Entries Tagged as 'Resources'

Rick’s Prostate Cancer Blog and ProtonInfo Group

Our ProtonPals web site was featured in web log that I’ve recently found called Rick’s Prostate Cancer Blog.  Rick Otey, on hearing about our web site from his friend Chuck, contacted me about some information about M. D. Anderson.  Chuck started his treatment at the MDACC PTC in early March.

This morning Rick wrote about The First Six Steps to Take When You Are Diagnosed.  What to do when your doctor utters the four words that will forever change your life: “you have prostate cancer.”  But hopefully it won’t be like what I experienced, i.e. when the nurse calls to give you the news but can’t put it in any context, except make an appointment and come in for a consult.  Thanks Rick.

 http://www.ricksprostatecancer.blogspot.com:80/

The author of the note on the six steps is Fuller Jones who presented them in a reply to the wife of a newly diagnosed husband.  Fuller was treated some years back by the Loma Linda Center and owns a Yahoo forum at the link listed below. Check out his site for more information and support.  Thanks Fuller.

http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/protoninfo.

PalJoe   3/12/2008

Support Group Meeting for Wed. Feb. 27th

ProtonPals:

Sloane Caskey requested that we forward the notice (Educational Group Meeting) for Feb’s support group meeting featuring Lorianne Classen as the speaker.  Also to remind newcomers and family that these are held on the 4th Wednesday of every month. 

In gratitude,
Joe

Activities that will elevate PSA

 SOURCE: BOB Tales - Monthly Newsletter to Members - October 2007 Bob Marckini, Editor.

IMPORTANT NEW FINDING FROM JOHNS HOPKINS?

I received a bulletin though my Google Alerts last month indicating that Johns Hopkins reported a significant new finding that, “should save men with early prostate cancer from making any irrevocable decisions too hastily.”

And, that new finding? Having sex within 72 hours of your PSA test can produce a false reading.

Hello… Isn’t this old news? We’ve been talking about this for five years, along with the fact that there are some conditions that can cause false readings for up to 6 weeks. It’s in my book, in two places.

This information was published in the August 1998 Journal of Laboratory Medicine. Here are some other things that can cause false readings, from page 190 in my book.


Condition/Manipulation Effect on PSA Increase Persists
Acute bacterial prostatitis 5-7 fold 6 weeks
Acute urinary retention 5-7 fold 6 weeks
Exercise - bicycle 0-3 fold 1 week
Prostate Biopsy Very variable 6 weeks
Prostate massage Variable 6 weeks
Ejaculation Variable 3 days
TURP Very Variable 6 weeks

Are you considering surgery? Get access to an expert.

Dr. Bach in an article in the WSJ notes that the average prostate surgeon in New York State performed fewer that 4 operations a year, 114 who did only one.   ” In other words, even though expertise is needed to deliver an important treatment that should have low complications and high success rates, there is nothing that ensures that men with prostate cancer can have access to such expertise.”

Why We’ll Never Cure Cancer

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Prostate Surgery

If you are considering radical prostatectomy, an operation to remove the prostate gland, here’s a direct link to a section at WebMD.  Complete, well written but with some sobering statistics about ED and incontinence.

Patient Proton by Dr. Roy Butler

The Patient Proton   Here’s an excellent 24 page report by Dr. Roy Butler, a chemistry professor from Norwich University and a prostate cancer survivor that is featured on the ProtonBob website.  ProtonBob is Bob Marckini’s web site and Dr. Roy Butler is a well known cancer survivor treated at Loma Linda University Medical Center.  ProtonBob is an essential web site that most if not all of the ProtonPals have used in obtaining information about prostate cancer treatment with proton therapy.  Thanks to Bob and Dr. Roy for making the site and booklet available.