Of the 50,000 radical prostatectomies performed every year in the United States, more than 40,000 are unnecessary. That's the professional medical opinion of Dr. Mark Scholz, a coauthor, with Ralph H. Blum, of Invasion of the Prostate Snatchers, a new book about what they says is the lucrative and vast overtreatment of prostate cancer. Dana Jennings, a New York Times writer who has written brilliantly of his own struggle with prostate cancer, reports on the book's assertions in the Well column. The authors, one a cultural anthropologist who has lived with prostate cancer for 20 years without radical
treatment, and one an oncologist who has treated the disease
exclusively since 1995, argue that only about 1 in 7 men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer are at risk
for a serious form of the disease, and that the vast majority of men with prostate cancer would have lived just as
long without any operation at all. "Most," they say, "do not need to have their
sexuality cut out.â€Â
Health, fitness and lifestyle tips for people over 50 who still like to play hard
Saturday, May 31, 2025
Ralph H. Blum
Most medical treatments seem to be an unnecessary way for medical professionals and insurance companies to make money as well as for the federal government to spend money.
It seems odd that in the West, we remove rather than heal and the medications we adminsiter often have side effects that are as bad or worse then the original problem.
Most in the West seem to fear death to such an extent that will do anything to prolong their lives even if the same means loosing any quality of the same. Death with dignity is not that bad and, when God so destines, death comes to us all and nothing, not all of the medicines or surgeries, etc. will delay the same.
Sometimes, people spend so much time trying to avoid death that they forget to live life. We are often silly people, smile.
ma’a salaam
Cute name for a book, but one not likely to get a lot of respect in the medical community.
Philosophic discussions of eastern vs western medicine and how we choose to live and die are fine. We also need reliable scientific data and statistics so that, should prostate cancer be diagnosed, whatever approach one wishes
to take, the risks and benefits are well known.
I haven’t read this book yet and wonder if the conclusion presented here is well supported.
Hay William you missed spelled it! ( ma’a salaama ) Everybody talks about my spelling,so lets get it right! And put a smile on your face and make people wonder what you’ve been up to!By now,until next time ma’a salaama!
The author has lived with prostate cancer for 20 years, what about the men that have found out they have cancer and has passed away five years later, there are many situations like that.
you are correct robert.i had the surgery 13 yrs ago,cancer free today.i had cousin w/ phd in chemistery who believed in watched and see. he has been pushing daises for five years after a two yr watch and see.the impotency issue is only a smart part of the big pictuer.how about the physocological toll of knowing the enemy (big c) lyes within?? some famous genearlonce said ” i have met the enemy and i want him destroyed”.