Newly Diagnosed: Removal vs Radiation

I read that study and my conclusion is: eat the eggs!
There were 675 fatalities due to prostate cancer out of over 872,000 person years. That’s a super low percentage and they pinned it on the highest choline intake? It could have been the same numbers for ANY ingested compound at that rate or maybe even higher.
That article was from 2012, the same year that another NIH paper claimed NO causation for PCa from eggs…..A lot of these ‘scientific’ papers work by postulating a theory - eggs cause cancer - and then magically find numbers to support that theory. In fact, this was not a double blind study and more importantly, did not tackle the question of how the eggs were prepared: boiled, fried in butter, fried in margarine, Crisco, olive oil? Eaten in a souffle??
I think you see what I am saying. Perhaps those things caused the cancer and not the eggs. Association is not causation…

I think this is totally valid.

Nobody discounts that something might make cancer better or worse because none of us know and doctors don't know. They know what they have tested, so some things have been debunked, but there's probably someone out there that will say that wearing flip flops makes a difference, and who is to say they are wrong?

On the other hand, who is to say that eggs aren't Gods gift to slowing cancer? Since deep and encompassing studies haven't been done, it can go either way.

One thing I've learned in both of my cancer journeys is that there is no shortage of remedies for cancer because it's a terrible disease and everyone wants the magic "thing" that fixes it for them. And guess what, if you feel it fixes your problem and there's no science saying that it does the opposite then go for it! I'll eat lima beans if I must (man I hate lima beans) if I thought it had a 1% chance of being effective because I can control 1%. It's why I'm killing myself with my trainer - it gives me just a bit of control where before I had none.

I read a very in-depth study of some alternative forms of treatment that were debunked twenty ways from Sunday last night and people still hold on tight to them purely out of confirmation bias, despite them being less successful. We all want that magic thing that fixes our cancer, doesn't impact our quality of life and basically leaves us just the way we are pre cancer with very little to no impact. I'd give all the money I have for that.

Eggs are funny in their history of being good or bad. They were Gods gift, then they were Satans curse, then Gods gift then Satans curse. I don't think any food item has experienced as much flipping and flopping over the decades than the poor old egg. To me it equates to one thing: nobody really knows.

From Microsoft Copilot: Recent research continues to support the findings of the 2012 NIH study linking egg consumption to an increased risk of lethal prostate cancer. For example, a 2022 Cleveland Clinic study found that men with increased choline intake (primarily from egg yolks) had almost twice the risk of lethal prostate cancer compared to controls.
While some studies suggest a link between egg consumption and prostate cancer risk, it's important to consider the overall dietary pattern and other lifestyle factors. It's always a good idea to discuss dietary concerns with your healthcare provider.

The trouble with isolated studies — no matter how credible the source — is that they more often uncover an accidental correlation rather than a direct causation: e.g. men who enjoy eating a lot of eggs and men who have a higher risk of advanced PCa have some other, unknown trait in common (genetic, physical, or otherwise).

(Also, CoPilot can be a useful tool, but apply a lot of healthy scepticism to its results. Generative AI mindlessly parrots information on the web, right or wrong, and then introduces its own errors to make it a bit like a game of broken telephone. Experimenting with ChatGPT, I've been able to generate exactly opposite responses about PCa just by rephrasing my question slightly. 😕)

Thank you for your reply, good to know. The AI recently provided very depressing stats about surving prostate cancer, which are no where near what they really are....

If you read that study even the top researcher said “we found an association, which does NOT mean causation” and he said it twice.
Also, the gut biome - and associated gut flora (bacteria SPECIFIC for each individual) - was a key component of the entire study. So maybe certain bacteria are causing the cancer and the choline is an innocent bystander?
Also in the later part of the study, they say that men who eat more eggs tend to eat more meat and dairy and less fish and vegetables….Where in God’s name do they come up with that ridiculous statement!? You can infer one from the other?? If I only wear black socks I am clinically depressed?? C’mon guys, give me a break!
Even if this was based on a questionnaire, most men probably don’t know the frequency of anything they eat…more junk science, more internet repetition of the same flawed study over and over

My take is kind of generic, and already stated: if YOU THINK something will help or hurt then change your life to accommodate that belief, so long as you cannot cite anything that says it will hurt you then there's no harm.

I'll wear a tutu, standing on my head, balancing a ball on my big toe if I think that will help. What I do know is that, aside from looking very silly doing it, it's unlikely to make anything worse.

The point being is that even if science cannot back up your belief, the mind is a very powerful thing and you never know if you are helping yourself simply by believing strongly in it. At the very least it makes you feel better about your disease and in what circumstance can that be taken to be anything other than good?

@survivor5280
I did not have prostate removal and did not want to treat my cancer that way. It is a personal decision though that you should make yourself. What is best for one will not be best for you.

I see you had the Decipher test. It came back aggressive. Were you offered PSMA? If not asked about it. It will help determine if cancer has spread outside of prostate. That test is going to help you and your providers be able to offer your appropriate treatments.

I am not sure where you live but is the medical providers you have gone to a major medical facility that has extensive experience in prostate cancer treatments and diagnosis. If not I would consider getting another opinion and I know that would be 3 but it would help you decide since you are reluctant still about what is best for you.

Research all the side affects of surgery and then all the side affects of radiation. With agressive Decipher they are probably suggesting hormone treatments as well. That too can really affect you.

I had proton radiation (30 rounds) after 3 different consultations and 2 opinions on biopisies, Gleason Score, and Dechipher test. I had the biopsies, Decipher test, bone scan done at Mayo. I had the PSMA done at UFHPTI where I had my second opinion done. I had my 3rd consultation with my PCP at Mayo who went over both consultations with me to help decide what was best for me.

My radiation worked. The goal was to get my PSA to below 1. That was done within the 1st year after treatment ended. I had very little side affects and I believe that was due to my PCP and I going with Proton radiation as a major experience medical provider in proton radiation treatments. I have a PSA test every 3 months to monitor my PSa. A 3 months recurring medical appt. with my PCP and a yearly check up with R/O who does the DRE and medical exam as well as extensive medical exam and questionare. I have my next PSA the end of December.
Good luck to you!!

"The AI recently provided very depressing stats about surving prostate cancer, which are no where near what they really are...."

Yes, generative AI just parrots what it finds online using a massive system of word association. It can be helpful when used with care and a big dose of healthy scepticism, but there's no actual reasoning behind it. Change one word and it might reverse its answer.

Hi Survivor! Good points. I vividly remember the thoughts, fears, emotions of every stripe. All of that is valid and very real.

I wrote something very similar to yours prior to my surgery in Sept ‘23. That’s when my Mayoclinic friend, Michael, sent me the encouragement I so needed to hear at that time. I want to share that same sentiment with you.

It seems you have done the research/reading/consultation that you needed to do and have made the decision that’s right for you. We can’t predict the future (I sure didn’t see PCa in my future) but, I believe, we can influence that future. With Michael’s encouragement, I turned my thoughts to positive thinking about my outcomes. I read “Life After Prostatectomy” by Vanita Gaglani about regaining continence and followed it diligently.

My surgery went well. The catheter was inconvenient (at times uncomfortable) but very short-term. Thankfully, it wasn’t a big deal for me. I’m glad I didn’t focus on it pre-surgery. My continence returned very quickly. Thankfully, my ED was short-lived (although I was prepared to surrender this part of my life in exchange for removing the invader and getting to spend more time with my 4 (soon to be 5) grandkids.

In short, good things/results can happen. Try to focus on them and encourage them to happen. It’s much more fun than focusing on negative outcomes that may never happen…and I believe it can only help.

Best of luck to you, brother. I hope and pray that your results are all positive. I look forward to reading of your good results in a couple of months.