[Leica] Elder prostate wisdom

[George Lottermoser]

Thank you Philip.
This is the very helpful information, and links, I hoped would be offered.

a note off the iPad, George

On Feb 20, 2015, at 6:51 PM, Philip Leeson <leesonpj at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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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>> 
> 
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