Reality Check!

“Let my cry come to you, give me insight that only comes from you.” Psm. 1o2:1

As I listened to the reporter I was stunned by his words….

A US Advisory Board is recommending that men of all ages no longer be screened for prostate cancer with the PSA blood test.

The US Preventative Task Force group says that PSA screening results in over diagnosis of prostate cancer and can leave men incontinent and impotent. But they also stated that this recommendation should not preclude a man’s choosing to be screened.  REALLY????

Men don’t talk about their issues… we as women DO! So if you make them feel it’s not a big concern what happens then???

As the wife of a man who had prostate cancer I am very concerned with this research!

My husband a had PSA screening during his yearly physicals with our family doctor in Dec. of 2oo1.  Dan’s PSA was elevated.  His doctor, not being one to jump the gun, decided to wait a few months to do the PSA again… and again the numbers were up, still he did not sound alarm, but suggested that Dan see a urologist. So we did!

Dan’s urologist did a biopsy and told us, that yes, it showed cancer in the prostate…  Dan was 57….still he DID NOT tell us what to do..  but he did offer several options… after first telling us that prostate cancer is ‘the old man’s disease’ that it takes 10 years to kill you, his words exactly. But continuing by saying, but you are too young for us to do nothing.

So here were our options…

Do nothing!….

have radiation therapy…

have surgery…

but here’s the kicker… if you have radiation therapy, you can not have the surgery later, but if you have the surgery, you can still have radiation therapy afterwards if needed.    Seriously… what would you be thinking???

Still the urologist insisted that we go home, think about it, talk about it and make our decision.

We did, we came home, discussing the options all the way. 

At this time our youngest daughter was working for a Prominent Construction Company downtown. She shared with her co-workers what was happening with her dad. Her Boss heard this and immediately told her to tell Dan to call him. He had been through this same process 8yrs. earlier. He gave Dan information to read and think about. Even gave him the name of a doctor who is a pioneer in prostate cancer care and sent Dan a book to read.

Dan poured over all the research, we discussed, we prayed, still I could only see one reliable option…. Surgery. On May 5, 2002 Dan had surgery to remove the prostate. And we are so blessed to say that all the cancer was contained in the prostate, since this time, he has been completely cancer free.

So you are probably asking what my concern is… Well here’s what I am thinking… I have always been told that early detection is our best defense.  What if Dan’s doctors had not done the PSA? What if his doctors had said oh well, you know it’s really not a big deal.  Does he have issues? Yes… but nothing we can’t LIVE with!!  I still have my husband, my children still have their dad, and My Grandchildren have their Papa! And that my friends is so much more important to me than the other things that we sometimes have to deal with!! I STILL HAVE HIM!

Since Dan’s surgery in 2002 he has encountered other men, friends of his who also were diagnosed with this same disease, one very close to him who was only 47 at the time. So he did what Karen’s boss did, he shared what he had learned. Never suggesting options just sharing his research.

Often I find that we go through situations because there will be someone who needs to know we have been there… that we know and understand their concerns. Sharing not only knowledge, but our hearts.

So I guess I will step down from my Soap Box now!

Always!

Sharon