Dr. Scholz

David:

You said:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Mel, I will use you as the example here, because its your thread. You had your surgery done by one of the best of the best in the US, at one of the best of the best hopsitals, yet it did not prevent you from having BCR fairly fast. Should someone assume that perhaps your surgeon sucked, didn't have the skills, was all talk and no show? Of course no reasonable person would think that. Your BCR would have happened regardless of whom your surgeon was in my opinion. But, and I have seen this here at HW, if one of us goes to a small town hospital with an unknown (outside that local area) surgeon, and the surgery failes to stop the PC, then the attitude is that you should have gone to a better place, got a better doctor, etc. I think that is all wrong. Each body (patient) cancer situation is different and reacts different in their treatments.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I think we all know that we are dealing with probabilities, and absolutely no guarantees (the antithesis of guarantees!). So, all I can do is try and maximize my probabilities. That's what I am doing. There is some minimal consolation that I at least recovered extremely well from the surgery with no incontinence. I do have 100% ED but that is, honestly, not an issue whatsoever especially since my worries concern the PC itself. But, we all know that we are battling for our lives here. That's what it comes down to. Movie stars and other famous people with all sorts of money and resources can go to the best places in the world and get the best possible treatments from the very top doctors. I bet they do better, but so many still don't make it.

David, all you can do is try and give yourself the best chance in conjunction with your own knowledge, physical condition, desires, and resources.  But, if you are going to post on HW and indicate your plans, then be prepared for comments that you might not like and don't want to hear. Look, I just mentioned Dr. Scholz and it has become a lightening rod with all kinds of pro/con comments. We all have different viewpoints. You took great offense when I suggested, after maybe 10th or 12th new catheter, that you should look at consulting with experts face-to-face or by direct contact from you. Well, that's just my opinion, from afar. (I might add that others expressed the same opinion.).  But, remember, I said that we deal with things in our own way. I have been loudly criticized for getting ahead of myself. I always seem to be one tx. ahead (I wish one tx. would work, darn it!). But, that's ME. I operate better when I have a plan in place. Different strokes.

David, regarding your upcoming decision, (AND OTHERS MIGHT BE INTERESTED TO), check out the following link and view the video. When I was investigating Dr. Scholz, it helped me choose him as he clearly possesses the kind of knowledge I'm looking for. It is a 90-minutes video mostly about advanced cancer. He talks about all kinds of strategies and treatments. It may help you decide. Please let me know what you think.

http://www.prostateforum.org/speaker.cfm?sid=6

Mel

Franchot:

Can you email me? I have some questions.

Mel

David:

You have a VERY valid point and I was certainly taken aback when I found out that information.

But I did delve further.

Did you watch that video. I can re-post the link. It might give you some ideas as he discusses the tx. of advanced PC

Mel

Purgatory said...
He may have been "dismissive" about the book, but that doesn't cut it, he co-authored it, saying it was Blum's book - that sounds like a cop out to me. He should have thought about that before hooking up with this way out there other person.
It's still all about the money, and even down to the title, its a very cheesey, almost sleezey way to market a book.

He may be a brilliant doctor, I would have no reason to say differently, but as an outsider looking in, his book dealings take a lot of credibility away from him, in my opinion.

David in SC

David,

I think by saying "dismissive" you are misunderstanding what I was implying. By stating that Dr. Scholz was "dismissive" about the book I was trying to get across that he was not hawking the book to all his patients and trying to get them all to buy a copy. I had to bring up the topic of the book to him and when I did he barely said one sentence about it. That's what I meant by being dismissive. (True, the book was on the front counter, but the book had just recently been published. When I return for my six month check up, I'll report back if the book is still on display.)

And as far as the title goes...let's face it. If the title had some austere title, it would probably be even less than the minimal seller that it is. In today's book market, a title has to catch the buyers' eyes. Book publishers and authors want to at least break even on their endeavors. I might even go so far as to suggest that the publishing house (and probably Ralph Blum) had some sway in how the book was titled and marketed.

You also have to understand that Dr. Scholz is an advocate for preserving a patient's quality of life which can be lessened by sometimes having needless prostate surgery or procedures. As John T stated in his post, Dr. Scholz treats his patients in a holistic style. He is very much into prescribing a vegetarian diet and a low or no refined sugar diet and looks at a patient's lifestyle from many angles. The first thing he said to me is that I needed to have my heart checked to make sure my arteries were fine and my cholesterol was low because "odds are you'll die of heart disease before prostate cancer will kill you."

When I was first diagnosed with prostate cancer, I visited many doctors who were keen to cut me and radiate me after just one initial consultation. Dr. Scholz saw things differently. Plain and simple, he isn't the right doctor for every patient.

(If possible, research the PCRI Conferences which are held each year in Los Angeles and see if there are any videos of the "Round Table Discussions." Doctors who treat prostate cancer through many different disciplines hash it out amongst themselves in front of an audience and often times the arguments get quite heated.)

Franchot:

I never said or doubted the doctors skills or compassion. To be honest, few people outside the PC world would pay attention to the book, blaring titlle or not. I disagree about the book, but don't disagree about the doctor

And about Father Joe, being a Roman Catholic, I would enjoy meeting and knowing him. Sounds like a very compassionate person.

David in SC

Here's another chance to get turned off or turned on: (personally I don't care (but would listen to anything he has to mention), this may cause flare (LOL) if you are dead set against 'celebrity' docs.....

Drum roll........................................................

Tues. Mar. 15 - Ask Dr. Barken Show - Dr. Mark Scholz - Harnessing
the Immune System

Dr. Barken interviews Dr. Mark Scholz
of Prostate Oncology Specialists about:

"Ending the Era of Blind PC Treatment"

on March 27th, 3:00 pm - 6:30 pm.

Attend this upcoming public meeting.
5400 Century Boulevard
Los Angeles-Westin Hotel LAX
COST: $10.00 registration fee, open to the public.

REGISTER: 310-743-2116 / [email protected]
(this is off the internet today in an email I received we can laugh, cry or embrace)

Post Edited (zufus) : 3/14/2011 5:28:38 AM (GMT-6)