Confusion Reigns

…so everything is just about normal.

If you have had prostate cancer for a while you may have noticed that there has been a lot of published research in the past several years designed to clarify the diagnosis and treatment process of the disease. Had you been paying attention you would have learned (from respected researchers) that:

•      Guys who are healthy and have never had a PSA test should generally not be tested. There is no survival advantage and there is the possibility of over treatment.
•      Some guys should be tested with the PSA if they and their doctor think it’s a good idea (for example if it runs in the family). And similar research in Europe has shown there does seem to be about a 20% survival advantage to having regular PSA tests.
•          Younger men, newly diagnosed with slow growing prostate cancer, show no survival benefit from surgery. What about those with faster growing tumors or a high PSA?
•      Older men, newly diagnosed, show no survival benefit from surgery. Too bad.
•      Treatment of any kind may not show a significant survival benefit.
•      Treatment saves lives or extends lives for some (different researchers).

So, armed with this definitive scientific information, you and your medical team can confidently plan a treatment (or non-treatment) regimen to keep you as healthy as possible for as long as possible (don’t you feel more positive already?). I would certainly like to show a survival benefit. So far I’m surviving and that is definitely a survival benefit to me.

Every man’s experience with prostate cancer is different, every man’s choices are a little different, every man’s attitude is a little different, every man’s response to treatment is a little different, every man’s tolerance of medical side effects is different, but we all hope it works for us.

Nobody really knows what will work for any individual at any time. This is a good reason to be seriously involved in your own treatment. You know how you feel, what you want, what your side effects are, and what you are willing or not willing to do or tolerate.

axman

Happy Independence Day to Everyone

I have talked here several times about my heroes--many of them cancer survivors. But I also have another group of heroes--those men who wrote and signed the Declaration of Independence 236 years ago. They not only sparked the creation of our country, they also put their lives on the line. Each one of them knew there was a very good chance the British would hunt them down and execute them and probably their families, too.

Jefferson, Adams, and Franklin put in the words and John Hancock made sure his name stood out for easy recognition. Doing the right thing isn't always easy whether you're a Founding Father, cancer survivor, parent, partner, or citizen. Celebrate the good things in your life this 4th of July week.

Next week I'll get back to prostate cancer, the Affordable Care Act, politics, cartoons, and what's new in cancer treatment.

axman