When Doctors Opinions fly in the face of each other

I was diagnosed recently and my biopsy preforming urologist at Brigham essentially said I was a perfect candidate for just keeping an eye on things and set me up for a return visit in 6 months. My PSA was tested 3 months later and it's declined a bit. All was well, so I thought.

Saw another oncologist at a leading place in Boston as part of a prospective study. It sounded interesting and knowing more about what I am facing seemed a good thing. Knowedge is power. He deemed me not qualified for the study (that was OK) but added that I should have the prostate removed ASAP. I left his office faint after he was describing the various options and complications. That's not what I sought, and he saw me turning green and prescribed a happy pill to help cope which I haven't filled. Reading about it is one thing, but when it hits home is another. His logic was that I don't need it anymore and to just get it removed. No DRE was performed and he was only presented with the reports on record to base his recommendation, no new information essentially.

I can see others as well but expect their recommendations to be on one side of the fence or the other. Of course it's easiest and preferable to follow the easier route, but now it's with a fair degree of uncertainty and added anxiety as I have no solid justification to choose one route over another.

This seems mildly appropriate:
http://www.cancer.net/survivorship/life-after-cancer/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-and-cancer

What's one to do when presented with such differing recommendations?

Post Edited (RobertT) : 10/23/2014 7:29:29 AM (GMT-6)

Updated signature

The cancer oncologists view was that I didn't need a prostate and that things could only go downhill with it with plethora of bad opportunities, so just get rid of it.

Hearing that added immeasurable stress I don't need. Was content before.

Jerry, that is so well stated.

RobertT, please relax. Based on what you have shown, it appears to me that AS is appropriate. If you want to take some non-invasive action, talk to your urologist about using Avodart or Proscar. These will lower the DHT and reduce your prostate size and PSA. They have been shown to inhibit prostate cancer and will may also help any future PSA progression to be a better indicator of disease. I have been on Avodart (in the form of Jalyn) for four years with no negative side effects.

There are a lot of things we don't need, but it is rarely in our best interest to simply cut them off or out when they are not causing any problems.

RobertT,

I, along with others am appalled by what you were told. I also am not qualified to give an opinion on your case, except to say, get a different doctor and get as much input from those here that have "walked the walk". My husband's PSA was 2.00 in November, 2011. His primary care doctor said, "Let's check it again in a couple of years". Two years later in was 790, and we know that at that point it was already into the bones. I have been left realizing that doctors do not know everything, and they certainly don't always give the best plan. I will forever be sad that I didn't know that a PSA of 2.00 was not a good thing.

No One Fights Alone!
Deanna

Just stick with your original doctor and forget about the surgeon trying to take advantage of you to get his new car paid for.

Per Dr John Mulhall at last month's PCRI Conference (Prostate Cancer Research Institute) AS is the only PCa treatment that is penis friendly as all others will affect your ED in one way or another.

www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/doctor/john-mulhall

LupronJim