[Leica] Elder prostate wisdom

[Philip Leeson]

George:

During most of my 30 yr career in Internal Medicine, we aggressively
pursued Prostate cancer, screening with
digital rectal exams and PSA’s, screening was never recommended at age 70
and over.
My experience was that we discovered a large number of very slowly
progressive cancers, most of which may not have impacted longevity.
A large number of radical prostatectomies were done with the best of
intentions.
As CaP is usually very slow growing, it took 10-20 years for the studies to
be done which now show that there is little benefit of treatment for this
cancer in most (but not all) patients.
One occasionally sees a case of super-aggressive cancer, but this is rare;
and even then the treatment is not always very helpful.


The current USPHS recommendation for screening is NOT to screen:
<
http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Topic/recommendation-summary/prostate-cancer-screening
 >

With your current PSA level, I would not be surprised that some cancer
would be found at prostate biopsy.
The issue is whether to treat….not an easy question.
Most doctors continue to screen due public pressure and fear of lawsuits.
After all, who are you going to believe — me or Arnold Palmer, Norman
Schwarzkopf, Warren Buffet, etc?

Here’s some more not-so-light reading:
<http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/prostate/Patient/page1>

First thing I would do is repeat the test in a month, prostatitis will
increase the level as well.
 Hope this helps,

Phil

On Fri, Feb 20, 2015 at 5:06 PM, George Lottermoser <
george.imagist at icloud.com> wrote:

> So I had a PSA blood test at the request of my new "primary care" doctor.
> First time I've ever had one of these PC doctors.
> He ordered a blood test for PSA, Cholesterol, Blood Sugar
>
> First PSA test was 4.1 in April, 2011
> When enlarged prostate was diagnosed with digital exam.
> All the usual symptoms you'd expect with an enlarged prostate.
>
> Now, Second PSA test was 7.8 in February, 2015
>
> My new young Doctor wants me to see a Urologist.
>
> I'd appreciate any and all opinions re: current state of the art
> for Screenings et al re: Enlarged Prostates, Pre Cancer, Cancer, etc.
>
> I know we must have a lot of experience among these OLD LEICA NUTS
>
> On or off list as you see fit.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Regards,
> George Lottermoser
>
> http://www.imagist.com
> http://www.imagist.com/blog
> http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist
>
>
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