prostatediaries

Prostate cancer decision making is a multifaceted process.

The newly diagnosed prostate cancer patient must use all the tools at his disposal to make a "custom made" decision tailored to him. Particulars about his life, family, and biases also weigh heavily in the decision. It is the blending of all these factors which come together with time to arrive at "hopefully" a well thought decision and specific to the patient.

The Partin Table is an invaluable tool for the prostate cancer patient.

The Partin Tables "categorize" the prostate cancer of the male and aids in the decision making process.

In prostate cancer, hormones don't cure. Think oxygen from a fire, but one little ember left.

Hormone therapy in prostate cancer does not cure prostate cancer. It does however, in many patients, beat it back for an unknown lenght of time and to an unknown degree.

You gotta see the Big Picture

When the male is considering his options about treating his prostate cancer…he must view his options in terms of the big picture. For example if the decision is made in favor of salvaging sexual function but not considering the best treatment for curing the disease, then a decision may be made in error.

Myths and the late diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Myths about the benign nature of prostate cancer and the male's unwillingness to have rectal exams creates the perfect storm of late detection. Men will take a myth and use it as a rationalization not to be checked. The thinking goes…if no one dies of prostate cancer why put myself through the degrading business of a rectal exam? Do women think this way for breast exams? Well…that's the problem.