From: jpolacheck@earthlink.net (John W. Polacheck, M.D.)

About a month ago, Steve Malthus posted a message from a former patient
of mine who was most unhappy with his care here in Tucson. Obviously, I
can not comment on the details of this "case" because of "medical
confidentiality". But this report is full of inaccurate statements,
several of which I consider frank lies. A Most Ungrateful Patient !!!
This is not the first time that posts like this have appeared on this
Newsgroup. I can not understand why.
Patients like the one quoted, in general, have had their symptoms of
Chronic Prostatitis for several years before coming to be treated here
in Tucson at our Prostatitis Center. Obviously, all their previous
treatments had failed, or they would not have come here.
It should be noted that all patients are told that their treatment
protocols will continue for several weeks, if not several months, after
they return home. That is precisely what happened to "Name Suppressed".
He is saddened to learn that I am still in business. I am saddened to
learn how ungrateful he is. After all, he is now essentially cured. I am
happy for him in that regard. But I have no idea why he does not even
consider the possibility that his treatment here may have been
responsible for his cure.
Without revealing any specifics about his treatment, I will add that we
have isolated bacteria from the Expressed Prostate Secretions (EPS) from
virtually all our patients. The laboratory then determines which
antibiotics will work most effectively. In other words, we then use
directed antibiotic therapy: we do not "shoot in the dark".
Furthermore, patients are taught how to do effective prostate massages
at home, after they leave Tucson. We believe that it is necessary for
patients to do prostate massages at least three times per week while
taking antibiotics for Prostatitis. And, most of our patients do their
prostate massages at home more frequently than that.
Finally, I would like to emphasize that we empower patients to treat
themselves. We have developed some mechanical devices/tools for patients
who are having trouble doing their prostate massages themselves. These
devices have played a major role for patients: when they leave Tucson:
they can then treat themselves most effectively.
Respectfully submitted by John Polacheck, M.D.
E-mail address:   jpolach@dakotacom.net

===> hi dr. john...   i wouldn't lose any sleep over the post.

this is a world wide discussion newsgroup and anyone can write in and
say that they are someone else or munge their address.

but, let's say that he is a patient and that he really did write the
post.  it may be what he really feels and there is nothing that one can
do to change it.

i use to be a college professor and i flunked students when they failed
to pass the course.  i didn't do it to make their life miserable or
harder.  they simply did not get the information that was required to
pass the course.    yet, the college would give each student a form to
fill out on their opinion of the course.  do you think that they are
going to give me a good response???  no.  i'm mean,  evil, and a few
other choice words.   the student blamed me or the text book, or some
other thing, but they didn't blame themselves for failing the course.

have prostatitis is bad enough.  trying to treat it is even harder
because of the makeup of the prostate gland.  most men don't understand
that.   and this doesn't include things like chronic prostatitis and a
host of other symptoms that can happen.

so, if the patient didn't get 'cured' of their prostatitis due to some
unforeseen reason,  the patient wants to blame the doctor.

i, for one, am glad to see you are trying to make a happening in this
newsgroup.   i think that it's wonderful that a medical doctor is
willing to devote his time and trouble to help and i might mention at no
pay for doing this service.   what more can someone ask?

hang in there.  i'm in your corner and don't mind saying so.   but then,
i'm an old crusty fellow.... :))

might i extend an invite join in at the newsgroup .
alt.support.cancer.prostate.   you will be warmly welcome there.  

~ 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."
http://community.webtv.net/PALMER_ENT/doc