Just When You Thought...

...you could trust your oncologist, an article turned up in the NY Times that may cause you to be more cautious. Check this out at the Zero Cancer website http://www.zerocancer.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=10874. At a VA Hospital in Philadelphia there were serious errors in 92 of 116 treatments when radioactive seeds (brachytherapy) were inserted into the prostate (supposedly) of men expecting professional prostate cancer treatment. Seeds were actually injected into the colon, bladder, and other areas instead of the prostate. There have been serious and painful side effects.
This whole process took place over more than six years and nothing was done to intervene or protect the patients who were put at risk during that time.

Why do I include this here? I'm not trying to scare you; only to strongly suggest that you don't make hasty decisions. Talk to doctors, patients, friends, and clergy. Check hospital and doctor reviews online. Read the blogs and medical journals and reliable websites. While most doctors and hospitals and treatments are high quality you want to be sure.

The best treatment is what we all deserve. Demand it and expect it and let your doctor and hospital and insurance carrier know when that doesn't happen.
axman

Waiting for Symptoms

I am convinced most men (including me) operate in a state of denial at least part of the time. In my discussions with guys who have prostate cancer and those who's wives think they might be at risk there is a common thread: "I'll go see a doctor as soon as I have some symptoms." "What symptoms?" I ask. Many of these guys are convinced (or want to be) that anything as serious as prostate cancer would definitely have some warning signs. Pain or difficulty in urinating would be symptom number one. No pain - no disease.
If only... In fact (and most men know this deep down someplace) prostate cancer usually has NO early signs, signals, or symptoms. It would be nice to have symptoms BEFORE going to a doctor. If you go for a prostate cancer exam and DON'T have prostate cancer are you a wuss? Would Real Men and Real Women point and laugh? ...they might anyway, but that's another story.
Six years after my initial diagnosis and subsequent treatments I still haven't had even ONE small symptom that might be connected with my prostate cancer. Not one. And that's the norm.
Bottom line? Don't wait for symptoms. Be a wuss and get a checkup now and then.

axman

Bucket Lists

A couple years ago, when it became obvious that my prostate cancer and my wife's diabetes were not going to get much better or go away, we made some not-so-difficult decisions:

We were going to spend our kid's inheritance (the stock market has been amazingly helpful in this)

We were going to do as many things and go as many places as possible (bad backs and poor memories be damned)

We were going to spend time with kids and grandkids and friends (as long as they could put up with us)

We were going to read books and drink wine and take naps (so far so good).

When I shared this sort-of philosophy with some of my prostate cancer survivor friends, they didn't necessarily share my goals. In fact, several of them had an almost-opposite goal: stay home, relax, enjoy what you have, and fade away gracefully. It made me think a little (I didn't want to overdo it) - everybody has their own idea of what their retirement years should include. Fair enough. Just make sure you actually make a decision. Don't just let time slip and slide away and then wonder where it all went...
Do what YOU want to do before you "kick the bucket."
axman