you said - just voicing very timely concerns re the whole issue - rather interesting this article would land on the forum the very day important results for a loved one were reported in consult.

Yes, we need to work with what we have, just wish the PSA was more definitive. I would never suggest ignoring this issue. In fact just the opposite. I was however a bit surprised to see some men have repeat biopsies. Less invasive of course than surgery.

I am totally in favour of following medical advice about all prevention checks.

Except, I draw the line at avoiding
chocolate!
 
Royal Society of Medicine livestreamed event on 11 July. 'Organised by Rheumatology and Rehabilitation'

Join us online for an in-depth exploration of the links between Generalised Joint Hypermobility (GJH), hypermobility Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (hEDS) and the closely related Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD), with post-COVID health complications, henceforth described as hypermobility. We will explore the concept of “Bendy-Brain”, linking Hypermobility with multi-organ involvement (gastrointestinal, genitourinary, cardiovascular, autonomic nervous system, neurodivergence, and brain) in susceptible patients.
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www.rsm.ac.uk

Virtual access - The invisible impact of COVID-19 on hypermobility syndromes and neurodivergence- bodies, brains and burnout

Discover the latest research on hypermobility, post-COVID syndrome, and innovative treatments at our expert-led event. Learn about neuromodulation, early diagnosis, and specialist care to improve patient outcomes. Register for the webinar now!
www.rsm.ac.uk www.rsm.ac.uk
 
We will learn about the genetics, immunology, and cytokine cascades, MCAS, and resulting dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system, GI tract, and multiple organs. The impact and importance of co-occurring neurodivergent conditions is also discussed, and the wider implications for health and education. We learn how to treat the histamine overload and dysautonomia and the resulting escalation of chronic fatigue and pain/fibromyalgia with new treatments. We also look at spike protein retention and how this might be the ultimate trigger. We will explore recent research on the origins and exacerbation of these widespread, persistent health issues, alongside potential solutions to restore patients’ well-being.


COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted patients with hypermobility conditions. hEDS / HSD is a heritable connective tissue disorder with weakened proteins like collagen found throughout the body. We ascertain that around 20% of the UK population, 14 million people, are susceptible to injury or illness due to having symptomatic hypermobility.


Recent studies show that those with GJH as a risk factor and already with it are 30% less likely to recover from COVID-19 infection. Post-COVID, we can still see the ongoing 'fall out' of hypermobile and neurodivergent patients. Particularly young, working-age people are rendered disabled and more women are affected than men.


This is a must-attend online event for medical professionals, researchers, policy makers, educators, and patient advocates seeking to enhance their understanding of hypermobility and its complex interplay with post-COVID conditions. Attendees will gain valuable insights into early diagnosis, specialist care, and targeted interventions such as neuromodulation for fibromyalgia and chronic pain. The programme will also cover emerging therapies, lifestyle interventions, and the latest advancements in personalised patient management. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay ahead in the field and contribute to the ongoing dialogue on improving care for those with Hypermobility.


By attending, you will:


  1. Aim to identify conditions that increase susceptibility to post-COVID symptoms.
  2. Explore innovative treatments, medications, and lifestyle interventions to enhance patient well-being.
  3. Gain a deeper understanding of GJH, hEDS, and HSD and their effect on multi-organ systems.
  4. Understand neuromodulation as a treatment for pain and fibromyalgia.
  5. Advocate for NHS resources and funding to establish a dedicated treatment base for all affected patients.
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