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Any Boston area MDs expert about prostate cancer & bisexual/gay men?

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Posted 6/14/2014 3:41 AM (GMT 0)
Around the Boston Massachusetts, Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline area medical centers who are the best urologists or related MDs with expert knowledge about prostate cancer concerns of bisexual/gay men?... or themselves are openly kinsey+2-6ers

(links and offensive terms removed - 142)

Post Edited By Moderator (142) : 6/14/2014 10:32:33 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/14/2014 3:43 AM (GMT 0)
Why wouldn't you be looking for the best urologist/doctor for what ails you, vs. their sexual orientation?
Posted 6/14/2014 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
why is it important?
Posted 6/14/2014 5:55 AM (GMT 0)

said...
Why wouldn't you be looking for the best urologist/doctor for what ails you, vs. their sexual orientation?


Taking into account a lot of things!, (deleted)

(Poster replies with the same question, and more links - 142)

Post Edited By Moderator (142) : 6/14/2014 10:33:53 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/14/2014 6:01 AM (GMT 0)

said...
why is it important?


Well, it could be important, for example checking the literature

(link removed)

. Introduction: What Gay Men (and Those Near and Dear to Them) Need to Know about Prostate Cancer
. Professional Perspective
. Prostate Cancer and the Gay Male
. A Gay Urologist's Changing Views on Prostate Cancer
. The Ups and Downs of Gay Sex After Prostate Cancer Treatment
. Psychotherapy with Gay Prostate Cancer Patients
. Prostate Cancer, The Group, and Me
. From the Perspective of Gay Men with Prostate Cancer
. Prostate Cancer and Sex
. Surviving Yet Another Challenge
. Living with Prostate Cancer: One Gay Man's Experience
. Identity and Prostate Cancer: Comments on a Messy Life
. Prostate Cancer at Age 84
. Together with Prostate Cancer
. A Gay Man and His Partner Face His Prostate Cancer Together
. Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment of a 33-Year-Old Gay Man
. Glossary
. Index

(Links not appropriate for first-time posters)

Post Edited By Moderator (142) : 6/14/2014 10:35:13 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/14/2014 6:44 AM (GMT 0)
Looks like spam, or a self promoter of a book, is this allowed, moderators?
Posted 6/14/2014 6:56 AM (GMT 0)
It's a response to a participant's question with something I'm reading.

(once again responding with the question - 142)

Any responsive substantive pointers, hints, tips?

Post Edited By Moderator (142) : 6/14/2014 10:36:09 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/14/2014 8:02 AM (GMT 0)
We make a point to not involve racial or sexual factors in what is an already complicated disease.

I am disturbed by the tone of this. The best urologist can be asked in private about such things. It would seem a matter of personal comfort, not medical skill.

The thread is locked.
Posted 6/15/2014 4:42 AM (GMT 0)
I have edited some points and removed links.

The thread is reopened. Please do not make comments about the personal preferences about a specific physician unless that is part of information they include in public forums.

Some members have suggested sites (that I am not familiar with) that address PCa in a gay lifestyle. You would want to make an email available so that they can communicate with you by private email where appropriate.
Posted 6/15/2014 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
Maybe asking some LBGT groups may be of some help to you? There is a blog of a man out in California that has prostate cancer. I know that won't help you much with docs in New England but then again maybe it might.

I would hope ALL doctors that treat this are not bigoted and understand the issues of all populations involved- regardless of color, religion, sexual orientation, etc.... as well as to be sensitive to all these issues.

theszak- can you tell us more about your journey with prostate cancer?
Posted 6/15/2014 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
Good grief. In this day and age, who cares about a person's sexual orientation??

I have to believe that ANY doctor in ANY specialty has plenty of gay and straight and bi patients.

Why should that be any consideration?

Cancer is cancer.

Maybe I'm missing some unique aspects that would be unknown to doctors?

Mel

Posted 6/15/2014 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
Theszak,

Welcome to the board. I very much agree that there are areas of special interest to gay men, and finding a doctor who is comfortable discussing them with you is very important. The sexual factors related to this disease are of utmost importance to many of us, and there are many unique to gay men. There are also psychological factors that are unique.

You may be interested in the following link:

Gay men with prostate cancer report significantly worse health-related quality-of-life than heterosexxual men

There are many great doctors in the Boston area. It would help if you added some details of your diagnosis in your signature (e.g., are you newly diagnosed? PSA history, Gleason score, cancer volume, stage, age, etc.) so that members of this board might make relevant recommendations to you. I think you will find that few doctors are out to their patients and vice versa. You will have to judge for yourself your and his or her comfort in discussing the special topics of relevance to you. Unfortunately, there has been very little research about it, and even very experienced doctors may not know which of their patients are gay.
Posted 6/15/2014 4:50 PM (GMT 0)
I don't get this at all.

I'm heterosexual, does that mean I would need a heterosexual doctor to understand me?

I am completely confused by what aspects of our sexuality would require communicating with someone who shares our lifestyle. All I can think of is that a gay man might be intimidated by discussing sexuality with a a doctor who has a socially unacceptable and backwards view of sexual orientation. But if that's the case, and I don't believe one would encounter that, fire the doctor.

I always looked at treatment as being a one shot deal and my philosophy towards this was to strictly review the skill level and experience of the doctor. If a doctor with **** tendencies was the best out there I'd still use him.

I'm pretty sure my surgeon and I have political and social ideologies that could not be further apart. Do I give a crap considering what I wanted to get out of treatment? Hell no. Conversely I am pretty sure the relatively inexperienced first urologist who wanted to treat me is the kind of kind who shares my political and religious sentiments and that he was a great guy who was great to talk to. Did I let him treat me? Hell no!

I'd be interested in hearing from a gay man why it's important to have a gay doctor in this specific area (treatment for PCa).
Posted 6/15/2014 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
David- I think you are missing the point of this man's genuine concern. I don't think its so much about finding a doctor that is gay or whatever, but rather finding one who can understand and relate his concerns and to his choice of lifestyle.

Unfortunately there is still a LOT of bigotry and hatred and discrimination in all aspects in our society is certainly one concern and yes it even extends to extremely educated folk.

Given the report Tall Allen posted, its glaringly obvious there are legit differences, just as there are legit differences in the rates of prostate cancer in black men (as well as much higher mortality rates).

Instead of posting opinions or blasting this man why don't we just try to help him if we can, shut up if we can't (or if we disagree) and in the interim give him our full support just as we would to anyone else in his shoes like most on here- as a man with prostate cancer who is probably very scared and wanting information and to see and talk to someone who can better understand his concerns unique to his lifestyle and sexuality.

That being said welcome Thesazk- there is a ton of good information on here, as well as some great support here. I think that some were taken aback by the way you phrased your questions but I can tell from the way you did that you are urgently seeking information and probably really scared about this.

I am neither man nor gay but I will help in any way I can. My now husband was just diagnosed at 47 without any risk factors and we are still reeling from the info. This board and the people on here has been an excellent source of help, support and friendship.

Kristina
Posted 6/15/2014 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
I don't understand what his choice of lifestyle has to do with the entire process. His cancer is the issue.

I am genuinely at a loss in understanding this even after reading Allen's link which in my opinion raises more questions if anything. I mean, what exactly is different between the sexual lifestyle of a gay man vis-a-vis that of a heterosexual man besides the choice in their partner as it relates to eradicating cancer?

So far my thought process on this leads me only to the very unfortunate stereotypes some in society spread about homosexuals such as their identities being defined by their sexuality and how losing the ability to have sex would affect them (as predators) more so that heterosexuals. I don't ascribe to any of those beliefs.

My support to this man is to not limit his own options. His problem is cancer and in my opinion he needs to find the best "mechanic" money or insurance can buy. That's my support given my own experience and results. IF you don't like that, you could take your own advice at heart.
Posted 6/15/2014 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
that is what "they" do? who is "they" and what group can be filtered down to a single definition of that group?

I have no idea what you are talking about with grits. I have a lot of gay people in my life but none of them eat grits.
Posted 6/15/2014 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
This is one of the rare times I agree with davidg. Find the absolute best doctor for the treatment you choose. You are hiring a mechanic to fix a problem, so get the best regardless of his views on anything. If you have any issues relating to treatment, such as ED then you can search for a specialist you feel comfortable with if and when that occurs. Choosing a surgeon or radiologist based on issues other than skill and experience will lead to a less than optimal result.
As Dr Strum always says, to achieve the most favorable outcome:
1. Understand the biology of your cancer. (low risk, high risk, contained or systemic ect)
2. Fit the treatment to the biology of your cancer. (Active surveillance, surgery, radiation, hormone therapy).
3. Find the absolute best artist for the treatment you choose.
Posted 6/15/2014 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
Is the potential for ED in gay men different socially and/or more devastating a potential risk than in heterosexual men? This is the angle I'm not understanding. I just asked the gay guy sitting next to me watching the World Cup with me and he said "nonsense" ( I appreciate he only speaks for himself and not for a group)

I suspect I am missing the nuances here.

anyway, my only advice is to do yourself a service by lot limiting your options and interview the best in your area in various disciplines whether they are gay or not and/or gay friendly or not. You don't have to see them ever again after they treat you and if it is about potential ED issues, those are of great importance to all men, even men in their 80s here apparently.

Post Edited (davidg) : 6/15/2014 3:16:10 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/15/2014 9:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hope your fiancée is doing well. I think you misunderstand what a few of us have suggested here and perhaps why this thread was locked to begin with.

Kuku we don't know each other so statements like "i didn't expect you to understand" are really bombastic and baseless regardless of who says them. They don't serve any purpose other than to ignite pissing contests. Given our gender and my remarkable recovery I think I can pee further distances btw. My only point here is that the OP should seek the best hired gun available to him regardless of any personal attributes or beliefs that are not related to his particular discipline/profession. I think we are done.

Having spent years in the social sciences I would actually appreciate the OP or any openly gay members of this forum to explain the adaptive and functional aspects associated with the the logic of needing a doc who is gay or openly gay friendly as I am genuinely interested in hearing that hypothesis. As said earlier, I fear this relies on stereotypes.

Post Edited (davidg) : 6/15/2014 3:34:09 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/15/2014 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
that's not the history of "my people" unfortunately. But thanks for the history lesson.
Posted 6/15/2014 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
No reason for a pissing contest. As I posted, I don't see why sexuality is of importance, since doctors have seen many folks of all persuasions.

 

It is more important to find the best artists. I think Davidg and John T have also expressed that opinion.

 

I realize I may not be understanding something fairly deep here.

 

I see nothing that was said that would scare anyone away.

 

I know, for me, I might learn something.

 

It is rather odd that the OP has not posted his stats nor added any information that would help us understand the situation.

 

Kuku - I hope we didn't scare him away. I don't see why our responses would do that. Perhaps there is another reason that he does not want to add any information.

 

I remain ready and willing to be educated here.

 

Mel
Posted 6/15/2014 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
This may be the most unusual thread I've ever seen on HW. Davidg's comments are absolutely logical.nd medically sound. Surgical skill is the only serious issue here. Any other considerations are quite secondary.... almost irrelevant. My advice is to find the very best medical professionals available to you, and don't get sidetracked by lesser issues.

I have to agree with Compiler, JohnT, and others that regardless of sexual orientation, we're all the same in.our plumbing.

Post Edited (clocknut) : 6/15/2014 6:14:44 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/15/2014 10:30 PM (GMT 0)
OK, this is part of the reason I locked this to begin with, but at the request of some members by private email, I made my edits and reopened it. I guess I had the hopes that no one would take the bait to argue this one.
Posted 6/15/2014 10:31 PM (GMT 0)
Wow Kuku:

 

I read your latest response to Davidg about 5 times, and I'm still not sure what you are saying. Must be remnants of my HT.

 

I await more information from the OP.

 

Something is fishy here with this odd thread

 

Mel
Posted 6/15/2014 10:31 PM (GMT 0)
Let me rephrase - you guys are breaking Rule 3. Stop doing that.
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