Re: Abandoned by the NHS !
From: J (leah_at_privacy.net)
Date: 01/25/05
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Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 02:41:14 -0500
Bob wrote:
> First of all I'd like to say "Thanks" for taking the time to read
> the events that I've gone through in the last few months.
>
> In May 2004 I was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of Prostate
> Cancer, and told that I could have as little as 8-9 months to live,
> March of 2005 seemed to be as far as I would get.
>
> I was 56 years old when I was diagnosed, married for 34 years, in
> decent health, or so I thought, until as a result of my yearly check up
> a routine blood test showed followed by a biopsy showed that I had a
> Gleason grade 7 {very aggressive} type of prostate cancer.
>
> I went through emotional Hell, this brought me to my knees, I was sure
> that my number was up, and I was worried sick about how my wife would
> cope without me, 34 years builds a very close bond.
>
> My GP spoke to me about the "options" including a couple of new
> ways to treat PCa, and off I went initially to Stepping Hills Hospital
> in Stockport to be treated by the HIFU {High Intensity Focused
> Ultrasound} machine they have there. After some 5-6 weeks of tests
> {remember my clock is running down fast}, I was told that I was too far
> gone for the HIFU to help me, check out the link below.
Bob,
Being from Ontario, you know (or should know) very well, that you don't go getting "out
of the system" treatments without first checking if they'll be covered by the system. If
they approve yours, they'd have to approve everyone else's and according to Dr. Walsh's
book "None of these procedures has been tested widely, or evaluated with long-term PSA
follow-up.". You were told that last May on the prostate cancer newsgroup.
As far as I know, in Ontario and most of Canada, one has to apply first to the health
insurance (OHIP) and prove that the "out of system" treatment is better than what is
currently available and/or the currently available treatment wouldn't be possible in a
particular situation. (in order to get reimbursed)
The long-term effectiveness of cryotherapy is unknown.
http://www.prostate-cancer.org.uk/learn/prostateCancer/treatment/cryotherapy.asp
Very little long-term data on effectiveness.<end quote>
So you had the choices of surgery, RRP, RT, brachytherapy. (the others seem to soldier
on through any difficulties, why would Bob think he couldn't?)
The treatment(s) you mention are considered experimental (see Current Research)
http://www.cancerbacup.org.uk/Cancertype/Prostate
I don't see how the NHS abandoned you at all.
J
PS There's at least one failed cryotherapy on the prostate cancer newsgroup.
- Next message: Tim Jackson: "Re: Treatment decisions: is speculating a good idea? (Ovarian v. Breast cancer treatment)"
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