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Questions I should have asked about prostate cancer, but did not
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: 1 hour ago | Replies (17)Comment receiving replies
The noble prostate procession—like a relay race, but instead of batons we pass along MRI reports, biopsy scores, and a well-worn list of urologists who don’t cancel appointments for golf.
You're absolutely right: if we don’t share our stories, how else will the next poor soul know the thrilling rollercoaster of PSA levels, the joys of hormone therapy-induced hot flashes, and the eternal mystery of whether that pelvic ache is something or nothing?
It would be a crime against wisdom not to prepare the next generation for their eventual induction into the Brotherhood of the Biopsy. We are the grizzled sages now—our scrolls are PDF test results, and our campfire tales involve catheters and constipation.
Let’s not rob the future of our hard-earned enlightenment. After all, who else is going to explain the difference between “watchful waiting” and “active surveillance” without using interpretive dance?
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In a last ditch attempt to make you feel better - (but not necessarily to stop writing! ), I met a man in the locker room who was having radiation for prostate cancer at the same time I was.
This was at the renowned Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He was a regular guy - a plumbing contractor, so he was a rich, regular guy - and we became very friendly over the course of treatment and even had dinner with our wives when it was all over.
Interestingly, he really didn’t do any research, question the doctors or even know his PSA or Gleason scores. I had to play charades with him and use street language (Did they put you in a big big scary tube with a lot of noise? Did they put pellets up your ass for about an hour?)
in order to even understand why he was there and what treatment he was getting.
After a few meetings I learned that he was a Gleason 3+4 and had some aggressive cells in his biopsy. Never did find out his Decipher.
But his treatment, Hans, was exactly yours. ADT/brachytherapy/ radiation. The only difference was 6 months Orgovyx as opposed to 18(?) months for you.
So even with all the fancy US tests and trimmings, his dietary counselor, his Physician Assistant liaison and weekly Q&A sessions with his RO….his treatment was almost identical to yours, dogmatic, orthodox and hopefully, lifesaving…
Phil