yea you're right that there's a big difference in the mean age and a more benign prognosis for prostate cancer in general. I just get uppity with all the focus in society on breast cancer with the high rates of lung (3rd most often, 1st most deadly - no screening procedures), colon, prostate, etc.

With regard to your question on the effectiveness of digital rectal exams for prostate screening, I'm not sure about specific studies. From the us preventative services task force site where they suggest against the PSA test for screening they mention:

"Periodic digital rectal examinations could also be an alternative strategy worthy of further study. In the only randomized trial demonstrating a mortality reduction from radical prostatectomy for clinically localized cancer, a high percentage of men had palpable cancer."

http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/prostatecancers...