Knowledge Therapy. I am an old man adrift in a sea of advanced prostate cancer always in search of new advanced prostate cancer treatments/solutions. How old? I remember watching Sputnik cross the evening sky. In prostate cancer years my "watchful waiting phase" started back in the Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) days, pre-Netflix. There was a Blockbuster Video store Nextdoor to my primary care guy. That primary care guy informed me I had a prostate the size and texture of an 80 year old which concerned him because I was in my 40s. He introduced me to the term "Watchful Waiting." Bi-annual DRE's continued for decades. Eventually he retired from his practice turning it over to the young guy who introduced me to PSA exams instead of DRE's. My PSA's were always higher than the norms, around 4ish. The young guy wanted to act immediatley by send me for operations at the end of every office visit for years. Worried I was, always worried about cancer. I did what I always do when faced with life changing dilemmas and went searching for higher meaning. I call it "Knowledge Therapy." I went to a medical school for, not a second option, but consultive learning. I consulted with a prostate cancer specialist practitioner who is also a professor/scholar. She clearly understood my dilemma, pointed me in the right treatment direction and informed me it was time to think about quality of life. That consultation changed my life.
It prepared for my future. Knowing someday my PSA would spike, and it did, I knew how to handle it. She taught me about "Oncologist" and how to find the right one for my needs. Hint, easy going, with great communication skills, one that is mindful of aging processes and guide-full, not pushy. Took me about seven tries and I finally found him/her and she is wonderful. Every year I give myself the gift of "Knowledge Therapy" and attend annual advanced prostate cancer symposiums at different cancer reacher centers. For me they're always hopeful, educational, and great places to network with prostate cancer survivors.
I plan on attending the Prostate Cancer Institute symposiums this fall in CA. Last year I went to the prostate cancer institute in Seattle at Fred Hutch, wonderful.
When is the one at Mayo?