Henry's experience with prostate cancer Hello, my name is Hank, I'm 72. I live on Bainbridge Island, Washington, with a wife, Helen and the critters of the forest around us. I'm a forestry grad of Purdue, 1950, and spent 30 years in the U.S. Forest Service, all that time was in Washington, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and mostly, Alaska. There are three grown children, who live in Montana and Alaska, one of them fighting forest fires right now. Late detection I was diagnosed with prostate cancer late in 1994, which no doubt had been there quite some time, that is, the prostate cancer, which is slow-growing. In about 1990, before that, before 1994, when I was in Alaska, I had an examination, digital examination of my prostate. Didn't detect any problems at the time, but apparently had a PSA of 17. However, the doctor in this case didn't inform me of this and I just didn't know about it. The PSA test by the way was somewhat new at the time. I think it had been approved back in 1989 or so by the federal government, so not much, not too much was known about the PSA test by this particular doctor, who was a g.p. In 1993 I decided to move to Bainbridge Island here, where I live now. At that time I began having prostate symptoms that concerned me, so I went to a urologist at Virginia Mason, in 1994, to have that checked out. I'd been previously checked out a number of times over the years with no problem, but that was prior to the PSA test. The urologist in this case took a PSA which turned out to be 31, which is quite high. Anything above 4 or 5 starts to be a concern, and I had a palpable tumor.
 Treatment
Then I underwent various tests including a biopsy and then had a radical prostatectomy in 1995. That is, the prostate was removed. The doctor told me the tumor was 60% of the volume of the prostate. The thing that concerned me most prior to the operation was what treatment to seek and who to ask. I reviewed a book in German by Dr. Hecketal, who had a prostate cancer clinic in Germany and debated whether to go there for a further opinion. However, there was doubt my medical insurance would cover it, and also I would be in the situation of not living there, I wouldn't be able to return very easily for further conferences, so I opted for prostate removal here at Virginia Mason.
Information
deficit
In my experience, what a person newly diagnosed with prostates cancer needs is a rapid education in prostate cancer, and just what options are available for treatment in that particular case, and which doctor to rely on. I think there's a real deficit in this case in terms of information available, where to get it, who to talk to and so on and so forth. This depends somewhat on your doctor, who may communicate very well or who may not. So the question is, how do you get this information?
Making
the changes
In my case, the prostate cancer was apparently confined to the prostate. The PSA dropped to zero after the operation, and as of May, 2000, it was still undetectable. This was all good luck, because, statistically I'm outside the norm considering my high PSA at the time. In order to discourage further prostate cancer activity, I went to a vegan diet. Plus a designed vitamin supplement regimen, and exercise a lot. Also, I continue educating myself about prostate cancer so as to be prepared in the event of recurrence. I also visited an alternative cancer clinic in Germany to educate myself in preventive measure. This particular clinic is not what you would call establishment medicine, it has MD's on the staff, but they concentrate mostly on diet and other measures to treat cancer patients and to build up immune systems. It's important to know which sources to turn to for second opinions if diagnosed with prostate cancer, particularly as to treatment options. There are recognized leaders in this field who are on the cutting edge in treatment of prostate cancer, as well as several highly valuable news letters put out. Itioned in this regard Prostate Forum and Prostate Cancer Researches Newsletter Insights as just two. There are several others.
Prevention
and control
A key in prevention or control is diet, plus exercise and certain vitamins, aimed at discouraging prostate cancer. These particular vitamins are advisable even if you don't have prostate cancer, in order to discourage occurrence of same. Educate yourself and find a really good MD and get some videos on the subject, be an active fighter and learn enough to in effect run your own program. Knowledge is power. Prostate cancer is usually a slow grower, and you will have time to decide how to cope, normally. If I had known in 1994 what I know now, I would not have had a prostatectomy, which should really be the last choice. However, each case stands on its own, and the stage of their prostate cancer must first be determined. Is it within the prostate area, or has it spread beyond? A critical question. If possible, get a second opinion from one of the leading MD's in this field so as to find out what the latest information is in this regard. Most patients do not know enough to make a good decision at first.
Seek
out information
I would say, to sum up what I've learned, if you're fifty years in age or over, number one would be to educate yourself, starting now. Most males over 50 develop some form of prostate cancer eventually if they live long enough. Second, go to a low fat diet and exercise. Don't smoke, of course. Third, get your annual PSA checks. Normal is around 4 to 5, and fourth, if you get prostate cancer diagnosed, see a leading MD in this field for another opinion. In my view establishment MD's tend to recommend what the specialty is, and that could be the wrong answer, or there could be a better answer. Fifth, investigate alternative measures, mainly as prevention. There are good books on prostate cancer and preventive diets and also seminars. Subscribe to some good newsletters. Six, if you subscribe in advance to one or two good prostate publications and get a good recent book on the subject, you will be educated well enough should you develop prostate cancer, and again, knowledge is power. It takes the scare factor out of your diagnosis should you get it, and you will have a pretty good idea what to do next. And, lastly, one should be skeptical of initial recommendations if diagnosed with prostate cancer, particularly if you're dealing with a doctor you know little about. How do you know that he or she has a level of expertise really needed in terms of cutting edge information? Get a second opinion from sources you know are on the leading edge, and to do this, of course, you have to be aware of these sources, do personal education. That's about all I had to say, so farewell, and be healthy.
Seize
the Day
I would say that I'm trying to do as many things I always wanted to do but never had a chance to do. And so, I'm primarily engaged in a lot of those kinds of activities. Right now I'm planning a bicycle trip to Germany, and that's just example. |
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