Big Blue Ball Goes Tonight
Prince George, BC – The Prince George Rotary Club has a stellar evening lined up for its second annual Big Blue Ball to raise awareness and support for men’s health, prostate cancer, and its local rotary projects.
Dayna McKay is one of two guest speakers who will headline the evening (photo at right courtesy Trish Helin)…
This past summer, the 45-year-old completed the second leg of a 120-kilometre ocean swim from Prince Rupert to her home community of Lax Kw’alaams in support of her uncle, Bill Sampson, who continues to battle prostate cancer, after being diagnosed in 2009.
In 2012, McKay swam the 60-kilometres to Prince Rupert, unassisted and with a support crew of five boats, in 19-hours. At the end of June, she battled wind and rain to complete ‘The Journey Home’, in 27-hours. She says her journey began as a way to raise awareness of the devastation cancer has not only on a family, but also a community.
McKay will be joined by Dr. Larry Goldenberg this evening, a BC-based urologic surgeon and clinical scientist who is recognized internationally for his prostate cancer research.
The Big Blue Ball at the Coast Inn of the North will also feature musician, Brandon Isaak, who is renowned for being one of the country’s top songwriters.
Tickets for the event are $75 and are available at the Coast. Doors open at 5:30pm, the event begins at 6:30pm. For more information, click here.
Comments
Its important to know, when men have a prostate exam and are required to have a blood test, this blood test is not covered by medical. This test is billed to the patient by Northern Health and is $14.35. The money is not the whole issue. Another part of it is why everything is covered for women’s health and not this simple test for men? Just wondered if anyone had some input on this?
The system is not perfect nor is it always equitable. Men’s health issues often take a backseat to women’s. This is no different.
Northern Health charges 14.95 ??? Then why are the labs charging 25-30 bucks for it?? Because men make more money supposedly??
14.35, not 14.95…
BC Racer, if a fundraiser does not benefit you personally why would you assume that it would have a ‘high personal operating expense’???
If you read the article it is a Rotary club event so I am going to assume many volunteer hours went in to put this event on.
From the BC Cancer site linked below:
1.The standard method of early detection for prostate cancer is the digital rectal examination (DRE) which should be done annually in fit men 50-70 years or if obstructive or other urinary tract symptoms are present.
2.PSA may be used as a diagnostic adjunct in combination with other tests for early detection of prostate cancer in symptomatic men with: Urinary symptoms; Suspicious DRE findings
3.PSA may be used for monitoring of established prostate cancer and metastatic disease (spread of prostate cancer) or detection of early recurrence of prostate cancer, where prostate cancer is already known.
http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/PPI/Screening/Prostate.htm
For those who want to go into the question of which screening tests are the most effective at this time, you might want to read the following which goes into the topic quite extensively.
My interpretation of it is that there does not seem to be very much certainty about early diagnosis, subsequent treatment which is chosen and eventual outcome of deaths compared to the general population.
From the USA Cancer agency come these words:
“The evidence is insufficient to determine whether screening for prostate cancer with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) or digital rectal exam (DRE) reduces mortality from prostate cancer.
“Screening tests are able to detect prostate cancer at an early stage, but it is not clear whether this earlier detection and consequent earlier treatment leads to any change in the natural history and outcome of the disease.”
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/screening/prostate/HealthProfessional/page3
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