Castration vs Mastectomy: Which is worse?

[August1991]

This year in Canada, 223,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to the Canadian Cancer Society. Most of them will be treated successfully and eventually die of another cause. But 4,300 men will die of prostate cancer. All of them, and many others, will have been offered castration as a means of prolonging their lives.

G & M

In 2007, an estimated 22,300 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 5,300 will die of it.

Canadian Cancer Society

Which is worse? Mastectomy or castration?

Edited September 30, 2007 by August1991

[ScottSA]

G & M

Canadian Cancer Society

Which is worse? Mastectomy or castration?

Castration. It would take all the fun out of beddybye.

[Melanie_]

Which is worse? Mastectomy or castration?

I expect that a man would say castration, and a woman would say mastectomy, but I can't see that there is a comparison to be made here. The repercussions of both are so personal, how can they be measured against each other?

[trex]

I expect that a man would say castration, and a woman would say mastectomy, but I can't see that there is a comparison to be made here. The repercussions of both are so personal, how can they be measured against each other?

it is a strange question really, i wonder why he/she asks that. kinda like comparing, ah, apples to oranges!

[Rue]

G & M

Canadian Cancer Society

Which is worse? Mastectomy or castration?

The point is you can't equate and compare that which is not relative to start with.

Further to the first point, it really doesn't f///cking matter, they both have serious consequences.

Mammory glands being cut off will not necessarily cut sex drive, chopping testacles off will.

One is a primary sex organ the other is a sex object.

If you rid the body of testacles you would need to inject it with chemicals to keep the sex

drive going. If a woman loses her breast(s) she could in theory continue to have her sex drive without

the need for chemicals.

In the case of a masectomy there are now operations to replace and remold.

In regards to castration there artificial balls to be inserted.

Either way a patient suffers tremendously.

However here is the next point. Prostate cancer is not testacle cancer.

The worst that happens is the peepee can't get erect and they can insert

a pump or a silicone hinge device.

Now testacle cancer is a bummer if it gets both of them.

But you have chemical alternatives these days.

[M.Dancer]

Castration. It would take all the fun out of beddybye.

With the aid of hormones all the fun can be had at beddybye. On the otherhand death takes all the fun out of wakey wakey.

[August1991]

The point is you can't equate and compare that which is not relative to start with.

Well you can compare them rue, and even somehow equate them. I did in the OP (but unlike the way that you have.)

A google search on "breast cancer" gives 73 million hits whereas a google search on "prostate cancer" gives about 21 million hits. This confirms my impression that we hear more about breast cancer than we do about prostate cancer.

So, I was surprised to learn that 10 times more men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer than women diagnosed with breat cancer. This means that many more men will bear this burden than women - and many men will consider the radical solution of castration. True, the mortality from breast cancer is about 25% higher.

[Borg]

A nightmare in both cases.

Borg

[Leafless]

A nightmare in both cases.

Borg

Not really.

But more in a womens case for certain as with a women the loss of her breast means the loss of her place in society in procuring the man of her dreams for providing her for what ever she considers important and also establishes and confirms her sexual identity as a women.

Obviously breast play a very important part in societies sexual merrygoround as does the penis, but more so for women.

[Rue]

Not really.

But more in a womens case for certain as with a women the loss of her breast means the loss of her place in society in procuring the man of her dreams for providing her for what ever she considers important and also establishes and confirms her sexual identity as a women.

Obviously breast play a very important part in societies sexual merrygoround as does the penis, but more so for women.

Well there you have it. The Fellini Theory on Breasts.

[Rue]

Well you can compare them rue, and even somehow equate them. I did in the OP (but unlike the way that you have.)

A google search on "breast cancer" gives 73 million hits whereas a google search on "prostate cancer" gives about 21 million hits. This confirms my impression that we hear more about breast cancer than we do about prostate cancer.

So, I was surprised to learn that 10 times more men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer than women diagnosed with breat cancer. This means that many more men will bear this burden than women - and many men will consider the radical solution of castration. True, the mortality from breast cancer is about 25% higher.

Why would you compare them though? I can see the point of such comparisons for scientists or maybe even actuaries for specific purposes such as funding or determining risk probability but in terms of equating whose suffering is worse its kind of pointless don't you think.

[guyser]

Well there you have it. The Fellini Theory on Breasts.

Pretty damn stupid no matter how you slice it.

Call us when you have prostate cancer , since you wont get breast cancer in all likelihood.

Which is worse???? Why even ask the question?

[Melanie_]

Not really.

But more in a womens case for certain as with a women the loss of her breast means the loss of her place in society in procuring the man of her dreams for providing her for what ever she considers important and also establishes and confirms her sexual identity as a women.

Obviously breast play a very important part in societies sexual merrygoround as does the penis, but more so for women.

Please change your name from "Leafless" to "Clueless".

[kengs333]

Well you can compare them rue, and even somehow equate them. I did in the OP (but unlike the way that you have.)

A google search on "breast cancer" gives 73 million hits whereas a google search on "prostate cancer" gives about 21 million hits. This confirms my impression that we hear more about breast cancer than we do about prostate cancer.

So, I was surprised to learn that 10 times more men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer than women diagnosed with breat cancer. This means that many more men will bear this burden than women - and many men will consider the radical solution of castration. True, the mortality from breast cancer is about 25% higher.

You should read the entire article, including the "correction" part at the bottom which revises the figure to a more realistic 22,300--oddly the same estimate for breast cancer.

The numbers that I've seen over the years, mainly from the USA, show similar rates of occurence between prostate and breast cancer, with prostate cancer usually being slightly higher. The unfortunate thing is that breast cancer has been politicized by feminists, even though breast cancer is not exclusively a female phenomena--about 10% of breast cancer cases occur in men (a fact which is, of course, ignored by feminists). Breast cancer is an issue around which feminists rally because they feel that the medical establishment is anti-woman and breats of course have an increased significance in our society (why is it that women always seem to resort to using breasts whenever they want to achieve something?).

[August1991]

You should read the entire article, including the "correction" part at the bottom which revises the figure to a more realistic 22,300--oddly the same estimate for breast cancer.

I didn't notice that but I was suspicious that the prostate cancer rate was exactly 10X greater than the breast cancer rate. I'm now suspicious that the two numbers are identical.

Anyway, my main point stands. The incidence and mortality of both are similar yet breast cancer seems to occupy a greater place on the public stage (as confirmed by Google hits).

It's possible that research into breast cancer, or public campaigns about its detection, are more likely to yield benefits than research into prostate cancer. Women use health services more than men do. This is partly because women give birth, live longer but it's also, I think, because women in general are more careful.

I'll add that vased on the little research I've done, the federal government seems to fund research for both types of cancer more or less equally. The Liberals made a splash whenever they announced breast cancer research money.

And returning to the thread title, I'm still astonished that castration is so non-chalantly (or quietly) considered as a solution for prostate cancer. Women are well aware that a hysterectomy or menopause does not end one's sex life.

[capricorn]

Women are well aware that a hysterectomy or menopause does not end one's sex life.

That's assuming it ever started in the first place.

Seriously, my beef is that too many men resist getting the PSA test. It is a simple test so what's the big deal? Your life could depend on it.

[geoffrey]

Is the PSA the blood test? I got blood work done last week and noticed there was a box on the form. I'm too young to be worried about this quite yet, so I don't know anything about it.

[Drea]

You should read the entire article, including the "correction" part at the bottom which revises the figure to a more realistic 22,300--oddly the same estimate for breast cancer.

The numbers that I've seen over the years, mainly from the USA, show similar rates of occurence between prostate and breast cancer, with prostate cancer usually being slightly higher. The unfortunate thing is that breast cancer has been politicized by feminists, even though breast cancer is not exclusively a female phenomena--about 10% of breast cancer cases occur in men (a fact which is, of course, ignored by feminists). Breast cancer is an issue around which feminists rally because they feel that the medical establishment is anti-woman and breats of course have an increased significance in our society (why is it that women always seem to resort to using breasts whenever they want to achieve something?).

Men have historically been reluctant to go to the doctor or get medical tests.

This is changing as men are becoming more aware of their health in general.

This comment:

"why is it that women always seem to resort to using breasts whenever they want to achieve something?"

is pathetic and utterly uncalled for. My mother had breast cancer. It certainly wasn't about her breasts as sex toys. It was about her life.

Perhaps men don't get their prostrates checked because they are afraid they will "enjoy" the doctor prodding around up there. (I don't mean that, but tit for tat, keng333)

Have you been checked? Are you man enough to let the doctor prod around without losing your masculinity? Doubtful, you'd probably rather die first.

[DarkAngel_]

ill give you a reason men dont like going to the doctor,

but its a scary story not for the faint of heart lol:

i was sick you see, went in, they did their tests, i was quite patient!

they pumped me full of drugs and i went fast asleep, the doctor, just out of med school seemingly floated into the room, i didn't even hear him, kinda freaked out, he calmed me with more, (guess what,) drugs, then BOOM! i got a needle in my back, 2 hours later he appeared the same way then told me i had meningitis (viral) after which i ate a hardy dinner of brick and some ash soup with a side of throw-up. then this drop-dead gorgeous girl came in, asked if i was OK, i told her i couldn't use the bathroom... you know i was constipaded...(from too many drugs) so this girl of my dreams; STUCK A BIG BLACK PILL UP MY BUTT. after of which i had nightmares about that doctor being a vampire and that nurse violating me. once i got out i bought a multi-vitamin and some immune system boosters and i keep taking them to this day!!!

get it?

[capricorn]

ill give you a reason men dont like going to the doctor,

but its a scary story not for the faint of heart lol:

i was sick you see, went in, they did their tests, i was quite patient!

they pumped me full of drugs and i went fast asleep, the doctor, just out of med school seemingly floated into the room, i didn't even hear him, kinda freaked out, he calmed me with more, (guess what,) drugs, then BOOM! i got a needle in my back, 2 hours later he appeared the same way then told me i had meningitis (viral) after which i ate a hardy dinner of brick and some ash soup with a side of throw-up. then this drop-dead gorgeous girl came in, asked if i was OK, i told her i couldn't use the bathroom... you know i was constipaded...(from too many drugs) so this girl of my dreams; STUCK A BIG BLACK PILL UP MY BUTT. after of which i had nightmares about that doctor being a vampire and that nurse violating me. once i got out i bought a multi-vitamin and some immune system boosters and i keep taking them to this day!!!

get it?

I hope you got out of it with all your appendages intact.

[RB]

Both are awful not to experience but is a reality.

I would say this, that perhaps a man might feel "less of a man" because of castration, a pressure mostly from the way society view the male etc. Men are hesitant to visit a doctor because the doctors tell them "things" that seem to decimate the macho image (I have worked with enough men to make this claim).

Though women feel their pain and loss and am not sure that majority of women feel less of a women. I could be wrong. Women are verbal about their loss, and has the support of men and women. I mean some women have not much of a breast, walk around with a minus -A size cup. Yes! But I believe that being able to catch a breast cancer in time is viewed as such an overwhelming relief, that mastectomy is seen not as a frustration but cure.

[DarkAngel_]

I hope you got out of it with all your appendages intact.

i thought she would steal my heart, instead she stole my virginity.

[geoffrey]

i thought she would steal my heart, instead she stole my virginity.

Yup after that story I'm pretty much convinced that I'll never go to a hospital again...

In all seriousness though, these people did save your life.

[guyser]

Is the PSA the blood test? I got blood work done last week and noticed there was a box on the form. I'm too young to be worried about this quite yet, so I don't know anything about it.

There is a PSA test done by drawing blood. So , yes you may have already had one.

But I dont think you are too young. Every couple of years having this test ($35 for a PSA and $60 for a PSA+ test) done will establish a good baseline for you in the future. As being young , you are likely correct to not worry.

Baseline is the number you have for a normal operating prostate. Once it starts to rise the Docs can then investigate. But without the base, they operate from not knwoing what is normal for your body.

From what I have experienced, a base under 5 is normal. So if you test at 4 for the next decade and then climb to 9, you will be investigated for prostate cancer.

Dont leave it G......it aint worth it...trust me on this.

Oh, and your company bennies might cover it.

As for the finger in the butt , you will spend more time worrying , sweating , panicking and getting ribbed about it than it takes to have it done. Count to 8, over and done with . Oh and the docs have heard every variation of the "Hey you havent even bought me dinner yet!"