"Will, the Cautionary Tale"

Most of you know that I had a serious health scare recently. I found out on August 7 that I did not have prostate cancer. I can assure you that my doctor believed I did, absolutely, and I believed it because he believed it. I did know there were also extenuating circumstances specific to me that he seemed unwillingly and uninterested in hearing about. It was all about the numbers to him. The numbers don’t lie. But in my case the numbers didn’t add up to cancer. I do not want to go through my case with point by point details but rather focus on the bigger message about how important trusting your own instincts are about you and your health and to always, always get second opinions if you believe the doctor’s diagnosis doesn’t seem quite right.

In fall 2001, I got a urinary tract infection. I am certain that is what I had and I went to my doctor for antibiotics but he told me, men don’t get UTI’s much at all and instead sent me home to drink cranberry juice. I left thinking, “I don't think he got this right” but I was raised to believe doctors know what’s best for you. If your doctor says drink cranberry juice you just go hone and drink cranberry juice. I didn’t get a second opinion; I didn’t get any antibiotics. 4 months later my PSA number (a number that indicates prostate health) had risen out of the normal range and I immediately went off to my first Urologist. He was a cool guy and told me that usually the number rises if you have prostatitis (think of tendinitis of the prostate). A biopsy and thorough examination of my whole system later he told me I had had a serious UTI that went untreated and had damaged my prostate.  In fact he said it was so bad it atrophied 2 smaller (less necessary) glands. I should have gotten a second opinion. I needed the antibiotics.

I eventually fought off the infection but not the lasting effects.

Over the next 10 years I have had (2 more urologists) an MRI, 2 more extensive biopsies and more scary days thinking I had cancer than you can shake a stick at. By my count I have been stabbed by a biopsy needle 56 times in total and had a metal tube shoved up over my prostate for the MRI. The diagnostic testing has caused more disruption to my prostate than my prostatitis. They have no idea how to prevent the prostate from being inflamed. There appears to be no cure. Some people get this and some do not. My latest round of scary days lasted 45 days since I had to wait my turn for the MRI, the biopsy and the results. My doctor (I call him Dr. Alarmist) was distinctly not comforting. I am a professional worrier so you can imagine what even 24 hours was like for me.

I asked my doctor if he would just take the damn gland out and he said no. They won’t take it out unless it has cancer. This EVEN though once you get past 60 the gland is relatively worthless to a man. Its only purpose is fertility. It controls erections but more importantly keeps sperm alive for 72 hours so you can procreate. If you don’t plan on having kids after 60 and you are the least bit creative a man doesn’t need it at all. Post 60, the prostate can cause you major distress, freak out Urologists, and maybe even kill you but you don’t need it and they won’t take it out. Go figure.

My point is this, had I gotten a second opinion, trusted me to know my body more that Dr. Strange- love, I would have gotten the antibiotics I needed and treated my urinary tract infection then. Chances are I would have been able to avoid all this unbelievable aggravation both to my prostate and my psyche.  Please, please get annual physicals and check out every area that could cause aggravation. Don’t let doctor’s scare the shit out of you, I did and it caused me a lot of sleepless nights. Above all else know you, if you think you have something (you see clear indicators like I did with the UTI) then get another opinion. 56 needle stabs later, and the equivalent of 14 weeks’ worth of sleepless, anxious nights I sure wish I had!!!