Posted by SLS on October 23, 2012, at 19:30:13
In reply to Re: General healthchecks unlikely To Benefit Patients, posted by Hugh on October 23, 2012, at 18:32:12
Hi Hugh.
I'm sorry that you lost your father.
> My dad's annual PSA test, at the age of 77, led to a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Even though the cancer hadn't spread, and was very unlikely to kill him, his doctors treated it aggressively, with hormonal therapy and a course of what was supposed to be 42 radiation treatments. After 17 treatments, a stress test led to an immediate aortic valve replacement and double bypass. Two weeks after heart surgery, my dad resumed his radiation treatments. After an additional 17 treatments, he died of a cardiac arrest. He had been greatly weakened by his aggressive cancer treatment. His heart surgery weakened him further had caused him to development atrial fibrillation, a condition he'd never had before. I and the rest of my family believe that my dad's doctors treated him to death. If it hadn't been for routine screenings, there's a good chance he'd still be alive.
One might conclude that it wasn't the diagnostics that proved lethal, but rather, the treatment decisions that were made subsequently.
- Scott
Some see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.- George Bernard Shaw
poster:SLS
thread:1029529
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20121018/msgs/1029619.html