I felt it better, for *me*, to do the same.  But it's not the choice of
treatment that's best for *everyone.*  Each man has to make an informed
decision and choose what is best for him.  I'm certainly supportive of
anyone's right to make that choice.... and I see good things happening for
those who have chosen radiation.  From what I understand, and perhaps
Leonard can chime in on this, it seems that the *cure rates* for radiation
seem to be just as good as RP... though obviously there has not been as long
a time to study them.  But at some point someone has to step up and take a
bit of a chance based on skill and technology... otherwise, we'd all still
be having the old-fashioned RP where they just *cut it all out, nerves and
all.*  Personally, I opted for LRP... and there are pros and cons, at this
time, concerning that procedure.  But it was what was right for me, and I
don't regret my decision at all.

What has been your experience post-op, Al?  How long ago was your surgery?
Have your erections returned?  Did you use Viagra or some other aid along
the way?  It certainly *does* feel different without the gland, doesn't it?
Of course, guys who have radiation eventually have basically the same
feeling since radiation also destroys the gland.

As you said, I hope my son (and all sons) will be spared having to go
through this.

I wish everyman well, whatever his choice of treatment.  And though I
couldn't be satisfied with the radiation approach (I'm too much of a worrier
and needed it out!), I'm glad there are men who *are* making that choice and
having such positive results.  My father chose to have brachytherapy three
years ago and has been fine ever since!  Who knows?  He may outlive me!

Take care.... be well....
MikeH

thank you dr. c. paul for your kind words.

i agree that all the treatments available have proven to have worked but
hopefully, as you put it so well, in 15, 20, 30 years.  the data wasn't
there.  what happens if that is where we are now, looking at it from the
perspective year of 2034.  you can just about bet that there will be
some clear cut decisions at that time as to what treatment is better and
probably a few more treatments that we haven't even heard of yet.  

when you wrote:
"I know from personal experience that doctors can believe passionately
in the treatment they are expert at providing."

i agree 100% with you on that.  i just wish there was a way that the
doctors could have some kind of network that after evaluating a patient,
could steer them toward to the best doctor with the expert skill in
their field to do the treatment.  i know that this probably goes against
what we say when we tell the person with the pca to research and make
the best decision based on what they have found out because it should be
the patient's choice, even though in this case, the doctor may know
what's best for the patient because they are the expert at what they are
providing.

i wish i could agree with you that big business hasn't stuck their
finger in the medical business but they have.  they have done it by
advertising on tv.  getting the patient to demand that their doctor
write the script for a particular medicine when in fact, there may have
been another medicine that would have been twice as effective, but the
doctor writes the script for the patients request and doesn't try to
change their mind, because it might instill a distrust.  

if one were to look at the cost it takes to put one commercial on each
of the cable channels, the national tv channels, it is in the millions
and the drug company isn't doing it as a public service.

when one looks at the robotic arm used for the LRP.  they are going to
have to get customers for that unit in order to pay for it.  the robotic
arm has to earn it's keep.  it takes up space and needs to be in use, so
they do a patient awareness for it.  now, i don't know if this is good
or bad, because advertising isn't necessary a bad thing.  all i pointing
out is that big business does have their finger in the medical pie.

and i definitely agree with you if they come out with a pill to prevent
pca or to cure pca - watch out.

ps. for what it's worth.  i saw a study on air pollution and rats.  city
rats that were exposed for 30 days vs country rats and city rats exposed
to same air, but with hepa filters.  there was a change in the city rat
(with no filter) DNA that mutated that wasn't part of either parent.
scientists didn't know what this means because the altered DNA didn't
cause any changes they could see or were aware of, but it does make one
wonder if pca could be triggered by the altering of DNA from
environmental sources.

~ curtis

knowledge is power - growing old is mandatory - growing wise is optional    
"Many more men die with prostate cancer than of it. Growing old is
invariably fatal. Prostate cancer is only sometimes so."

I, too, doubt that there is a "conspiracy," but I do think there are
efforts by corporations, hospitals, treatment centers, and others to
promote their particular treatments and that those efforts often
overstate the case.  Theraseed, for instance, has mounted an
advertising campaign to promote brachytherapy.  The ads claim that
studies show "cure" rates equalling or exceeding those for surgery.
Well, some studies do show that (or, at least, suggest it).  Others
don't.  The data is not conclusive.  But if you were newly diagnosed
and searching for a cure and not inclined to do much research, you'd
be led to believe that brachytherapy results are always equal to or
better than results from surgery and that there are almost no side
effects (which is not true either).  Right now, I think it's
irresponsible to use advertising to promote treatments unless the
advertising is honest, forthright, and factual.  (And as an
advertising copywriter, I know that's never going to be the case.)