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Physicians with Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: May 7 11:02am | Replies (17)Comment receiving replies
Understand your comment.
I’m sure all these physicians, before their diagnosis, generally knew more about the prostate than the “random guy on the street”.
However, all except the retired urologist, were quite unfamiliar with what some of the more seasoned members of this forum know, regarding PCa screening, mpMRI test methods, the nuance of various treatment options and evidence based active surveillance interventions.
This has been my experience with the GP’s I’ve talked with, since my PCa diagnosis.
It’s not all that surprising when one considers the absolute enormity of all generated medical information regarding each part of the human body.
The major advantage all these physicians seem to have was their ability to quickly determine who, where and how to obtain the care that best aligned with their own goals and risk tolerances.
My main takeaways were that “one must advocate for himself” and the best physician is one who fits PCa disease care to the patient and not visa versa.
IMHO my last takeaway is the most difficult task a man will encounter when beginning his own PCa journey; therefore it’s even more critical to be your own advocate.
Replies to "@brianjarvis Understand your comment. I’m sure all these physicians, before their diagnosis, generally knew more about..."
@handera
I believe you are absolutely right. I am a radiologist who was diagnosed with G9 prostate cancer at age 68. Ended up with limited / oligometastatic disease. Underwent RP, triple therapy and pelvic radiation. I knew about diagnosis /MRI/ CT of prostate cancer since I routinely read those imaging modalities. As an Interventional Radiologist I even biopsied the prostate in the 1990s before the urologists began doing it themselves.
I had a fair amount of knowledge about the disease. So, when I initially heard "G9" and met to T8, I knew what that meant. Like most men on this forum, I went through the usual stages. But I knew who to contact. I had multiple friends who were Radiation Oncologists, Urologists and Medical Oncologists. I quickly got up to speed on treatment options. I was quickly able to get multiple appointments / consultations. My colleagues gave their opinions about who were some of the best in the field. Because of my medical background, I was able to read and understand peer reviewed literature.
I knew it was important to become informed and be my own advocate. Physicians are busy, the healthcare system is large and complex and it is easy to get lost in it. Skill and knowledge among physicians varies widely, no different than the skill of a mechanic, violinist or baseball player. There is a spectrum. Some are brilliant, kind and informed. Some are a little duller, lazy and dismissive. Of course, most are somewhere in the middle.
I have enjoyed reading the opinions, comments and experiences of those on this forum and others. But I don't take medical advice from laymen or even physicians that don't know my history and aren't an expert in the field. I can almost guarantee you that the vast majority of GPs, Internists and Family Practice docs don't have up to date and significant knowledge regarding treatment of prostate cancer. There are a lot of guys on this forum that know a lot more about the disease and its treatment than most physicians. Specialists in other fields like Orthopedic surgery, Pediatrics, etc are virtually clueless. This isn't a criticism; there is too much information is our own fields to keep up on. Doctors don't try to stay current in other fields of medicine because they can't.
Ultimately, I found my MO through reading the literature and then having a Zoom call. He is a very experienced Professor at Johns Hopkins who is extensively involved with prostate cancer research. He only treats men with a certain stage of prostate cancer. I have complete faith in both him and his NP. Although I do ask some questions I do exactly as he advises. There is zero chance I could know / learn as much about this disease and its treatment as he does. He understands I want a certain QOL, my risk tolerance and that I want to live as long as possible. IMHO, if men have to research and direct their own treatment or tell their doctor about new therapies, they need to find a new doctor!
Long winded discussion. But your third to the last paragraph rings true. The major advantage of physicians is understanding / navigating the healthcare system and having insider knowledge of who and where to go to.
I wish everyone the best in fighting this disease. Of all the cancers and diseases I know of, the treatments of prostate cancer can sometimes be as bad as the disease itself.
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@handera
Most urologists will go with the standard 20-year-old treatments because if they deviate to something new, they open themselves to lawsuits that could destroy their careers. The latest and best treatments have an uphill battle before they become standard treatments. In the meantime, men suffer and die while something new is better and available.