pros$r&t# exam!

[Salty]

Ya see, I haven't been doing much woodworking lately and I get to thinking of these weird questions I just have to ask.
That exam...that single index digit exam....
When they are studying for that profession, do ya think they have like a mannequin to practice on?
Or do they practice on each other?

I wonder!!!

[Bruce Cohen]

That's one of the reasons why medical schools buy cadavers.

Bruce

[Richard in Smithville]

There's a blood test that gives the same results.

[germdoc]

If you're over 50 or have a strong family history you need a yearly digital exam and a PSA every 2 years or so, up until 75 or so. Then it's optional.

I remember a poor old guy at Grady Hospital in Atlanta who had prostate cancer and a huge gland, and the chief surgical resident had a half dozen or so of us line up to do a rectal exam on the guy. I hope that old guy died knowing he performed a valuable educational service for some absolutely green medical students.

[bthorne]

Some medical schools use very well paid "teaching assistants" who demonstrate the exam for a pair of students, and then give pointers while each student performs the exam. It takes a very special kind of person to perform this service for the students - often people who have personal experience with their own or a relative's cancer who want to improve care.

Being taught the exam and having practiced it before going into the clinics improves student confidence and ability when they get to real patients. Less fumbling around makes things more comfortable for everyone.

[Kristofor]

Keep improving the blood tests... Money well spent...

I'm hoping that before I reach that age they'll have a study that says those DREs are not really that much help, or at least that the PSA/fPSA/whatever is just as useful making the poke test obsolete. Not holding my breath but it happened (kind of) for breast self exams, so maybe...

[cabinetman]

The exam isn't all that bad, but the snap of puttin' on the glove is chilling. This thread got me thinkin' about med students doing their first cystoscopy. I would pay big bucks not to be their first.
.

[Pappy]

Always look for a doctor with small hands!

[Richard in Smithville]

Always look for a doctor with small hands!

And warm ones too!

[fbrend123]

My doctor always told me that there was never any need for concern during a digital exam, as long as I only felt one hand on my shoulder. BTW, if you think the exam is something, wait 'til you've had a prostate biopsy.

[cabinetman]

Is it true about the exams?

In secluded confidential labs, they are experimenting with gerbils to perform the test. Some of the test animals have filed written complaints about bad working conditions.

Mike Rowe turned down doing a TV episode.

Mythbusters are planning to test whether small explosions can reduce an enlarged condition.

A segment of 60 Minutes reporting on the tests was turned down by the network. It would have aired after a segment about an evangelist on "Turning the other cheek".

Until she was informed that she didn't have one, Katie Couric withdrew her offer to have the test live on TV.
.

[herb fellows]

Some things in this life just need to be left untold. This is definitely one of them.

If the doc starts singing 'sweet mystery of Life', get out of there quick!

[scmhogg]

When my doctor performed the dreaded test he laid a box of kleenex on the table in front of me, and said, "that's in case I make you cry."

Steve

[jackellis]

Some of the posts in this thread are hilarious.

Do you know what happens to your wives when they see the gynecologist? How about when they have a mammogram? As far as I can tell, guys have it pretty easy - after all, our private bits don't have to get squashed and x-rayed

If someone is going to be giving me the finger, so to speak, I prefer to have a woman doing it than a man.

I'd guess a DRE is probably more unpleasant for the doctor than it is for us.

[MilDoc]

Hmmmm. Is it worse than what LOYL goes through?