Friend Diagnosed

Prato as I have read your posts about your friend the first thing that struck me is that there is definitely some misunderstanding and miscommunication some where along the line! The first uro supposedly saw that it had escaped the gland with the mri how did he know for sure it was prostate cancer? or for that matter cancer? I mean after all he told him that he only had 3 yrs to live with a 5.6 psa? What Dr. especially an urologist would make a statement like this? If this was the case the person should no longer be practicing medicine!! You know me my advice to new PSA patients is that they find themselves the best team of doctors and the best facility and educate themselves then make a plan and proceed. I say this based on my experience my local Dr. doctor at my usual 2yr physical found my psa at 17 we did a double check which came back at 16 then he referrred me to a urologist in Duluth I went to this guy he spent his 10 minutes with me lined me up for a biospy in 2 months and asked if I had any questions and said bye gotta get to my next appt. Before I got back to the car I was almost yelling at the wife I was so mad first I heard almost nothing he said due to some hearing loss and his fast talking, second the health system where he works is only interested in the almighty dollar and wants their doctor to spend only 10 to 15 minutes max with each patient. She told me I'm glad you feel that way cause I'm madder than you about the way we were treated the Dr. did not even acknowledge that I was in the room!!! This was on a fri afternoon on Monday morning I called the Mayo and by Wednesday they called me back with an appt in 3 weeks. " Your friend needs to do the same thing find the Dr's and the facility and then start fresh from the beginning! " of course this is JMHO!

Larry

Larry,
First of all, re your last sentence... if you read my posts, that’s exactly what he has done, he is seeing Dr. XXX XXXXX at NYU Langone, who is very well respected Uro, NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center is an NCCN facility, and widely regarded as top notch. His plan is to have the biopsy done there and not see the other Uro again.

As far as misunderstanding/miscommunication, normally I would agree, and I’ve wondered that myself. However, my friend is being very level headed about this, and his wife, whom I’ve spoken to, heard the same thing...3 years... and no, no biopsy done yet.
Secondly, my friend is a Physical Therapist, owns a practice in a high end area of Manhattan. So he knows how to talk to, and listen to, doctors.

I think the Uro is making (irresponsible) comments based on what he thinks he sees on the MRI.

Who knows. We’ll soon know more.

SMH. ***? is right.
I wonder what the patient thinks of all this.

I guess the moderators are the only ones who can get a WT-F in without being censored by the software. Lol

I wasn't offended. It censored mine. I'll try it again: ***.

I don't even know what it means. Okay, enough silliness.

compiler said...
Is it possible that MRIs have improved to the point where some specific results have a high degree (say 95%) of certitude?
I assume the NYU doctor is very capable.

Mel

The prostate mri will state if you have a lesion(s) and should give a pirad rating (mine did) which varies 1 to 5 on probability of significant cancer. 5 being highly suspicious.It'll say as well whether the lesion invades surrounding tissue.

Two doctors, one a highly respected Nw York Uro, have made a diagnosis of cancer without a biopsy. On another thread I asked if this was possible and the overwhelming consensus was it was not. A biopsy was required. What am I missing? Why would these docs be opening themselves up to possible legal problems by making a diagnosis without a biopsy?

Pratoman,
Yeah at 95% the MRI probably is better than a biopsy .... considering false negatives .... saying you do not have cancer when the needles missed the tumor)s). I am a bit surprised that the MRI is correct 95% of the time. Good to know.

RCS said...
Pratoman,
Yeah at 95% the MRI probably is better than a biopsy .... considering false negatives .... saying you do not have cancer when the needles missed the tumor)s). I am a bit surprised that the MRI is correct 95% of the time. Good to know.

RCS, to clarify, i am just guessing at the 95% chance, speculating on what was seen on the MRI and what level or certainty can be gleaned from it. Sorry for the confusion.

My friend had the biopsy today and will get results at a follow up appointment end of next week or early the following, dont remember.

Obviously no doctor can predict life expectancies without more information. Having said this, my Urologist said, “don’t worry” when my PSA reached 4.5 and my biopsy indicated G7. After removing my prostate my G9 was discovered. I then received a 3-5 year life expectancy from my Urologist. Due to his ridiculous and unpredictable spans of concern, I went to a medical oncologist at a major quality hospital. I’m now 3 years in and doing pretty well.

To me, moron is a little strong. I’d say that the “plumbers” of our anatomy are beyond their scope when they find cancer. I’m glad he pulled the fire alarm eventually so that I could get the seriousness of my disease through my thick German head and get the best specialists for the job.

"The doctor said to him “You have cancer. The only thing that will help you is surgery‘“"

He must be the poster boy of prostate snatchers. That, plus planning to buy a bigger boat for next season.

In terms of what is the most effective treatment for PCa, I have yet to read a study that shows any other treatments that can match the non-recurrence rates being reported for the two most advanced types of radiation, SBRT and protons. That snatcher's opinion was simply wrong.

Lets take Prato's original Question and turn it back to a positive discussion so if we have friends that may believe they may possibly have PCA we can offer some ideas based on our experiences. Jasper stick around we really enjoy your knowledge and insight you offer!!!! 👍

Larry

P.S. My wife was reading through the posts here and reminded me before we call somebody names let's
walk a mile in their shoes there are good and bad doctors just like every profession in life and different circumstances
for each if you dont like your Dr. after doing your due diligence simply forget that Dr. and move on we are lucky to live in a nation where we have those options.