Peter Kafka’s musing this week, looks at how invention and innvation can be a two-dged sword.
Please bear with me on these thoughts, because I don’t know where I am going but I think it important to consider. Yesterday my son and I went out to change the brake pads on my Toyota. I am the middle man in a three-generation tradition of shade tree mechanics. The notion is that “if it was put together by a human then it can be fixed by one”. I believe that many men carry the DIY gene, and women too. This notion changed a bit when our creations became super complex and computerized and we had to seek expert help in certain repairs that were beyond the scope of a You Tube video. But still the tradition carries on. The DIY gene has not mutated.
When it comes to the break down of the human body, or the interruption of certain natural cycles in the world at large this “Do It Yourself” gene springs into action. As a result, truly amazing achievements have been made in the field of medicine and science in recent years and there seems at times to be no end in sight. The notion is that if we “put our minds to it” we can fix anything. This is currently being played out with great intensity to find a vaccine for Covid-19.
I know my life has benefitted from the many advancements of science and medicine. I am not complaining. My life has been extended, like many millions for whatever purpose. But like many things, it is a two-edged sword. The extended life expectancy and health of human beings on this planet has been at the expense of many other life forms in the plant and animal kingdoms. This thought should give anyone great pause. Perhaps I should leave it there. Make of this paradox what you will.
Episode 3 of 3 in Your Prostate Cancer Questions Answered.
Talking honestly about one’s medical realities in the doctor’s office takes practice, but it is a crucial step to take. Tune in as experts discuss how transparent doctor-patient relationships can improve prostate cancer outcomes.
Join us for the final segment of our prostate cancer Answers Now series, streaming on Monday, November 16th at 10:30 am PT/1:30 pm ET. This event will be hosted by AnCan Founder Rick Davis and Peter Kafka, AnCan Prostate Cancer Moderator. They will speak with Dr. Atish Choudhury, Co-Director of the Prostate Cancer Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Center about the importance of open communication between patients and physicians. What are the best treatment options? What side effects may I experience? What will my quality of life be? Expect all of these answers and more.
Have any additional questions? Get them answered live! Send your questions ahead of the program to prostate@patientpower.info. If you are unable to register for the event, reach out to us at comments@patientpower.info.
Episode 2 of 3 in Your Prostate Cancer Questions Answered
In this edition of our prostate cancer Answers Now series, we’ll learn about the latest in testing and imaging for prostate cancer with hosts & AnCan Prostate Cancer Moderators, Len Sierra and Peter Kafka. They will be joined by Scott Tagawa, MD, Professor of Medicine and Urology at NewYork-Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City and David VanderWeele, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine. We invite your questions as we cover what PSMA PET and Next Generation Imaging can mean for patients at different points in their prostate cancer journey.
Join us for our live webinar on Wednesday, November 11th at 10 am PT/1:00 pm ET. Get your question answered live. Send your questions now to prostate@patientpower.info. If you are unable to register for the event, reach out to us at comments@patientpower.info.
Episode 1 of 3 in Your Prostate Cancer Questions Answered.
In 2018, patients with nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) were watching and waiting. Two years later there are three novel androgen receptor inhibitors available. But more options mean more questions for doctors and for patients. In this first installment of our prostate cancer Answers Now series, we’ll explore these emerging questions around who should use what when, and why. We will also zoom out to give an overview of the disease and current treatment options. This event will be hosted by AnCan Founder Rick Davis and Len Sierra, AnCan Prostate Cancer Moderator. Dr. Eleni Efstathiou from MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas and Dr. Tom Beer, Chair of Prostate Cancer Research at OSHU.
Join us for our live webinar on Wednesday, October 28th at 8 am PT/11:00 am ET. Get your question answered live. Send your questions ahead of the program to prostate@patientpower.info. If you are unable to register for the event, reach out to us at comments@patientpower.info.
8/19/20 John Fortin presentation to the AnCan Active Surveillance Support Group
John Fortin, Patient Liaison for the American Urology Association, spoke August 19 to the AnCan Active Surveillance Support Group about his personal experience as a patient seeking help with a rising PSA score.
As a healthcare actuary with a 40+ year career in healthcare data analytics, John discussed options with various specialists and did an extensive review of studies to consider treatment plans: Active Surveillance, whole-gland treatments, and focal treatment. Since there was a lack of credible, published focal studies, John even conducted and published his own online survey of 100 patients who had undergone focal treatment to analyze oncologic outcomes, functional outcomes, and patient satisfaction level.
He concluded that focal therapy was the way to go for him. He has fared well and reports no side effects. John discussed the myths and realities of Medicare coverage of the treatment. It takes work, but he said patients can obtain coverage. Medicare reimbursed him $16,000 for the treatment.
John is a new member of the board of Us TOO International.
