Cancer Consultants...?

There are patient advocates in some areas. One of the former members on this forum, Tall Allen, provides the service. While not a doctor, he is very knowledgeable and helps guide the patient through the process of meeting the appropriate specialists for assessments and d treatment decisions.

For most men, they must do this on their own. A few like you, have come to this forum for assistance. Too many men simply take the initial direction of their urologist and don’t get the benefit of properly learning about the different treatment options.

When I was diagnosed, my urologist made treatment recommendations but also required that I speak to at least one other urologist and two radiation oncologists for their assessments. After I did so, I was convinced that his recommendations were the best for me so I hired him to run the show. After 11 years, I am still with him.

In your case you have many options. Surgery, brachytherapy, external beam radiation; will all do well as to the cancer control. However they come with different types and severity of treatment side effects. Plus with brachytherapy you have both low dose permanent seeds and high dose that only leaves the radiation in for about 15 minutes. With external beam you have the traditional low fraction requiring about 45 procedures over a few months and SBRT/CyberKnife that can do the same in as little as 5 procedures. With surgery do you choose open or robot assisted?

I suggest you do the following; speak to a very high volume prostate specialist surgeon for a surgery assessment. Speak to at least two different radiation oncologists with different methods of brachytherapy and external beam to learn about the radiation options. Only learn about the speciality from a board certified specialist in that field. Don’t depend on the urologist or surgeon for information about radiation therapy and vice versa as they are not expert in some other field.

Also study seriously the expected and common side effects of the various options to determine what you are willing to live with after treatment. Meet more men that have been treated to learn of their actual experience and get information on the practitioners they used. Learn about the good, the bad and the ugly of being treated. This can often be done by attending support groups like Us Too. This is a group that deals with prostate cancer with numerous chapters that hold regular meetings to help you in the process. See their website at www.us too.org to learn about a chapter in your area. Also, let us know where you live and their may be members of the forum that can help with referrals.

You have time to make a proper assessment. Now is not the time to panic or rush to judgement. Now is the time to take control and follow a proper process of learning and meeting specialists. .

Although we are not MDs, together (!) we form a pretty reliable consultancy group. We may not agree (which is good), but you will typically hear various treatment options. Moreover, our fees are quite reasonable.

I will second Tall Allen (now active on the (Health Unlocked) Advanced Prostate Cancer forum) as willing to give good advice based on published data rather than personal histories.

Post Edited (Sr Sailor) : 12/16/2021 2:15:44 PM (GMT-7)

Yes, you guys are awesome.
If VALUE = (GOOD ADVISE) / (PRICE)
Then your value is infinity!!!