Re: Doctors - was High Gleason/Low PSA ...

[Guest guest]

....

> God help the poor sod who has anything other than standard,

> garden variety, prostate cancer. There's a good chance that

> his urologist, and even his oncologist, won't know that what

> he's got is different and that different tests and treatments

> may be needed.

....

Upon some reflection, I'm more inclined to see simple human

nature in this rather than dark conflict of interest.

The average doctor is not a scientist and doesn't want to be.

His understanding of biochemistry and molecular biology is

limited and probably fading into the distance the further he gets

from medical school. He's a practical person who relies heavily

on what he already knows or thinks he knows - as most of us do in

our careers.

On top of that, doctors are trying to master more material than

any one person can. The typical urologist has to treat

everything from female incontinence to bladder infections to,

yes, prostate cancer. The typical oncologist is called upon to

consult on everything from brain cancer to cancer of the

toenails, and all cancers in between. It's an impossible task.

No doubt a good part of the answer is specialization. For the

best surgical treatment of prostate cancer it's necessary to find

not just a surgeon urologist, but one who specializes in

performing radical prostatectomies, does at least 50 per year,

and already has 200 under his belt. For the best medical

treatment of prostate cancer, it's necessary to find not just a

medical oncologist, but one who specializes in prostate cancer,

not lung, kidney, breast, colon, brain, and all of the other

cancers. Nobody else really has a chance of staying on top of

current developments.

Alas, true specialists are very hard to find. If you can find

one, he or she may not be near where you live, may not have

appointments available, and may not be " in network " and

" approved " by your insurance provider.

There are too many malpracticing doctors out there, and also some

greedy scientists who are trying to make money, not medicine.

But I don't think they are anything like a majority. Most of the

doctors and scientists are trying to do a good job. They know

that people will die if they make a serious mistake. They're

aware of their responsibilities. But no ordinary person can put

in 100% concentration, 100% effort, 100% of the time. Maybe they

do for the first few years after medical school but to do it year

after year after year is an oppressive burden on a person that

grinds him down.

Most of them are overworked. They're not saints and heroes,

they're just ordinary folks like the rest of us who go to work in

the morning and hope to be able to leave the office behind when

they come home to relax and spend time with their families.

So we have to educate ourselves as best we can. We have to help

each other as best we can. We have to get by.

I appreciate people like Terry, , Sammy, , Steve, and

many others who devote a lot of time to helping. I also

appreciate that, just like the doctors, they make mistakes, they

get overwhelmed, and they often need to back off, get away from

it all, and clear it all out of their heads. It goes with the

territory.

Alan

[Guest guest]

Amen Alan. You hit it on the nose.

Mike

Subject: Re: Doctors - was High Gleason/Low PSA ...To: ProstateCancerSupport Date: Tuesday, July 6, 2010, 10:15 PM

....> God help the poor sod who has anything other than standard,> garden variety, prostate cancer. There's a good chance that> his urologist, and even his oncologist, won't know that what> he's got is different and that different tests and treatments> may be needed....Upon some reflection, I'm more inclined to see simple humannature in this rather than dark conflict of interest.The average doctor is not a scientist and doesn't want to be.His understanding of biochemistry and molecular biology islimited and probably fading into the distance the further he getsfrom medical school. He's a practical person who relies heavilyon what he already knows or thinks he knows - as most of us do inour careers.On top of that, doctors are trying to master more material thanany one person can. The typical urologist has to treateverything

from female incontinence to bladder infections to,yes, prostate cancer. The typical oncologist is called upon toconsult on everything from brain cancer to cancer of thetoenails, and all cancers in between. It's an impossible task.No doubt a good part of the answer is specialization. For thebest surgical treatment of prostate cancer it's necessary to findnot just a surgeon urologist, but one who specializes inperforming radical prostatectomies, does at least 50 per year,and already has 200 under his belt. For the best medicaltreatment of prostate cancer, it's necessary to find not just amedical oncologist, but one who specializes in prostate cancer,not lung, kidney, breast, colon, brain, and all of the othercancers. Nobody else really has a chance of staying on top ofcurrent developments.Alas, true specialists are very hard to find. If you can findone,

he or she may not be near where you live, may not haveappointments available, and may not be "in network" and"approved" by your insurance provider.There are too many malpracticing doctors out there, and also somegreedy scientists who are trying to make money, not medicine.But I don't think they are anything like a majority. Most of thedoctors and scientists are trying to do a good job. They knowthat people will die if they make a serious mistake. They'reaware of their responsibilities. But no ordinary person can putin 100% concentration, 100% effort, 100% of the time. Maybe theydo for the first few years after medical school but to do it yearafter year after year is an oppressive burden on a person thatgrinds him down.Most of them are overworked. They're not saints and heroes,they're just ordinary folks like the rest of us who go to work inthe morning

and hope to be able to leave the office behind whenthey come home to relax and spend time with their families.So we have to educate ourselves as best we can. We have to helpeach other as best we can. We have to get by.I appreciate people like Terry, , Sammy, , Steve, andmany others who devote a lot of time to helping. I alsoappreciate that, just like the doctors, they make mistakes, theyget overwhelmed, and they often need to back off, get away fromit all, and clear it all out of their heads. It goes with theterritory. Alan ------------------------------------There are just two rules for this group 1 No Spam 2 Be kind to othersPlease recognise that Prostate Cancerhas different guises and needs different levels of treatment and in some cases no treatment at all. Some men even with all

options offered chose radical options that you would not choose. We only ask that people be informed before choice is made, we cannot and should not tell other members what to do, other than look at other options. Try to delete old material that is no longer applying when clicking replyTry to change the title if the content requires it

[Guest guest]

Alan:

Your points are all well taken. No matter what each of us does or did for a living, I'm sure none of us can claim 100% flawless performance 24-7. BUT, I think it's important to point out, as I've tried to in the past, that each state in the US and no doubt agencies in other countries, investigate malpractice. I filed a complaint against a urologist almost a year ago and it took forever to grind through the system in Illinois, but it was thoroughly investigated. In truth, they did find for the doctor, ruling that there was no malpractice, but at least it was investigated thoroughly. At the very least, I thought I was treated cavalierly and indifferently, so perhaps future patients of his will get more attentive care. It was worth the effort on my part, and it involved no expense, legal representation, nothing except a couple hours of my time.

As an update, I'm having a TURP done 7/26, since the TUMT I had a year ago did not help and perhaps made matters worse (incontinence, impotence). Thanks to all who offered their opinions on TURP vs. Green Light Laser.

Tom 65/diagnosed T1 6/2009/Gleason 3+3/44 IGRT treatments/PSA .1.

Re: Doctors - was High Gleason/Low PSA ...

....> God help the poor sod who has anything other than standard,> garden variety, prostate cancer. There's a good chance that> his urologist, and even his oncologist, won't know that what> he's got is different and that different tests and treatments> may be needed....Upon some reflection, I'm more inclined to see simple humannature in this rather than dark conflict of interest.The average doctor is not a scientist and doesn't want to be.His understanding of biochemistry and molecular biology islimited and probably fading into the distance the further he getsfrom medical school. He's a practical person who relies heavilyon what he already knows or thinks he knows - as most of us do inour careers.On top of that, doctors are trying to master more material thanany one person can. The typical urologist has to treateverything from female incontinence to bladder infections to,yes, prostate cancer. The typical oncologist is called upon toconsult on everything from brain cancer to cancer of thetoenails, and all cancers in between. It's an impossible task.No doubt a good part of the answer is specialization. For thebest surgical treatment of prostate cancer it's necessary to findnot just a surgeon urologist, but one who specializes inperforming radical prostatectomies, does at least 50 per year,and already has 200 under his belt. For the best medicaltreatment of prostate cancer, it's necessary to find not just amedical oncologist, but one who specializes in prostate cancer,not lung, kidney, breast, colon, brain, and all of the othercancers. Nobody else really has a chance of staying on top ofcurrent developments.Alas, true specialists are very hard to find. If you can findone, he or she may not be near where you live, may not haveappointments available, and may not be "in network" and"approved" by your insurance provider.There are too many malpracticing doctors out there, and also somegreedy scientists who are trying to make money, not medicine.But I don't think they are anything like a majority. Most of thedoctors and scientists are trying to do a good job. They knowthat people will die if they make a serious mistake. They'reaware of their responsibilities. But no ordinary person can putin 100% concentration, 100% effort, 100% of the time. Maybe theydo for the first few years after medical school but to do it yearafter year after year is an oppressive burden on a person thatgrinds him down.Most of them are overworked. They're not saints and heroes,they're just ordinary folks like the rest of us who go to work inthe morning and hope to be able to leave the office behind whenthey come home to relax and spend time with their families.So we have to educate ourselves as best we can. We have to helpeach other as best we can. We have to get by.I appreciate people like Terry, , Sammy, , Steve, andmany others who devote a lot of time to helping. I alsoappreciate that, just like the doctors, they make mistakes, theyget overwhelmed, and they often need to back off, get away fromit all, and clear it all out of their heads. It goes with theterritory.Alan