Dr. Patrick Walsh's Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer"

I bought his book on the recommendation of some people in here.  I just started reading parts of it and it scared the heck out of me so put it away in a drawer.  I'd much rather  get my information from the men and their wives in here.

Thanks everyone!!

I will remind all that my opinions are my own and I am only sharing them because I truly feel they will help others.   That’s why this forum is so important…   Different folks,   Different backgrounds,   Different opinions, Different choices…. And “YOUR CHOICES and YOUR DECISIONS ARE THE RIGHT ONE” !!   I use to say to my mom… “Mom…I will always ask your opinion (input) about things…   The more information I have about LIFE…. The more options I have… means more information to pull from.... and this will definitely help me make MY DECISIONS!! Same goes here….   It’s my opinion but you need not take it at any time…. It’s just another tool to look at for information.   J   Dear Ellen,   I really hope you reconsider at some point along the way.   The best thing you can do now is educate yourself.   Yes, the forum is a wonderful source of information….. but did you find out about the prostate and it’s function from the forum??     This book is the tool I used and felt comfortable sharing this information with others.   Especially after our urologist suggested this reading…   But if you are looking for KNOWLEDGE…I think any book would be worth looking at.   Yes…some sections were very scary but they made me aware of what “WE” were dealing with and that there is a LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL… J   (I did not read Chapter 12 because I felt no need to know this until we knew the diagnosis from the pathology reports….. I knew this Chapter would still be there…if I needed it.)   If you have the answers to the following ..then by all means you do not need to read “any” book…. Do you know where the prostate is located? (I didn’t) Do you know what took place during the biopsy? (I really wanted to know!) Do you know the function of the prostate, the bladder, the urethra, the sphincter muscles? (Some but not all) What your options are? (Surgery? And what kind?, radiation?, chemo?….. )   This book was written in 2001.   But it still educates you about the disease. Yes…Dr. Walsh is known for doing The Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy…   but the contents still taught me so much about this disease…and it showed me there were different options… and with new technology there are still MORE options.   The Preface in this book lets you know right off how scary this disease really is!!   But the author “a woman like you and me” took the time and energy to help guide us through this HELL…   Ms. Janet Farrar Worthington (a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother) and Dr. Patrick Walsh (one of the most respected prostate disease specialists in the world) are giving us information in this book to help us better understand prostate cancer so we will know what “WE” are up against.  I say THANK YOU to both....   Sharing is Caring....  and I Care...... In Friendship, Lee

Wicket, one more thing. Dr. Walsh pushes the 25 year old Radical Surgery procedure. 25 yrs ago women had their breasts removed at the drop of a dime, their uterus too with radical procedures. Hardly happens any more their are much gentler procedures now. For men robotic or LLP plus amny more none of which Dr. Walsh embraces, he developed the "Gold Standart" (what's gold about it I don't understand) so that's what he pushes. We women have stamped out feet, screamed, yelled and protested so loudly that even the Senate had to listen and fund more research monies. There are walks, races, fundraisers and thousands mor events for the pink ribbon. WHAT IS THERE FOR THE MEN? Nothing!!!!!THEY ARE QUIETE and accept old procedures because there isn't much else in this country. WHY DON"T WE WOMEN GET TOGETHER AND STAMP OUT FEET, RAISE OUR VOICES FOR OUR MEN?!
Men believe, I think, this is something to be ashamed of. DWT says don't speak so loud about it, in out home, some one could hear you. WHO the fly on the wall? Not much research is done here for better treatments and the FDA blocks all kinds of new development for men, not for women. THe surgeons also block advances and insist that only 15 year track records are acceptable so - there is the GOLD STANDART - 25 yrs old. If there is a doctor who embraces new methods and informs his patients about it - he is called a charlatant and is being shunt. We have been told by a Orofessor here that Dr. Manni with his nervesparing Robotic Surgery can't be believed about his results, he's not writing any papers. BULL he writtes papers and his results are real, BUT they are less than 15 years old. SL

Mama Bluebird,

my impresion of Ms. Janet Farrar Worthington, and that's mine please remember this, is that she is one cold blooded women without compassion or any idea what we the wives feel when our husbands and loved ones receive the diagnosis PCa.  She has no idea what we go though or how to give a helping word. I am sure that she can't even imagine the emotions, the pain, the love, the anger, the frustration - she is cold as ice. I don't know her in person, but from this book she co-authored, I wouldn't want to meet her ever.

So that is my feelings about this book and this person - that you say is given us the wives and women in our situation - helping advise. Never. You all are a million times more valuable with your input. Soothing, caring, advising, listing, informative. She is not!!!!

SL

Bluebird,

The book I bought had been used and it was very nice of the preceeding user to mark all the stuff that is important to read.  LOL

Buddy had has RRP April 3, 2006...how is he doing?  Are things back to normal for you two yet?

I read an earlier post that was primarily negative about Dr. Walsh and his book.  I have a different perspective.  Dr. Walsh is the most renowned urologist in the US.  He developed the "gold standard", the nerve sparing radical prostatectomy, that gives us an opportunity for quality of life after surgery.  His book addresses what we can expect before/after surgery.  I, personally, found it very informative.  It is not for the weak of heart; but, I'd rather know reality beforehand so I can make an informative decision and also know my chances for a successful surgery.  His book was published about five years ago before the robotic/lap surgery was available at most hospitals.  The procedure followed by the rob/lap surgeons in most respects follows the gold standard developed by Dr. Walsh. 

I had my surgery Aug. 2.  I followed Dr. Walsh's suggestion and searched for a surgeon with a proven, extensive track record.  I looked at rob/lap surgeons as well as open surgeons.  There are some good ones at one or the other....none are the real experts at both.  This is where you have to come to a personal decision which way you prefer.  I ended up going with a surgeon I felt had the most extensive track record.  He was an open procedure surgeon....Dr. Walsh's colleague, Alan Partin.  I was in the hospital two days, did not need a transfusion during surgery.  I was back at work a couple of weeks after the surgery (two to three hours per day at first...office job).  This past week I was at full days and felt good at the end of the day.  I still wear a pad when at work; however, when I come home the pad is DRY!  I don't wear a pad while at home.  I think I will go pad free to work next week. My pathology report post surgery was negative.  Still saying my prayers for a good PSA report Nov. 2. 

I think we men have a lot to thank Dr. Walsh.  He developed the procedure followed by the best surgeons in the country, be they rob/lap or open.  His procedure gives us a chance for quality of life.

Quote:
56pontiac said...
I CAN'T FIND YOUR PERSONAL THREAD "OUR JOURNEY" WHERE IS IT?

Hi 56 pontiac…. It was on page 4….

I’m going to post this so it brings it back to page 1….
Our Journey triggered some interesting views on this book.

I’ll also pop the other Thread started by Wicket 9-3-06… “Dr. Patrick Walsh’s Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer”….

Good postings on both!!