|
[ Prostate Archive ] [ Main Archives Page ] [ Glossary/Index ] [ FAQ ] [ Recommended Books ] [ Bulletin Board ] |
Search this site! | |
My dad recently found out that he has prostate cancer. (Well, he did the touch exam - DRE? - and the doctor is pretty sure. [He did it last year and the doctor said he was ok, so hopefully that means it hasn't spread and is new.] The biopsy is schedule for October 24 to check.) Right now he is looking into the davinci treatment.
What do you guys think of this treatment and is it the best (and most affordable) option? We have no insurance, and so this is going to be a huge blow. He had to go to the hospital these past couple days (leaves tomorrow) because of bleeding because of two removed polyps from a colonoscopy he had last week, and this alone will probably be over 7,000 (I am guessing). The davinci was quoted as 17,000 alone for the surgery.
Thanks,
Daniel
In Reply to: Prostate Cancer posted by Daniel [668.1351] on October 08, 2005 at 23:27:12:
Hi Daniel,
If you father is in his 70's he may be suffering from a very slow growing cancer and could die of something else or natural causes.
Infection is another reason for a large feeling prostate.
It is called BPH (Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy)
Did he have a high number in a PSA test?
A biopsy can also cause infection and affect future PSA tests with an even higher test score.
A PSA test too soon after sexual activity can also affect a PSA numbers.
He could be going in for surgery that will leave him impotent, incontinent, or both and it may not
extend his life. (The doc may still be paying for his Porsche.)
Here is an opinion of another doctor for you to think about. You should print these and ask the doc some
hard questions like... Will surgery increase your father's life expectancy? How long will he live without treatment? What treatment will cause the
fewest complications with potency and urinary function?
If he is honest, you may decide to wait or do nothing.
Read the following links... you will be shocked.
Making PSA tests more dependable
http://www.drmirkin.com/archive/7009.html
Screening does not save lives
http://www.drmirkin.com/men/1557.html
Prostate cancer treatment
http://www.drmirkin.com/men/1434.html
Best treatment for localized prostate cancer
See link below
Good luck
Ron
In Reply to: Prostate Cancer posted by Daniel [668.1351] on October 08, 2005 at 23:27:12:
Daniel,
The "touch exam" is pretty gross. What have his PSAs been (still not very accurate but better than the touch). The combination is still better especially when done regularly (about once a year after age 50).
I am not familiar with the Davinci treatment but do know that, until the cell type is determined by biopsy it is WAY too early to be talking about what treatment approach would be best. In my opinion, any doc discussing treatment before having the cell type and Stage determined, is not the doc I would have in charge of MY treatment.
There are a number of recent books by specialists about choices for treatment (or the option of doing nothing), how those choices are made, and their consequences. Let us know what you learn and any questions you may have about it then.
Walt
In Reply to: Prostate Cancer posted by Daniel [668.1351] on October 08, 2005 at 23:27:12:
Daniel,
If it were me or my father, I would use the natural treatment. Treating it with herbs, diet and Black Salve. Of course if your father is anything like my father was when he was told he had cancer, you may have no say in the matter.
Silver Fox!
In Reply to: Re: Prostate Cancer posted by Steve [2966.1584] on October 09, 2005 at 10:05:27:
Hi Steve,
You can treat prostate cancer with herbs, diet and black salve? After the cancer cells have developed?
Daniel, as far as I can tell, the Da Vinci is a prostatectomy only with smaller incisions and if he was going to have surgery and could have it with that procedure, it would probably heal faster than an open surgery.
according to the da vinci website:
"For the patient, da Vinci Prostatectomy may result in more complete eradication of cancer, retention of bladder control and potency."
if that was true, I think it would be better for a younger man. My dad's bladder leaks ever since his prostate surgery. They did a surgery to attempt to correct it and it worked for 2 days, they are now talking about doing another. And of course he's impotent too.
But I agree with Doctor Stoll, it's a little early to be saying he has cancer. How can the doctor be pretty sure what he is feeling? It could be benign.
In Reply to: Re: Prostate Cancer posted by Ron [1013.1989] on October 09, 2005 at 00:51:22:
Yes his PSA was high. Last year when they did the DRE they thought it was fine but this year they think it's cancer.
The davinci surgery is supposed to leave you both potent and continent.
In Reply to: Re: Prostate Cancer (not yet diagnosed) How to approach. Archive. posted by Walt Stoll [93.1889] on October 09, 2005 at 07:01:53:
I don't know the exact number but they did PSA too and that turned out high -- that's all I know about that.
In Reply to: Re: Prostate Cancer posted by lissa [2032.8] on October 09, 2005 at 10:20:20:
My dad has had to go to the bathroom too frequently for years, so I think anything that will help him stay continent and all is what he will opt for.
He got out of the hospital today and it seems it will cost 10-15,000. When he sets himself on a doctor he supposedly trusts, there's no changing it -- so all this, the surgery, hospital stays, etc. -- is going to severely hurt us financially :\
The biopsy is scheduled for Oct 24. He was supposed to have already done it last week but he took aspirin which you can't do so this is supposedly the earliest they can do it now.
In Reply to: Re: Prostate Cancer posted by Daniel [668.1351] on October 09, 2005 at 16:48:31:
If I were a man and I had to have surgery, that is what I would opt for too. I don't think there is any guarantee with the continence and potency though.
10-15000 dollars doesn't sound any more expensive than any surgery. or any other treatment plan (like chemo...)
I know it is expensive, and it will be a financial burden, but it doesn't seem any more expensive than other treatments would be.
In Reply to: Re: Prostate Cancer posted by lissa [2032.8] on October 09, 2005 at 17:13:50:
10-15,000 was just for the hospital stay (unrelated) of the past two days. :\
In Reply to: Re: Prostate Cancer posted by Daniel [668.1351] on October 09, 2005 at 17:52:25:
criminy. Get an itemized statement...betcha a dollar if they gave him an aspirin it cost more than a dollar.
In Reply to: Re: Prostate Cancer posted by lissa [2032.8] on October 09, 2005 at 18:46:27:
that there'd be anything you could do about it...they rape people is all. If he took his footies home they probably would want to charge for that too...those are the most expensive socks in the world.
In Reply to: Re: Prostate Cancer posted by Daniel [668.1351] on October 09, 2005 at 16:44:43:
Hi Daniel,
I can't understand how cutting anything away can be less invasive and damaging than implanting radioactive seeds into tissue.
This is obviously quite new, so one has to be careful of the claims.
I would not want to be part of a study, only to find
out that there was a better way.
Did you read the links I posted?
Ron
In Reply to: Re: Prostate Cancer posted by lissa [2032.8] on October 09, 2005 at 10:20:20:
Lisa,
The good doctor you like to make fun of has a 80% cure rate treating cancer with diet, herbs and black salve. Those are the facts.
Silver Fox!
In Reply to: Re: Prostate Cancer posted by Daniel [668.1351] on October 09, 2005 at 16:44:43:
I have a friend who had the radioactive seeds treatment. Didn't turn out so well for him; they didn't dissolve when they were supposed to and burned his prostate, his urethra and bladder. I haven't heard from him in a while, but I know that he was in a lot of pain for a long time. I'd rather have seen him go the natural route with diet, supplements and the Budwig Protocol like another friend did. He's managed to keep his PSAs within the ballpark and avoid surgery so far.
In Reply to: Re: Prostate Cancer posted by Ron [1013.1989] on October 09, 2005 at 00:51:22:
Hi Ron,
I don't think I believe this. Do you?
All men who live long enough will develop prostate cancer
In Reply to: Re: Prostate Cancer Yes you can.. posted by Steve [2966.1584] on October 10, 2005 at 08:11:41:
Hi Steve,
Disagreeing is hardly the same thing as making fun of.
How come the "education" field of his bio is blank?
what's this?
$30.00 bottle of prostate tonic
In Reply to: Re: Prostate Cancer Yes you can.. posted by lissa [2032.8] on October 11, 2005 at 11:58:38:
The ed. field wasn't blank...the color just wasn't compatable with my color scheme lol
Prostate Tonic
Systematic Actions ................................................
Increases circulation and removes gravel out of the prostate tissues and urinary tract. Alterative, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-spasmodic, anodyne, astringent, demulcent, deobstruent, detoxifying, nutritive, tonic and vulnerary.
Traditional and Historical Uses ..............................
Detoxification of the prostate gland, prostate cancer, elevated PSA's (prostatitis), enlargement of the prostate or testes, sexual impotence, low sperm count, discharges, venereal diseases (use with Parasite Formulas), frequent or difficult urination, incontinence, premature ejaculation, low sex drive.
Suggested Usage ..................................................
General: 1 full dropper 3 to 6 times a day.
Acute: 1 full dropper every 2 to 4 hours.
We recommend burning the alcohol off! Place 1 to 3 oz. of simmering (not boiling) distilled water into an empty cup, then put all your liquid formulas together into the cup of water, let cool (approx. 10 minutes or so) and then consume. OR - you may put your liquid herbs directly into juice or water. May be consumed directly if desired!
The above useage suggestions are for your personal education only. If you choose to follow the suggested you are excercising your constitutional rights to choose life as you wish. Always take responsibility for your own actions! Research, learn, grow, be LOVE!
Cautions ...............................................................
None known.
Notes ....................................................................
DO NOT give panax type ginseng to prostate cancer cases.
Wow...that's quite a claim...what's the deal with the ginseng note? Is that what it is ginseng? hell's bells I can go rummage around in the woods and get that for free. I'd rather sell it though...lol
In Reply to: Re: Prostate Cancer Yes you can..Oh wait posted by lissa [2032.8] on October 11, 2005 at 12:07:53:
Before you jump to any conclusions, I'm not saying ginseng is invaluable. But that I can get it for a lot less than what any store charges (free).
In Reply to: Re: Prostate Cancer posted by Cheezi [2016.1399] on October 11, 2005 at 00:31:26:
Hi Cheezie,
Could it be that the doc who did the procedure was not
the best at his craft?
A little too much of a good thing can be bad.
They may have been overzealous because he was in the age group that needs agressive treatment.
I beleive that your friend may have been worse off if he had the surgery. How old a person is he?
Ron
In Reply to: Re: Prostate Cancer posted by Ron [2014.2318] on October 12, 2005 at 09:56:00:
Hi Ron,
First of all when I don't believe the first sentence I read in a paper (the one I posted above here) I'm inclined to throw the whole thing out.
Secondly, I'd avoid implanting radioactive anything in my groin...
|
[ Prostate Archive ] [ Main Archives Page ] [ Glossary/Index ] [ FAQ ] [ Recommended Books ] [ Bulletin Board ] |
Search this site! | |