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PROSTATE CANCER by Don Broderson |
Having prostate cancer is an adventure, if you define "adventure" as being pushed into unknown territory and forced to make complicated life-and-death decisions based on sketchy information. Most people cope with this by using some version of "Trust the doctor, he knows more than you do". Unfortunately this is often barely true, and it is a situation that can be easily reversed with some vigorous use of the Internet. Of course, then you're the one in command...
A great beginning is their "Where to begin". I use "Hot Off the Press" and the "Clinical Reviews" on an on going basis; the recent review of pathology reports by Oppenheimer should be read by anyone who needs to understand a biopsy or post surgical report. Rich links to other sites
2. Wellness Web Prostate Cancer Page
The Wellness Web has the best introduction to treatment options I've seen. Other useful stuff, too.
3. Gary Huckabay's Prostate Pointers is all by itself the best five Websites you'll find. Intelligently indiscriminate, this site is dedicated to the proposition that more information is good information. Covers all the options you'll need to consider, from radical surgery to tea and grape seeds. Can be overwhelming; probably not the first site you should visit, but it will be the one you visit most. Incredible connections.
Up-to-date, opinionated, compassionate; leading edge docs have their own section. Plenty of solid info plus opportunity for inquiry and response regarding your own case. Don't miss this one.
The Establishment. Academic site devoted to info on clinical trials and general education. Mainstream presentation of treatment options barely hints at the confusion and controversy surrounding the decision. Some good links.
Also see...Steve Dunn's Cancer Info Page (by a patient for patients,) a gold mine; and don't forget the internet is not just the Web, there are Usenet groups of real value: re: science&medicine; re: support (recently the victim of too much spam).
Don Broderson teaches science to public high school students in Richmond, California.