Michael Joyce produces multimedia for HealthNewsReview.org and tweets as @mlmjoyce
We have written dozens of stories and reviews on screening for prostate cancer. But once a man is diagnosed he is faced with a complicated — and often intimidating — menu of treatment choices.
As a health care journalist, Howard Wolinsky made it his business to understand these choices when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He chose no immediate treatment. More specifically, he chose an approach called “active surveillance,” which has gradually become more widely utilized by men with less aggressive disease.
Stories of men who choose active surveillance are not often told. Our news media commonly emphasize the experience of men who choose more aggressive treatment approaches. But that emphasis may reflect the incentives of commercial interests in our health care system rather than what is best for patients. That’s why we think it’s important to tell this story.
Besides Wolinsky, this podcast features Dr. Chris Warlick, a urologist who runs an active surveillance program at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Warlick and Mr. Wolinsky touch on several topics in this roughly 15-minute podcast including the basics regarding prostate cancer, our approach to cancer and risk in this country, the potential of truly shared decision making, what active surveillance is and is not, and the difference between active surveillance and watchful waiting. Howard also tells a compelling story of being asked to share his story with urologists at a cancer conference, and then almost going unheard.
More than one urologist has referred to Howard Wolinsky as a “poster child” for active surveillance. But he could also be seen as a role model. It’s inspiring to see how he has educated himself so he could take a more proactive, rather than passive role, in his own health care. Following his lead we offer the following resources for those of you who might want to dig deeper.
You can find all of our podcasts on this index page – 27 (so far) and counting…
Comments (1)
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E. Michael D. Scott
March 17, 2017 at 7:27 amWe are always pleased to see HNR covering the topic of prostate cancer. Thanks for helping to educate the media better about the increasing role of active surveillance in the management of the commonest form of cancer in men … and please click here to see our coverage of your coverage!
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