Trying to decide treatment options and quality of life after

A CT scan has a 1 in 1,000 chance of causing cancer (0.1%). But when you apply that to the whole U.S. population, you get a potentially large number of cases, even though most CT scans are harmless.

But it's also a good reminder not to get scanned more than is medically necessary. Prostate cancer patients probably don't need a PSMA-PET or regular CT contrast scan every year, for example, unless there's other evidence that their cancer is changing.

They cite 93,000,000 scans and come up with a ‘possible’ 103,000 cases. That’s .001 mathematically. I will take those odds if a scan can find a cancer or malady that might kill me if I was unaware of it.

Yes, absolutely. I had a CT myself many years ago. I also had serious injury 3 years ago and my primary care offered a CT but warned me that I should think it over since it will expose me to high dose of radiation. I decided to decline CT.

I am just saying that I can not believe what was sated in that Stanford study which Jeff posted : / . If single CT scan can increase a chance of cancer than having 41 EBRT or whatever can not be so harmless - I mean, com'onnnn ???? @@ When one has to do it, one has to do it - it can be obviously lifesaving, but I do not believe it has such a low incidence of complications, that is all .

About 8 years ago, or so, I accompanied my friend to Stanford for some radiology consultations regarding some type of lymphoma she had, I forgot the name ( one that is not lethal) and RO told her that she should not hurry with it since radiation can cause secondary cancers. But at least he was honest.

I think that North's doctor was correct with his information.

Yes, but % is a %, regardless of total "number" ; ).

Yup, agree…but as I said in a previous thread, I was much more concerned with the prostate cancer I have NOW, than the possible one(s) I may get in the future.
And even more so in my case, since my urologist did caution me that radiation ‘could’ make my previously treated bladder cancer re-awaken and move to a more aggressive type.
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t - pick your poison, right?😖

Agreed < 3 Of course !!! It is just unfortunate that most ROs (it seems) skip that part during consultations and present radiation almost like some "extreme spa treatment" (like the dude with colorful ties). As long as we have full picture, all is well. One can than know what to observe and what to pay attention to and act preemptively and/or on time.
As my husband's cardiologist says :"EVERYTHING is fixable" ! One just needs to be proactive and search for the best doctors and treatments and never give up. BTW, he also was recently diagnosed with PC : (((. He is still 3+3 and may it stay that way forever. He is such a nice person and amazing doctor and in his 50-ies. : (((

Brian, are you still on hormone treatments? We have communicated before. My husband will be completing his 5 weeks of radiation this Friday. He had his hormone injection May 15 and is scheduled for the next in late October. He has been on abiratarone since the first week in June. He has diarhea a few days per week , his libido seems to be negligible. He does his own weight workout every other day, in the hope of retaining muscle mass and bone density. I asked the radiation oncologist if they would be doing a PSMA after the radiation is completed but he said probably not until he has had two hears of the hormone therapy. I can see his lack of energy, and I am hoping that he will be able to get his testosterone back ...I fear that he will atrophy and not be able to be who he was. I can't explain it but I see a resolve that this is just the way things are going to be for the rest of his life... I am wondering why the doctors feel that he will be on hormone therapy for the rest of his life. I believe he has 5 lesions in lymph nodes. Quality of life is so important but I would never sacrifice how long he lives for that. He has always been so healthy. Is it normal to be on ADT and hormone therapy for the rest of your life? I saw Dr. Geo interviewing a doctor on youtube yesterday and he and the doctor seemed to be questioning the need for ADT if radiation has done its job.

“…like the dude with the colorful ties.” Too funny!! That’s Dr Scholtz, who has those uber-scripted ‘interviews’ with his secretary.
Honestly, I can’t listen to him. Everything is explained a little too breezily and off the cuff, like he read it somewhere and is merely mentioning it to you in passing.
I don’t know, maybe that’s his intent: present PCa as a big nothingburger, the treatment a piece of cake and everybody goes on to live a happy normal life??
But please, somebody please get him a new wardrobe - starting with those ties!! Those are the 3 for $5 jobs that nerdy high school kids used to wear when they summer interned at the local library…

Has anyone’s Dr. told them that the cat scan that they freely order can result in CANCER?
I recall hearing that but NEVER had any Dr. inform me of the risk.
Maybe our records should have a counter showing how many cats we’ve had in total over our lifetime. Perhaps that might get them to ask themself if this CAT is really necessary. Just A quirky thought.

PS not knowing anything “ technically “ about Cat Scans; does anyone know if the tech giving the scan has control over how wide of an area the scan needs to and how much power is needed? So is there a control like on a toaster, turning it from 1 to 10 for instance?