October 2005...One in six men will hear his doctor pronounce the unforgettable words: prostate cancer. According to the nation’s top prostate cancer specialists, the first two questions are: Am I going to die? Will I lose my sexual functioning? Interestingly, just as often, the questions are asked in the reverse order of importance. The questions are simple, the answers complex. Increasingly, men and spouses launch into a proactive self-pursuit for facts. Their first source is the internet where a google search results in nearly 18 million hits. Clarity, to put it mildly, is not achieved.

John Hutchins, founder of PinnacleCare, the VIP healthcare advocacy firm, and a recognized leader in the field of healthcare advocacy, notes, "It is unfortunate that a disease, so prevalent and so widely discussed, is possibly the most misunderstood cancer in terms of treatment options. Men facing prostate cancer also face a thicket of contradictory medical information." Why such complexity? The key decision markers for prostate cancer are the aggressiveness of the cancer, the person’s age and the particularly subjective factor of attitude. For example, prostate cancer poses a tricky situation for younger men when the aggressiveness of the cancer cells may call for more drastic action, yet the desire for full sexual functioning is a higher priority.

On the other hand, Nuran Saydam, a PinnacleCare Advocate, saw a different attitude from a 48-year old member whose prostate cancer was caught early and did not register high in terms of aggressiveness, measured by his PSA rates and Gleeson Score. Because his father had prostate cancer and subsequently died of pancreatic cancer, the Member wanted to consider all treatment options now available – from radical open prostectomy to watchful waiting. The Member met with leading specialists for his chosen short list of approaches and eventually chose brachy therapy (radioactive seed placement). He is currently in excellent health and is confident that the treatment he chose was the right one for his personal health objectives.

Pulling all the information together is a tough job to handle without the aid of a professional healthcare advocate. The time and emotional toll is immense. However, many people must or prefer to do it on their own. So how can an individual crystallize the best possible treatment option for his personal circumstances? Ms. Saydam, recommends a decision path approach to determining the best course for each unique, personal set of circumstances.

Ten Pathstones to Your Best Treatment Decision

Choose a few reputable sources.
Don’t overdo your internet searches.
Determine your short list of approaches.
Look at all your options, from traditional and cutting edge, then cull.
Find the best specialists.
Judge based on experience, not proximity or a buddy’s recommendation.
Get second and third opinions.
Make the upfront investment to get the right decision for you.
Provide medical history.
Without updated records, your doctors will miss vital clues.
Pursue the earliest appointment.
Be polite, persistent and pull strings if you have them.
Confirm and confirm again.
Don’t let a snafu prevent you from seeing the doctor ASAP.
Prepare for the appointment.
Bring a notebook, an extra copy of medical records and an advocate.
Recap your discussion in writing.
Avoid confusion that can lead to misunderstandings and mistakes.
Decide and conquer.
Gather your allies, review your choices, and go get well.

For more information on healthcare advocacy, please visit www.PinnacleCare.com or call toll free 1.800.682.6002

Ten Pathstones to The Right Prostate Cancer Treatment for You

Choose a few reputable sources. Limit the time you spend on the internet. Trust a few reputable sources and resist the confusion of blogs and promotional sites. For prostate cancer, the Harvard Men’s Health Watch is excellent for information on the disease, and PinnacleCare’s Guide to Getting the Best Healthcare is the definitive step-by-step guide to self-advocacy ($9.95 www.PinnacleCare.com).
Determine your short list of approaches. Consider treatment options and make a short list of the approaches you think you would prefer. Approaches fall into four basic categories: watchful waiting, surgery, radiation therapy and hormone therapy. Under each category are many lesser-known specialties such as the use of robotics pioneered by the Glickman Urological Institute at the Cleveland Clinic. Brachy therapy and smart chemotherapy, increasingly popular options, are treatments every physician treating prostate cancer should feel comfortable and knowledgeable discussing with you.
Find the best specialists. Seek the best doctors in the field. Not the most convenient, not someone who happens to be friends with your golfing buddy. Certainly, start with your internist’s recommended oncologists but take it a step further. A good expansion point is www.usnews.com which lists the best hospitals and how specialties compare. Call the offices of these specialists to learn how many prostate cancer procedures they perform on annual basis.
Get second and third opinions. Pursue at least a second opinion and, preferably, a third from the best specialists in your preferred approaches.
Provide medical history. Gather all your medical records and send in advance to selected specialists. Your medical history contains clues that your physician must weigh to accurately present your best options. Confirm receipt of those records.
Pursue the earliest appointment. Persist to get the earliest possible appointments. Ask to be put on a waiting list, get help from any contacts you may have, and call frequently to see if an opening has occurred.
Confirm and confirm again. Confirm your appointments in writing, and confirm again by phone the week before the appointment. If a misunderstanding occurs, the best specialists seldom have wiggle room to squeeze you in, even if it is the mistake of their own office staff.
Prepare for the appointment. Bring a notebook, an extra copy of your medical records and an advocate. Notes Saydam, "If a service like PinnacleCare is not an option, choose a friend not on the basis of closeness but whose judgment you respect."
Recap your discussion in writing. Recap your notes, in writing, and send them to your advocate and then to each physician. At the time of the appointment, your doctor may speak in a medical shorthand you misunderstand. It is crucial to understand what you have heard and ensure that your priorities and concerns are understood.
Decide and conquer. Review each recommendation with your closest family member (spouse) and your chosen advocate. Consider asking these "allies" to communicate your decision and progress with interested family members. "After all," says Saydam, "your job is focusing on getting well.

For more information on healthcare advocacy, consult www.PinnacleCare.com for more information on membership, recommended literature, or a step-by-step detailed Guide to Getting the Best Healthcare.

PinnacleCare, a private healthcare advocacy organization, is dedicated to families and executives, connecting individuals to the finest, most advanced healthcare in the world, advising them on all personal healthcare issues, and managing their interactions with the medical system. PinnacleCare Members choose PinnacleCare to manage their family health issues so that they can focus on getting, staying and living well.