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Terry and John T,
Thank you so much for your responses. I have read some books that support the use of color doppler ultrasound as well as spectrographic endorectal MRIs
(like Scholz/Blum's excellent "Invasion of the Prostate Snatchers"). The problem being I can't seem to find the tests here in North Carolina. My plan is to have three more PSAs done next year (1/11, 4/11, 7/11), look for a trend and decide what to do then. I'm sure I can scrape up a few bucks to go out to see Dr Lee or Dr Bahn; hopefully they would agree see me.
Funny when I found out my Uro didn't do these tests, I asked my PCP to find one who did. He came back a few days later saying that he taked to a bunch of Uros in the area and they basically "poo-pooed" the tests saying they tried those kinds of tests back in the '90s without much success and didn't think they would show any more than a regular biopsy.
I find it interesting that I seem more concered about having a higher PSA and a negative biopsy then having a lower PSA and a positive biopsy.
Recently I have joined a PCA support group and everyone in the group (except me) has had some form of "treatment" and while they are all a great bunch of guys you can really hear how the negative aspects of their treatments have affected their lives. But to be fair, perhaps those whose treatments resulted in no negative aspects, don't go to support meetings.
Anyway Thanks for this wonderful site and thanks for that link to that A.S. article Dr Klotz you recently posted.
Power Color Doppler Sonograms gives a list of the well known practitioners who use Color-Doppler. I'd guess the ones in Florida are closest to you? I have seen another list that gives ALL known practitioners, but can't lay my hands on it right now. In any event because the interpretation of results requires a good deal of training, you'd be better to see one of these doctors rather than someone who doesn't use the scan regularly. It is this requirement for investment in training (and the equipment) which is often a significant bar to the acceptance of the technique by some doctors. If you haven't read JON NOWLIN'S story, you might find his approach and use of Color-Doppler of interest.
Your comments about men who join Support Groups may well be correct - why would you join a group if you have no problems? There are some people who will join the groups out of a desire to help others, but it is probably true to say that most members are troubled, as are most people who contribute to Forums like these on the Internet.
I believe that one of the truly unique aspects of Yana is that most of the men who contribute do so either soon after they are diagnosed or soon after they have had their primary therapy, NOT after they develop any problems or concerns. Although, as critics of th site never hesitate to point out, the stories have no 'scientific' value, I believe they represent a good cross section of what really happens after diagnosis and therapy. .... But then I would say that, wouldn't I? Our children and grandchildren are always the most beautiful and cleverest:-)
Good luck on your path, wherever it may lead you.
Terry, on a beautiful Spring day in Australia - doves cooing in the trees, mild sunshine warming the old dog as he llies in the doorway. Jeez, ain't it good to be alive?
