HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Doctor Quote

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/11/2009 10:50 AM (GMT -5)
I saw a couple weeks back a thread of infamous Doctor Quotes that you had heard, cant find to reply but wanted to share one that hit Home with Me and hopefully with all of us...

When I first was told by a doctor my biopsy results my Urologist was unable to meet where he was in surgery that day and I met with one of his assocaites since I wanted to know asap.

The doctor explained everything to me, where of course in shock and showed me a table based on my PSA a biopsy the chance of it being localized was 30%. I was floored.

My next visit with my Urologist to do some pre-testing (Cystogram) before my surgery I expressed my deep concern of it being only contained and I had a 30% statistical chance.

He said to me , that is a statistic and number on a table of a study that was done. Just a number and a table. Your not a statastic! Your a human being with a family a kids you need to remain positve that everything will be OK and that your in the right place to get this taken care of.

This meant alot to me that numbers are just numbers they dont reflect me at all and we as people have all individual chances of beating this!!!!

I found this and still do inspirational in my mental battle with this disease.

LIVESTRONG!!

 

Posted 3/11/2009 11:03 AM (GMT -5)
SHU,
I agree 100%. Statistics are not what we need to go by. Even though mine proved true, that it was 50/50 for me to rid myself of the cancer through surgery, I still wanted to try. You and I, like many here have long life expectancy nomagrams. We were young guys diagnosed with this cancer. Even with a 50% chance of removing a G7, PSA20 and never having to deal with this again, was not very appealing but worth a shot. And we are doing well. I don't look at the stats anymore. Very depressing. Instead, I look to the future and I will stay positive.

Tony
Posted 3/11/2009 11:50 AM (GMT -5)
SHU93 - You might want to see my post "High Risk Info" written about a month ago. My doctor pretty much says the same thing. His philosophy is that each case has its own statistic - and that statistic is: You are either 100% well, or not. And that's all you have to worry about. Everything else, as he would say, is crap.


Live on!
kcragman
Posted 3/11/2009 12:11 PM (GMT -5)
Even though PC is very individual I believe that stats are very helpful in determining risk reward in making treatment decisions. It's like hitting 16 in blackjack, sometimes it works out, but most of the time the odds are that you will bust.
You have to know the odds before you choose your action and accept the risks associated. In doing so you are making an informed decision.
I've found that the stats have helped me to make better decisions and order tests that provide more information. They are just another set of tools to be used in the fight against PC. In the end only you can make the decision on the type of treatment you choose.
JohnT
Posted 3/11/2009 1:13 PM (GMT -5)
shu93,
i'm with you. a statistic or a percentage is just that, a number on a piece of paper. there are just too many variables dealing with PC, from the very beginning to the end. Sometimes ,its like there is no rhyme or reason to it. Been at this site long enough, to know that stats are just a reference point, something to focus on. Each of our own bodies and our own immune systems and our own genetic makeups can give multitudes of results. And I am saying this as a lifetime accounting/finance nerd of the ninth degree, who usually lives and breathes numbers and odds. We all have to fight the best fight we can against our common enemy, PC.

David in SC
Posted 3/11/2009 1:33 PM (GMT -5)
Like most other things, it's important to also balance any reports and statistics against other available information.  My internist told ma a year ago that my PSA test results and some other factors I'm not remembering indicated to him that the chances of my having prostate cancer were 56%.  The biopsy conducted afterwards confirmed his speculation, a speculation prompted by statistics. Statistics are important to consider, so don't be so quick to dismiss them. 
Posted 3/11/2009 3:19 PM (GMT -5)
Greetings, all.  Statistics are a tool - they can be beneficial in helping you make the decision as to which path of treatment you are going to walk down.  They are just one bullet in the arsenal, but can be a helpful, informational, tool.  Don't just look at stats but use them to help you as you look at your overall treatment plan.  David

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply