Lecture to focus on prostate issues
Bradley Anderson, a doctor at Barton Urology, will be talking about cancer and benign diseases of the prostate on Sept. 10.
He will discuss different prostate cancer screenings available and the variety of treatment options.
The free lecture is from 6-7pm at Lake Tahoe Community College’s board room.
My prostate has been sitting in a jar in a pathologist’s office for over 9 years now, unless, of course, he’s finally tossed it out.
After erratic PSAs for many years, mine eventually established a pattern that set off alarms. A single biopsy found a cancer that, as was subsequently discovered in surgery, very close to metastasizing. I am still having regular tests, but I’m cancer free and am approaching the point where the tests are no longer necessary (although I may continue them just to be certain).
I’m sharing this, not because I’m comfortable sharing my private life with folks, but because I’ve been very annoyed at the proposed insurance and medical restrictions on PSAs and other tests. If, as suggested, doctors are over prescribing biopsies based on their view of PSA results, it’s because of their incompetence and fear of being called on it. Competent physicians know the difference between erratic PSAs and dangerous ones, and they likewise know when to suggest a biopsy.
Anyone being denied a PSA because they allegedly produce “false positives” needs to change doctors. The entire controversy over PSAs is caused by doctors who don’t know how to read the trends properly and would rather prescribe a biopsy than expose their own incompetence.
Dr. Anderson was the speaker at the last SIR (Sons In Retirement) luncheon meeting, on August 25th, held at Tep’s. I found the PowerPoint style presentation was reasonably good; but, it was his personally delivered information that was forthright, and he is very knowledgeable and direct, near plain-spoken. Recommended by me. I have mixed-feelings about the Government’s push to limit PSA testing, but understand the reasoning. UNfortunately, the new guidelines will cause a fair number of men to have a lot of pain and misery before dying earlier than they could have. It is a mixed situation. For a rather long article covering prostate cancer, treatment, PSA and PSA velocity, and a huge amount more, here is the direct link to it, posted on my BMW hobby site. Just facts, no hype. Most everything you might want to know, in one article. Still, I recommend attending Dr. Anderson’s lecture…ask questions, etc…..I suggest you read this long article first. You will be rather well-informed.
http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/prostatecancer.htm
btw..I doubt MY prostate is in some pathologists office storage. My surgery was in 2003, for the curious.