Skip to content
By using Twitter’s services you agree to our Cookies Use. We and our partners operate globally and use cookies, including for analytics, personalisation, and ads.
  • Home Home Home, current page.
  • About

Saved searches

  • Remove
  • In this conversation
    Verified accountProtected Tweets @
Suggested users
  • Verified accountProtected Tweets @
  • Verified accountProtected Tweets @
  • Language: English
    • Bahasa Indonesia
    • Bahasa Melayu
    • Català
    • Čeština
    • Dansk
    • Deutsch
    • English UK
    • Español
    • Filipino
    • Français
    • Hrvatski
    • Italiano
    • Magyar
    • Nederlands
    • Norsk
    • Polski
    • Português
    • Română
    • Slovenčina
    • Suomi
    • Svenska
    • Tiếng Việt
    • Türkçe
    • Ελληνικά
    • Български език
    • Русский
    • Српски
    • Українська мова
    • עִבְרִית
    • العربية
    • فارسی
    • मराठी
    • हिन्दी
    • বাংলা
    • ગુજરાતી
    • தமிழ்
    • ಕನ್ನಡ
    • ภาษาไทย
    • 한국어
    • 日本語
    • 简体中文
    • 繁體中文
  • Have an account? Log in
    Have an account?
    · Forgot password?

    New to Twitter?
    Sign up
GidMK's profile
Health Nerd
Health Nerd
Health Nerd
Verified account
@GidMK

Tweets

Health NerdVerified account

@GidMK

Epidemiologist. Writer (Guardian, Observer etc). "Well known research trouble-maker". PhDing at @UoW Host of @senscipod Email gidmk.healthnerd@gmail.com he/him

Sydney, New South Wales
theguardian.com/profile/gideon…
Joined November 2015

Tweets

  • © 2021 Twitter
  • About
  • Help Center
  • Terms
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies
  • Ads info
Dismiss
Previous
Next

Go to a person's profile

Saved searches

  • Remove
  • In this conversation
    Verified accountProtected Tweets @
Suggested users
  • Verified accountProtected Tweets @
  • Verified accountProtected Tweets @

Promote this Tweet

Block

  • Tweet with a location

    You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more

    Your lists

    Create a new list


    Under 100 characters, optional

    Privacy

    Copy link to Tweet

    Embed this Tweet

    Embed this Video

    Add this Tweet to your website by copying the code below. Learn more

    Add this video to your website by copying the code below. Learn more

    Hmm, there was a problem reaching the server.

    By embedding Twitter content in your website or app, you are agreeing to the Twitter Developer Agreement and Developer Policy.

    Preview

    Why you're seeing this ad

    Log in to Twitter

    · Forgot password?
    Don't have an account? Sign up »

    Sign up for Twitter

    Not on Twitter? Sign up, tune into the things you care about, and get updates as they happen.

    Sign up
    Have an account? Log in »

    Two-way (sending and receiving) short codes:

    Country Code For customers of
    United States 40404 (any)
    Canada 21212 (any)
    United Kingdom 86444 Vodafone, Orange, 3, O2
    Brazil 40404 Nextel, TIM
    Haiti 40404 Digicel, Voila
    Ireland 51210 Vodafone, O2
    India 53000 Bharti Airtel, Videocon, Reliance
    Indonesia 89887 AXIS, 3, Telkomsel, Indosat, XL Axiata
    Italy 4880804 Wind
    3424486444 Vodafone
    » See SMS short codes for other countries

    Confirmation

     

    Welcome home!

    This timeline is where you’ll spend most of your time, getting instant updates about what matters to you.

    Tweets not working for you?

    Hover over the profile pic and click the Following button to unfollow any account.

    Say a lot with a little

    When you see a Tweet you love, tap the heart — it lets the person who wrote it know you shared the love.

    Spread the word

    The fastest way to share someone else’s Tweet with your followers is with a Retweet. Tap the icon to send it instantly.

    Join the conversation

    Add your thoughts about any Tweet with a Reply. Find a topic you’re passionate about, and jump right in.

    Learn the latest

    Get instant insight into what people are talking about now.

    Get more of what you love

    Follow more accounts to get instant updates about topics you care about.

    Find what's happening

    See the latest conversations about any topic instantly.

    Never miss a Moment

    Catch up instantly on the best stories happening as they unfold.

    1. Health Nerd‏Verified account @GidMK 20 Mar 2019

      Health Nerd Retweeted Daniel MacArthur

      If you then realize that this sets you up for a lifetime of testing and potentially invasive surgery, it gets even worse! It's one issue I have with genetic tests that's really not often discussedhttps://twitter.com/dgmacarthur/status/1108399451306115073 …

      Health Nerd added,

      Daniel MacArthur @dgmacarthur
      Oh no, dude. Finding out you having a 15% inferred risk of disease, vs a 12% population risk, is not "saving your life". https://twitter.com/MattHancock/status/1108341468899479552 … pic.twitter.com/AemgAI12Xt
      Show this thread
      2 replies 7 retweets 21 likes
      Show this thread
    2. Health Nerd‏Verified account @GidMK 20 Mar 2019

      Think about it - in the original article, this person has just been told they are at an increased risk of prostate cancer over their lifetime Let's say they act on that

      1 reply 0 retweets 2 likes
      Show this thread
    3. Health Nerd‏Verified account @GidMK 20 Mar 2019

      In the first instance, this would mean that they'd get a prostate-specific antigen test once every year or two Matt Hancock, the author, is 40 years old Let's say he gets a test every year for the next 40 years - 40 tests overall

      1 reply 0 retweets 2 likes
      Show this thread
    4. Health Nerd‏Verified account @GidMK 20 Mar 2019

      These tests are very cheap, only ~$40 a pop So 40x40 = $1,600 to check for prostate cancer, based on that 3% increased lifetime risk

      1 reply 0 retweets 2 likes
      Show this thread
    5. Health Nerd‏Verified account @GidMK 20 Mar 2019

      But what if one of these tests is positive? Well, a positive PSA test often results in a biopsy That's a biopsy of the prostate Of those who have such biopsies, about 2% will have serious complications, and 0.2% will diepic.twitter.com/vpyfMCe8Uh

      1 reply 0 retweets 5 likes
      Show this thread
    6. Health Nerd‏Verified account @GidMK 20 Mar 2019

      On top of this, PSA screening has a fairly high false positive rate - 10-20% This means that Matt, if he is screened for prostate cancer yearly, has a ~relatively high chance of having a biopsy. Each biopsy has a 2% risk of serious complications

      1 reply 0 retweets 2 likes
      Show this thread
    7. Health Nerd‏Verified account @GidMK 20 Mar 2019

      THIS IS WHY PROSTATE SCREENING IS USUALLY NOT RECOMMENDED IN OTHERWISE HEALTHY MEN Multiple PSA tests result in multiple false positives which result in MULTIPLE DEATHSpic.twitter.com/EglTsuDktt

      1 reply 1 retweet 5 likes
      Show this thread
    8. Health Nerd‏Verified account @GidMK 20 Mar 2019

      Getting back to Matt, he's got 40 tests waiting for him These tests HAVE RISKS Do the benefits outweigh the risks? Based on the evidence, probably not

      1 reply 0 retweets 3 likes
      Show this thread
    9. Health Nerd‏Verified account @GidMK 20 Mar 2019

      The point here? There's an expensive genetic test. It gives you information on risk But the information is basically meaningless

      1 reply 0 retweets 6 likes
      Show this thread
    10. Health Nerd‏Verified account @GidMK 20 Mar 2019

      Even if you ARE at a slightly increased risk of prostate cancer, it will still probably change nothing about your medical care It's just another thing to worry about So, really, what's the point?

      2 replies 0 retweets 5 likes
      Show this thread
      Health Nerd‏Verified account @GidMK 20 Mar 2019

      This was true in the 23AndMe diabetes study as well The population getting these tests are mostly young, fit, healthy people They don't need to change their lifestyle to lower their risk of diabetes

      2:49 PM - 20 Mar 2019
      • 6 Likes
      • Craig Galle Pile of Goop Anaala Richardson Serenity “Hire Me” Dee Wendy Wilkinson 🙀🐱🐈🦘 bujaj49
      1 reply 0 retweets 6 likes
        1. Health Nerd‏Verified account @GidMK 20 Mar 2019

          Bottom line: If it wouldn't change anything about how you live your life THERE'S NO POINT IN GETTING THE TEST

          1 reply 2 retweets 14 likes
          Show this thread
          Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
          Undo

      Loading seems to be taking a while.

      Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.

        Promoted Tweet

        false

        • © 2021 Twitter
        • About
        • Help Center
        • Terms
        • Privacy policy
        • Cookies
        • Ads info