Best Posts in Forum: Expat Section

I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer about 6 years ago, before coming the the Philippines. I started my research by visiting 3 specialist in Southern California. each being the leader in a different approach to cure it: Robotic surgery removal of the prostate, use of radiotherapy beads, and radiation therapy. However it was soon apparent that the medical field is not a warm and fuzzy care field but a infomercial commercial endeavor. At least one doctor puts the bums rush on me for an operation. I then visited a fourth a group of doctors that specialized in Prostate Cancer but did not do any invasive surgeries. Their comment was that I would "die with it, but not because of it". I am currently living not as a survivor of Prostate Cancer, but a person living with prostrate cancer surviving in me, as I enjoy a good quality life.

Cancer is a scary word, but must be put in perspective. Prostrate Cancer can be very slow growing, but there are various types. My suggestion would be to monitor it. Do research on where you prostate cancer is located within the prostrate, and the type and speed of growth. Most people die from prostate cancer that escapes into the bones, and other locations of the body, which is why location is important. I also suggest carrying a baseball bat into any doctor's office where the conversation will include Prostate Cancer, because they will try to get you on the operating table, particularly here in the Philippines. When I looked into the eyes of the doctors I talked about prostate Cancer with i generally do not see compassion, I kept seeing seeing "" staring at me and a big smile on their faces. The worst was the one in Dumaguete who immediately want to operate on me, without any information but my comment that I have been diagnosed with prostate Cancer. Prostate Cancer is the Cancer that has built mansions for doctors.

I take it seriously (my brother died from it, my dad had it when he died at 92 years old) but I would not further risk my life here in the Philippines by having it operated on prematurely, by anyone that I did not have the highest confidence in the medical ability. First and foremost after you heart has returned to a normal pumping process after hearing you have prostate cancer is to determine what type you really have and location. There are many types and they are definitely not the same. Yes, people die from it, as my brother did, but monitoring it and getting second opinions is as important as stopping an unqualified doctor cutting on you, because of emotional panic.. DO NOT PANIC.. We can pretty much agree that medical procedures, particularly in Dumaguete and the Philippines in general can be risky, so do not increase your medical health risks by being operated on too early, or with un-qualified medical programs.

Anyone interested in more information please feel free to PM me here. Prostate cancer is no more of an immediate death sentence than eating those high cloestral eggs we have warned about for year until recently.

PS: Just to put thing into perspective, after being diagnosed I applied for a life insurance policy of half million dollars that will extend to when I am 85 years old, currently I am 43, opps that was a keybroad blunder , I mean going on 70. . I was approved for insurance. They had my medical records in making their judgement to insure me, and risk their money. I do not think insurance companies take unfounded chances or risks. I trust the insurance companies educated guess on my survival rate to be better than most doctors that want instant income through operations. So again stay calm and talk to your local insurance bookie.

PS2: I was told that if I had an operation, I may never get an erection again, may lose control of my bowels temporarily , and may have a hard time controlling my urine flow , thus requiring the wearing of diapers. I am a salesman in the past, but not that good of a salesman. I just could not figure out how I could make the pitch in Why Not to some young beauty that she should accompany me the the closest hotel. I could not figure out how to convince her that we would have a great time, even if did not get erection, while pissing and shitting all over the bed. If some good salesman here in Dumaguete can teach me how to make that sales pitch, maybe I will have an operation. In the meantime, I will enjoy life as I live it; knowing if I lose the battle my loved once will be well taken care of by the life insurance. (actually doctors told me those consequences, but a varying rates from 6% to 95% as possible outcomes depending on the size of their own personal house payment requirements).

PS3: PSA test are no longer bench mark test in the US. Protein levels in the Urine have much more reliability. From the internet:"
But PSA testing is problematic because it has low specificity, which generates high false positive rates and leads to unnecessary surgical and radiotherapy treatment.
A U.S. study published last year found that routine PSA prostate screening has resulted in more than one million American men being diagnosed with tumors who might otherwise have suffered no ill effects from them."

 

The Queen was the longest serving monarch in Britain ( 70 years )
She saw many changes both personal and in general, like many parents sometimes she was no doubt shamed by some of her children and disappointed by their behaviour.
However she was herself of empeccable charcter and behaviour,
RIP Queen Elizabeth 11.
John CH 8- v 7

 

Not being religious in any way, I will only wish him the best, I've been fighting the same illness for the last nine years, my thoughts are with him & his family at this time.

For all male members on this forum, please have your P.S.A. checked from time to time, especially when over 40 years old. I know it is not definitive, but it is one of the few indicators that could warn us in advance of possible problems.

Cost is around P1,950 per test in S.U.M.C., I don't know any other hospitals' charges, as I only use them.

 

May the Queen R.I.P. King Charles has a tough act to follow.

 

Seems like a few foreigners here are experiencing strokes recently. I will post my mistakes leading up to a stroke (in Sept. 9 yrs ago).
I stopped taking cholesterol meds when I got here.
I never got a health check up for years.
My cholesterol level went very high.
I had a lot of stress and anxiety an I let it bother me.
I was exercising at the gym regularly but very little aerobics.
I ignored the constant headaches in the back of my head.
I ignored the numbness in my left arm.
I ignored what was probably a short mini stroke (dizzy, almost fell down).
BOOM! My life changed forever. FUBAR.