Hi,
My husband is currently treated at UCSF, but we recently had a skye appointment with Dr. Scholz in Marina Del Ray. He suggested some different therapies and kind of treatment then has currently been suggested. Any ideas how to research which plan is better?
I would read all recent medical journal articles on each of the therapies suggested. (Dr. Scholz can probably provide you with some of them, particularly the ones he considers most salient.)
For those that have completed clinical trials, look at the corresponding page on clinicaltrials.gov — especially the third tab, labeled "Study Results".
Or you could mention what the therapies are in a forum like this one and ask people to help you with the research.
I'm pretty certain that if you consult 10 different doctors you'll get 10 different treatment recommendations and everyone has merit. Such is the state of prostate cancer today. There is no clear consensus . Go with the Doctor you have the most confidence in while keeping an eye on everything you read here or on other sites and always ask questions of your provider. Keep them on their toes. God bless.
I'm afraid that "Invasion of the Prostate Snatchers" by Ralph H. Blum and Dr. Mark Scholz, & his blog comments, has colored my view on Scholz. His view on urologists is that it is an historical anomaly that they treat PCa - akin to barbers still pulling teeth.
Well, he's perhaps brave to say what many oncologists probably think, but I get the impression that he has never recommends surgery. Maybe I'm wrong about that; maybe he's not as closed-minded as he appears.
-Patrick
I had my surgery 14 years ago, so that part isn't an issue for me now. I wanted to consult with a highly respected West Coast prostate cancer expert, especially 1 who is willing to think outside the box, to add to what my Kaiser med onc says (& to my past consults with a UCSF uro onc).
Mark Scholz repeatedly came up as the doctor to see, & I have an appointment with him for April 11. If & only if we finish with my stuff & my time isn't gone (highly unlikely, I'd guess), I'll ask if he ever recommends surgery. I am curious.
Neal
What recommendations? And where on the PCa "journey" is your husband at? I see Dr Turner ( Dr. Schultz's partner) end of April.
I'll second that notion. What stage, what gleason score? Makes a big difference if it is contained within the prostate or not.
Stage is iv with bone mets, Gleason 9 age is 47. I think the prostate should be removed to try and debulk. Dr. Scholz disagreed with the idea of removing the prostate.
May I ask re Skype appt: 1 what documents or forms u sent him ( fax or email)? 2 how much time were you allotted for call 3 what the cost was and any insurance taken 4 how long had
I for 1 would like to know what Dr Scholtz suggest. At my case having done every standard of care therapy, and on chemo now, I think Dr Scholtz knows a lot about current options in clinical trials and also it is perhaps my assumption he would be willing to think out of the box, and knows of other things to do. I am far to late for Surgery.
thanks
Dan
You know what ticks me off Dan, today they don't think twice about removing a guys prostate with lymph node involvement. They'll just take the nodes with it. And their cancer free. I say that and I don't want any backtalk from ItsB, if you get my drift. In hindsight I would have had the surgery, too many troubling side effects from ADT.
I wanted the surgery, if nothing else to de bulk the primary tumor where the most oldest most mutated cancer is, what is wrong with killing 3 million cancer cells in one surgery? Unfortunately I could not find anyone to do it 11 years ago. What are the bad side effects you have from adt?
It would be nice if insurance / Medicare covered HIFU. It would allow 'debulking' with much reduced risk of incontinence and impotence that often goes with surgical removal.
Dr. Myers Alternatives
Need another post Dr. Myers referral.
Just booked my husbands Mayo Dr. Visit
