Surgery is Cutting Things with Knives

Entry 9

October 13

Before Dr. Ong, the radiation oncologist met with me to discuss radiation as a treatment option for prostate cancer, his resident, Dr Peterson came in to interview me and explain the process.

It's very clear after speaking with Dr. Ong that each treatment method has advantages and disadvantages. And each treatment method has other treatments that follow should the first method fail to eradicate the disease. The choice of how to proceed now has been left to me.

Some treatment options have been quickly eliminated because of the state of my disease (Intermediate, Gleason 7, PSA 17, T2c [which means cancer is in both lobes]). Active surveillance, laproscopic surgery, and brachytherapy are out; prostatectomy and radiation are in.

It has been evident from the beginning that surgeons prefer surgery and radiation guys prefer their method of treatment. To quote Dr. Peterson, " Surgery is cutting things with knives."

We found a good chart  that shows the range of options for men with prostate cancer & typical side effects.

Link: Urologists are biased about the treatment of prostate cancer…but not like you’d think..