PSA Test Tesults

[gdr_11]

Southtexaspilot's comments are enlightening. It reminds me of a number of years ago when it became clear that hysterectomies for women were revealed to be the most over performed and unnecessary surgeries in the nation. Surgeons where making huge profits. The woman who did my wife's surgery was later fired by the hospital for performing too many unnecessary surgeries. I am always leering of the rush to cut

 

[Haystack]

My father-in-law died at 65 from prostate cancer. They didn't do PSA tests back then. His first trip to the doctor was because he had pain down there. They tried to do surgery to remove his prostate, but when they got in there they just closed him back up. It had spread too far and was inoperable. He lived another 3 months.

Some have suggested in this thread that prostate cancer is over treated. That is probably true. It is normally very slow growing and often when an old man dies he has prostate cancer that has not spread. But I can promise you that it has the potential to kill you, in a very, very painful way.

 

[SA_Steve]

I had one bogus psa blood test after many years of very low values. Then came lots more invasive and blood tests, all which showed nothing.

 

[rotor]

Southtexaspilot's comments are enlightening. It reminds me of a number of years ago when it became clear that hysterectomies for women were revealed to be the most over performed and unnecessary surgeries in the nation. Surgeons where making huge profits. The woman who did my wife's surgery was later fired by the hospital for performing too many unnecessary surgeries. I am always leering of the rush to cut

I never met a woman that thought her hysterectomy wasn't a gift from heaven. I don't know why
southtexaspilot feels that it is unusual for a urologist to own a radiation machine (all Rx is done by a radiation specialist), for an obstetrician to own an ultrasound, for a cardiologist to own a stress test machine, for an ophthalmologist to own those cataract machines, for a neurologist to own an MRI (and where I live it is the least expensive place to get an MRI as the hospital is much more expensive).

My next door neighbor was diagnosed with prostate cancer, given options, went to Dallas, had robotic surgery and has done great. People can make a decision on their own. No doctor gets rich doing anything on Medicare which is why some won't even take Medicare. I had a stent put in. Hospital got $64,000 for a 12 hour stay, doctor less than $1,000

 

[BRD@66]

Prostate cancer is a gold mine for urologists in the United States. It’s over treated because there is a strong monetary incentive to do so. Not saying all cases should be ignored. Just saying get a second opinion by a doc that doesn’t own a robot or a radiation machine.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Spoken like a man who hasn't had prostate cancer.

 

[Mowingmaniac 24/7]

B66,

Um, that's way out in left field.

Is it an 'observation or an insult'?

 

[bbbass]

Covid 19 is more deadly.

So is driving.

 

[bbbass]

All I know about this subject is that my wife's father had prostate cancer for many years prior to dying.... of Alzheimer's.

Can I extrapolate that to mean anything for others? ................ I don't think so.

As with most things, best to take life on a case by case basis. When I was a home inspector, I used to recommend findings for further investigation by a "qualified specialist", or even two. I'll stick with that.

 

[TJjerry]

This may be too personal, if so ignore it. My 9 year younger brother went through the 40 radiation treetments upon being diagnosed positive. He was told that if they removed the prostate he would loose bladder control, so he chose radiation. Is what he was told true?

 

[bbbass]

This may be too personal, if so ignore it. My 9 year younger brother went through the 40 radiation treetments upon being diagnosed positive. He was told that if they removed the prostate he would loose bladder control, so he chose radiation. Is what he was told true?

It's listed as a "potential" side effect, same as with radiation treatment. Affects about 6-8% of patients.

FWIW: https://www.nafc.org/bhealth-blog/u...-prostate-surgery-everything-you-need-to-know

 

[rotor]

Prostate cancer is a gold mine for urologists in the United States. It’s over treated because there is a strong monetary incentive to do so. Not saying all cases should be ignored. Just saying get a second opinion by a doc that doesn’t own a robot or a radiation machine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Do you know a doctor who owns a robot? Please let me know who he is. Is Bill Gates a urologist because that's the kind of wealth an individual doctor would need?

 

[deemus]

Prostate cancer is a gold mine for urologists in the United States. It’s over treated because there is a strong monetary incentive to do so. Not saying all cases should be ignored. Just saying get a second opinion by a doc that doesn’t own a robot or a radiation machine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They all have a piece of one.

My father in law had prostate cancer. He passed in his mid 80's.

I had an issue in 2019, but fortunately wasnt cancer, and I am back to 100%. I know a couple guys who had their's removed, and it was life changing.

 

[Darkpriest667]

They all have a piece of one.

My father in law had prostate cancer. He passed in his mid 80's.

I had an issue in 2019, but fortunately wasnt cancer, and I am back to 100%. I know a couple guys who had their's removed, and it was life changing.

Life changing positively or negatively?

 

[Mowingmaniac 24/7]

D667,

I can attest to a buddy who went the surgery/chemo/radiation route.

It utterly destroyed the remainder of his life.

 

[deemus]

Life changing positively or negatively?

negatively.

 

[rotor]

They all have a piece of one.

You know this for a fact?

Let's be honest here. Most robotic prostatectomy is done on Medicare patients and the amount of money the doc gets is very low. Maybe gets paid more for open prostatectomy. Now, if you need the surgical route, which way would you go? For me it would be robotic in the hands of a urologist that has done tons of them. The hospital makes the big bucks for the surgery but the doc does not (assuming Medicare). The hospital bites the bullet buying these robots because it brings in a bunch of other specialists and lots of surgery, gyn, general surgery, ENT, etc.
Robots with purchase and maintenance can cost $1,000,000 a year. It costs $2,000 just for the drapes to do a single surgery. The drapes cost more the the physician gets paid for the surgery. The instruments all have timed uses and must be thrown out and replaced at sky high costs. The only way owning a robot pays is if the hospital gets business that would otherwise go elsewhere. The hospitals come out way ahead on the total bill after paying off the high cost of the robot, especially if the hospital is a "non-profit". What a joke that is calling them non-profit.
Prostate cancer kill about 1 in 40 men. No question that 2nd opinion is needed on anything as major as this. In the hands of a good urologist if you need treatment and you go for the surgical route you may end up with urinary incontinence problems. I believe that the least risk for that is with robotic surgery.

I am in the age group that I am good friends with my urologist and he does not do robotic surgery.

 

[deemus]

Many doctors have a relationship with facilities that do surgeries of various types. Surgery centers have lasers and robots, etc. Some are just referral relationships, but many are partnership interests. And yes, I do know it for a fact. So maybe not all, perhaps "most" would have been a better word choice.

I think your doc is an exception.

 

[TJjerry]

What about the shots they give you to reduce your testosterone? Some say they can lead to you growing brests if you loose too much T. My brother claimed that the shots lead to him becoming diabetic. It came on him quickly, just after the shots.

 

[Mowingmaniac 24/7]

Here's what I was told regarding the results of hormone shots to stop testosterone production: Non-stop fatigue, hot flashes (yes, just like women get at menopause) sleep problems, less hair production...and after that information I stopped listening. There was more awful about what the hormone shots will do, but I knew I'd never go for it. You are for all practical purposes rendered into a eunuch.

The doc did say the shot is administered every 6 months and if you quit taking it, your nightmare (my words) would revert as your testosterone would come back.

Keep in mind testosterone is like cancer fertilizer.

At one point in the past the shot had to be administered every month so, so a buddy of mine, rather than go through this hassle had an orchiectomy done...that is he had both testicles surgically lopped off...nice huh?

How is it I'm somewhat knowledgable about this stuff?

As you may have guessed, yep, facing prostate cancer myself.

 

[DoubleDuty]

Here's what I was told regarding the results of hormone shots to stop testosterone production: Non-stop fatigue, hot flashes (yes, just like women get at menopause) sleep problems, less hair production...and after that information I stopped listening. There was more awful about what the hormone shots will do, but I knew I'd never go for it. You are for all practical purposes rendered into a eunuch.

The doc did say the shot is administered every 6 months and if you quit taking it, your nightmare (my words) would revert as your testosterone would come back.

Keep in mind testosterone is like cancer fertilizer.

At one point in the past the shot had to be administered every month so, so a buddy of mine, rather than go through this hassle had an orchiectomy done...that is he had both testicles surgically lopped off...nice huh?

How is it I'm somewhat knowledgable about this stuff?

As you may have guessed, yep, facing prostate cancer myself.

Sorry to hear it.