Example: My lifelong friend in Chicago, Charlie, my age less 7 days, is a hypochondriac. Two years ago, his PSA was 5-something, a biopsy was recommended. At that point in time, I would have had a 2nd. opinion Dr. do a digital exam. Charlie had the biopsy, revealing a small cancer. After options were offered, he opted for the radioactive "seeds" implantation. I told him, if it were me, I would refuse it. He went ahead. His suffering due to the process continues today. 97 needles were inserted through the pericardium (the "no-man's land" in-between) into his prostate. 97! The seeds remain forever. They emit radiation for only several weeks. He was told to not allow himself to occupy a room with any pregnant woman for a month, nor allow any child to sit on his lap! Nice, huh? For months he experienced pain, bleeding, uncontrollable dribbling, all claimed to be "acceptable". His PSA has since gone down. Possibly because his prostate gland is now destroyed? No telling.
Recently, routine testing detected trace blood in his urine. CT scan, Ultrasound, he was given the images: 2 kidney stones, one 1.4 cm, the other 0.4 cm. I picture the tubes connecting kidney to bladder as being perhaps 2mm in diameter, though I am no Doctor. Thus, in my mind, neither stone could possibly lodge in, and block a tube (the "ureter"). Furthermore, such size stones do not form overnight. Perhaps over many years. No symptoms, just trace blood, which could have many unimportant sources. The medicos immediately set him up for a "non-surgical" shock-wave treatment following insertion of a stent in one ureter. These procedures are newer than my store of medical recollection, especially since traditional sound-wave shock break-up of stones was done with patient immersed in a tub of water. His procedure used no bath. Entirely done under anesthesia, it was performed two weeks ago. Since then, he has intense pain upon urination, constant leakage, bleeding, and extreme mental consternation. Post-procedure, he must filter all urine produced through a screen, examining for particles of the stones. He has found none. Urologist expects that a repeat of the shock-wave will be necessary. Charlie has the images, sees the stones present, that much is true. Is he being used to generate revenue?
Nah! Impossible! Just like the "cyst" a nefarious oral surgeon insisted existed in my own upper jawbone when I was 19, proposing horrible surgery to remove it. No cyst existed. Should Charlie have displayed more "guts"? Should he have followed the often entertained "wait and watch" process, at 73?
Ever hear of "prevention hysterectomy"? Certain signs indicate possible predisposition to uterine cancer, so yank out the uterus, to prevent a cancer which maybe, or likely, never appears? Same deal with breast cancer.
Should folks display more "guts" in their response to medically-frightening scenerios when confronted with them? Numerous times during my lifetime, Medicine introduced fear, implying treatment was absolutely mandatory, as in 2005, when my Dr., acting on an elevated white blood cell count, ordered a bone marrow biopsy. I refused it. Why? Because the count was 10% above the high limit shown by the lab performing the work-up, AND, my Merck Medical Manual indicated that THEIR upper limit was higher than my own cell count! 10 years ago, evidently no blood cancer, I'm still my old, damned, cranky self.
Am I understandable here? Or rather, a rebel to be dismissed as the medical-quackery quack? Your call, now. imp
Recently, routine testing detected trace blood in his urine. CT scan, Ultrasound, he was given the images: 2 kidney stones, one 1.4 cm, the other 0.4 cm. I picture the tubes connecting kidney to bladder as being perhaps 2mm in diameter, though I am no Doctor. Thus, in my mind, neither stone could possibly lodge in, and block a tube (the "ureter"). Furthermore, such size stones do not form overnight. Perhaps over many years. No symptoms, just trace blood, which could have many unimportant sources. The medicos immediately set him up for a "non-surgical" shock-wave treatment following insertion of a stent in one ureter. These procedures are newer than my store of medical recollection, especially since traditional sound-wave shock break-up of stones was done with patient immersed in a tub of water. His procedure used no bath. Entirely done under anesthesia, it was performed two weeks ago. Since then, he has intense pain upon urination, constant leakage, bleeding, and extreme mental consternation. Post-procedure, he must filter all urine produced through a screen, examining for particles of the stones. He has found none. Urologist expects that a repeat of the shock-wave will be necessary. Charlie has the images, sees the stones present, that much is true. Is he being used to generate revenue?
Nah! Impossible! Just like the "cyst" a nefarious oral surgeon insisted existed in my own upper jawbone when I was 19, proposing horrible surgery to remove it. No cyst existed. Should Charlie have displayed more "guts"? Should he have followed the often entertained "wait and watch" process, at 73?
Ever hear of "prevention hysterectomy"? Certain signs indicate possible predisposition to uterine cancer, so yank out the uterus, to prevent a cancer which maybe, or likely, never appears? Same deal with breast cancer.
Should folks display more "guts" in their response to medically-frightening scenerios when confronted with them? Numerous times during my lifetime, Medicine introduced fear, implying treatment was absolutely mandatory, as in 2005, when my Dr., acting on an elevated white blood cell count, ordered a bone marrow biopsy. I refused it. Why? Because the count was 10% above the high limit shown by the lab performing the work-up, AND, my Merck Medical Manual indicated that THEIR upper limit was higher than my own cell count! 10 years ago, evidently no blood cancer, I'm still my old, damned, cranky self.
Am I understandable here? Or rather, a rebel to be dismissed as the medical-quackery quack? Your call, now. imp
imp