Positive Attitudes - Bah Humbug

I keep running into guys with prostate cancer - I actually seek them out. My mercenary side tries to sell them a book or two. My warm and fuzzy side wants to share information on the secrets of survival.

To a man, they seem genuinely optimistic. "I'm figuring they'll find some better treatments in a year or two." "I feel better than I did six months ago!" "I'm not dead yet!"

I've even noticed subtle changes in my own skeptical, curmudgeonly life style. For a couple of years now I've made an effort to reconnect with old friends I hadn't seen in 20 or 30 years - or even more. The reunions have been great - even a little emotional sometimes. And, a high percentage of those old geezers have prostate cancer or some other cancer. Nobody ever complained; just shared. Maybe that cup is half full after all.

axman

And the BEST Treatment is…

OK, OK, nobody really knows, but in a new research study there may be an indication – if you’re young enough. If you’re older than 50 when you’re diagnosed the jury is still out.

Researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan reviewed more than 8,200 cases where men were diagnosed with prostate cancer before they were 50.

The Study in a Nutshell

"When given the choice between surgery, watchful waiting or external beam radiotherapy, patients younger than 50 with moderately and poorly differentiated prostate cancers have better long-term overall and cancer-specific survival when they opt for surgery," says study author Naveen Pokala, M.D., an urologist with Henry Ford Hospital.

In 5, 10, 15, and 20 year follow-ups those men who opted for radical prostatectomy had a better survival rate than those who received external beam radiation (X-ray) treatment or chose active surveillance (watch and wait).

So tell your younger friends (more and more ‘young’ men are being diagnosed) to check out this study if they are diagnosed and BEFORE they opt for treatment. Long term survival rates keep getting better and better. I consider that pretty good news now that my post-treatment recurrent prostate cancer is at six years and counting. I try to count very slowly.

axman

Losing Friends

In the past few months I’ve lost some good friends – two of them to cancer and one to a senseless accident. Even though they’re gone I haven’t quite accepted it yet. Every so often something will happen and I’ll think, “I’ve gotta share that with…” Only then do I remember he’s gone.

In each case I was shocked and surprised; even though the two guys with cancer were in the later stages of the disease. But it can’t be – denial. Then sadness and concern for their families. And finally concern for myself. If it can happen to them…

I wish I’d had more time with them. And it strengthens my resolve to do the things I want to do and not wait until the weather’s better or I can afford it or I finish painting the house.

axman