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I agree with you Jon, money clouds validity, especially in the WSJ who pump and dump companies constantly. However, it may provide another data point, that along with PSA monitoring, DRE, Prostate MRI, Color Doppler may help lead someone to a better informed decision.
Even the recommendation of AS, is it a way to save medical costs or unnecessary side-effects? Perhaps both
Read your post with interest, and that you have been on AS for 7 years. What was your initial Gleason score, how many cores were positive, at what percentages, and what was and is your PSA?
I was diagnosed in May 2013, with Gleason 3+3=6, T1c, 5 of 12 positive cores, at 5, 10, 15, 40 & 50%, and a PSA of 4.5. A second opinion on the biopsy suggested a bit of 3+4 in one core, so I'm awaiting an opinion from Estein/Johns Hopkins.
For most of the summer, I was committed to AS, but now I am beginning to waver. Here's why: 1) Five cores, including two at 40% and 50%, suggest that there is not an "insignificant" amount of cancer. 2) My PSA has been steadily rising for about the past 5 years, from 2.5, 3.2, 3.5, 3.9 and 4.5 in the past four years. 3) If i end up needing treatment, and surgery in particular, any growth in my cancer would further compromise the chances of success of nerve-sparing (because the surgeon would need to cut closer to the nerves). 4) Almost one-third of Gleason 6s turn out to be 7s, which is less ideal for AS.
As a "quality of life" guy, I had long held to the belief I was in that vast majority of men who would be able to outlive their PC (I am 58), but lately have begun to have my doubts.
