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Re: PCa doctor bias and lack of options laid out for patients to consider
Boy, I know exactly what you're talking about. I was rushed into robotic surgery (I believe so the doc could get the experience). I wasn't given any other surgical option. I regret it every day. I wound up having 8 weeks of radiation to clean up the mess.
Re: Re: PCa doctor bias and lack of options laid out for patients to consider
I agree with the above comments, but at the same time query putting all the blame on the doctors. Where is the patient in the desicion making process? Is it because in our society cancer is a "death sentence" and we want to get rid of it immediately? Do we loose all our sense of reasoning in the rush to get rid of the cancer and forget about the option of a second opinion?
I receive between 20 to 30 phone calls a week from men and women looking for help, guidance and advice. Nearly half of them are newly diagnosed. Of these newly diagnosed very few have thought about a second opinion from a doctor other than an urologist. They are amazed to hear that in Israel they have other options besides RP.
For the above reasons we haved formed The Living with Prostate Cancer Foundation.Besides promoting PCa awareness, creating support groups and a hot line we hope to try and "educate" the GP. Patients have to learn that that they have a say in their treatment and with the internet there is very little difficulty in learning about the various diseases and the appropiate treatment. I do not have the answer on how to educate the general public to take resposibilty for their bodies, but those who do are not bulldozered into a treatment that might not be suitable.
Re: Re: Re: PCa doctor bias and lack of options laid out for patients to consider
In my case, I had concurring opinions from a second urologist and a radiation oncologist. And what you say is very true: a cancer diagnosis affects your decision making process. prior to my surgery, I had a great deal of trust in the medical community. Now I question everything that any doctor tells me.
Re: PCa doctor bias and lack of options laid out for patients to consider
Bob,
That was an interesting post. I also believe there is often a push for immediate treatment that may not be necessary, or any treament at all. If you haven't read this paper by Dr. Stamey it's an interesting read and goes along with what you said in your post. I'll put a link to it below and maybe we can all discuss it.
Of course NOT ALL of the people found with PCa today fall into this catagory but from what I've read most do and that's why there's such a controversy over how or if to treat them. Doctors say the problem is since we don't know which tumor will progress slowly or quickly we treat all of them the same, which leaves it up to the patient to take the risk of watchfull waiting or go for immediate treatment. And let's face it when someone says you have cancer the emotional reaction if most often the driving factor.
I must point out someone I admire, Terry Herbert. He researched the disease when he was diagnosed and came to the conclusion he could wait and deal with it later IF it became a problem. Then after 12 years he needed to go on ADT, which saved him 12 years of living with the after effects of surgery or EBRT. To me, for him it worked out very well since many people end up on ADT after surgery and EBRT. So Terry I salute you, you have shown both great courage and grace dealing with your PCa and running this site to help others.
