Prostate Cancer Treatment

Hi Tim

I happened to read the article earlier today because I am on a list with the NY Times to get e-mail notification of any articles they publish on prostate cancer.  It is interesting that they are publishing articles on prostate cancer with great frequency of late.  While one could read the current article with a negative viewpoint, we have to focus on the fact that a lot of progress has been made in recent years in getting men to get their PSA test and DRE's.  This will save a lot of lives as time goes on.  While we would all like to see more dollars being allocated to prostate cancer research, we should keep in mind that Michael Milken (the Wall Street legend who took a wrong turn in his career) established the Prostate Cancer Foundation after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer at a still young age.  Michael and his foundation has been very instrumental in stepping up the efforts on prostate cancer research.  If it had not been for his efforts, I am not sure that we would be where we are today.  He was obviously put on earth for a greater glory than his Wall Street days. 

Today's article discusses the reluctance of men to participate in prostate cancer clinical trials.  Once we find that we have prostate cancer, we just want to jump on board and get treated in hopes of eradicating our cancer--clinial trials are about the last thing on our mind.  However, for example, it is very true that broad definitive studies are lacking, especially comparing the various types of radiation treatment (e.g., seeds, x-ray beam and proton beam) as relates to the side effects encountered and longer-term success rates based on the stage of cancer when first diagnosed.  Of course, smaller studies have been made, but we as patients are still left in the dark to a large degree when making our treatment choice.  It is still unfortunately a game of chance and Russian roulette.  Life is game of chance too!

Dave

 

Hi Tim, Dave,
Good thread. I did not mind this NY Times article as much as others they have posted. Some have been down right irresponsible but this one did not cross that line. But they still miss the point. I just don't really care much for the excuse that we lack a control arm of people who watch and wait. My take is simple, Stop blaming the patients and look for a cure. Finding a cure should not involve a watch and wait control arm and we already know that that won't cure it. At this point in my life I don't need to know which treatment is better over ten years or has less side effects. I will be fortunate to be here in ten years. What we do now for prostate cancer does not assure a cure. We need something else, entirely. We need that "penicillin" drug or equivilent.

Dave good point on Mike Milken. Since he has been diagnosed I would not doubt that he has contributed more over time than the US government as a whole did last year. One guy, albiet wealthy, has done more than the US government did last year. And I doubt he is really interested in a watch and wait control arm at this point in his life either.

Tony