Prostate Mysteries Explored On “21st Century Conversations”
Prostate Mysteries Explored by Abraham Katz
This Comment made by Marvin
This statement below was delivered to OneWorld with a request that it be posted to the article on the NHI web site. We thank Marvin for his contribution and commitment to educating others.
“Approximately 4 years ago I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer (PC). When a urologist tells you that you have PC it really blows you out of the water. While I got regular PSAs, I didn’t want to get a biopsy because I was afraid of the possible outcome. When I got my results I was not sure what to do next. There is a great deal of information to be absorbed; it is the worst time to try and remember and focus on all the different pieces of information coming at you. This is why having a program such as this “21st Century Conversations” on the public access station where we can get good information before we are ill is very important and extremely beneficial. Men on my job were talking about this article today.
Peyronies Disease causes pain and suffering whether a man is able to have sex or not. (Peyronie’s disease is the development of abnormal scar tissue, or plaques, in tissues inside the penis. When a penis affected by Peyronie’s (pa-ro-NEEZ) disease is erect, it’s usually bent and may be painful. Peyronie’s disease may prevent a man from having sex, and men with Peyronie’s disease often experience stress or anxiety related to this disorder)
Sadly, I cannot recall being told any of this about Peyronies Disease before my pinpoint radiation treatment. The reason I ended up taking the pinpoint radiation is because the size of my prostate was out of the scale that the doctors measure to determine if you can get the seed implantation. One of the steps I would strongly recommend is that men talk to a professional who understands the many issues they might face, and who can help them to address each of these issues before they decide on which treatment to select; and (it is important to) get to know the possible side effects of each treatment method. My big mistake was in thinking that I could go it alone. Please do not go it alone; you need help in reaching the best decision, and that help should not come from only the treating physician.
What I did not know about pinpoint radiation is that it could still damage healthy tissue and cause a lot of scaring that then lead to other physical problems; no one explained that to me.
I understand that the newer treatments are easier; however, I strongly encourage men to find a competent professional (besides the treating physician) to talk to and go over all options and their side effects. I cannot stress that enough. Also, please take every opportunity offered to learn all that you can before you are faced with this problem.”