Episodes
Friday Mar 15, 2013
Radiation or Prostatectomy First-Does it Matter?
Friday Mar 15, 2013
Friday Mar 15, 2013
Patients will often choose to have their prostate removed for prostate cancer because, " I can always have radiation after having the prostate removed but not vice versa." True...but does it matter. In this podcast some of the caveats of this very nuanced disease as it pertains to this line of reasoning and whether it matters or not is discussed by Dr. John McHugh a prostate cancer survivor and author of "The Decision" which is in the top five for paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com for the subject of prostate cancer. He was also chosen as the number one Online Influencer for Prostate Cancer by Sharecare Now for 2012.
Sunday Nov 13, 2011
Psa and antibiotics
Sunday Nov 13, 2011
Sunday Nov 13, 2011
That the psa goes down after a course of antibiotics is encouraging...but not definitive. A better messure of things is the trending of the value of the psa over period of time. Your urologist will know how to advise you on this and the timing and necessity of a prostate biopsy.
Sunday Nov 06, 2011
Prostate biopsy infections...the problem.
Sunday Nov 06, 2011
Sunday Nov 06, 2011
Since the needle that takes the prostate speciment at the time of a biopsy goes through the rectal mucosa first the possibility of an infections exists. This historically has been a low risk issue but recently and nationally it is becoming more prevalent. There is not a good answer as yet to this other than a heightened sense of awareness on the part of the patient to recognize that something is not right and to contact the urologist at the earlies sign of fever or difficulty voiding. In addition, it is making the point that a patient should thoroughly evaluate the need for the biopsy in the first place, i.e. if cancer were found would you treat it. If the answer is no and there are risks associated with the biopsy then maybe don't consent to it.
Thursday Aug 25, 2011
Vasectomy 101-A Podcast
Thursday Aug 25, 2011
Thursday Aug 25, 2011
The most common questions that arise at a pre-vasectomy consultation with a urologist.
Saturday Jul 30, 2011
Prostate cancer decision making is a multifaceted process.
Saturday Jul 30, 2011
Saturday Jul 30, 2011
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.
Sunday Jul 24, 2011
The Partin Table is an invaluable tool for the prostate cancer patient.
Sunday Jul 24, 2011
Sunday Jul 24, 2011
The Partin Tables "categorize" the prostate cancer of the male and aids in the decision making process.
Sunday Jul 03, 2011
Myths and the late diagnosis of prostate cancer.
Sunday Jul 03, 2011
Sunday Jul 03, 2011
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.
Thursday Jun 23, 2011
Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics
Thursday Jun 23, 2011
Thursday Jun 23, 2011
Be careful using statistics generated by "Epidemiologists" in making your prostate cancer decision. The numbers are based on the "masses" and not on information that is specific to you and potentially make you "let your guard down" and hence a decision made in error. What do you tell the man who is diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease, who had not been deligent about exams because he read that only 1% of people die of prostate cancer in 5 years after the diagnosis?
Thursday Jun 09, 2011
Thursday Jun 09, 2011
The newly diagnosed prostate cancer patient needs to know a lot about himself and his disease if he is to make a decision that is right and "customized" to him. McHugh's "Who are you" factors begins the process of making the right decision. It is imperative that one evaluated these and understand the ramifications of each before making an informed decision.
Saturday Jun 04, 2011
Waiting on the results of a prostate biopsy.
Saturday Jun 04, 2011
Saturday Jun 04, 2011
Waiting on the results of any lab test that could indicate a cancer is a very difficult time. Thousands of men experience this yearly and sadly 250,000 times a year the urologist enters the room to say, " I am sorry, your prostate biopsy shows cancer." An excerpt from "The Decision" by John McHugh M.D.