An indispensable map through the medical minefield of prostate cancer,
revised and updated with the latest developments in treatment options.
Every year almost a quarter of a million confused and frightened
American men are tossed into a prostate cancer cauldron stirred by
salespeople representing a multibillion-dollar industry. Patients are
too often rushed into a radical prostatectomy, a major operation that
rarely prolongs life and more than half the time leaves them impotent.
Invasion of the Prostate Snatchers argues that close
monitoring--active surveillance rather than surgery or radiation--should
be the initial treatment approach for many men at the low- and
intermediate-risk stages.
In a unique collaboration, doctor and patient provide a wholly new
perspective on managing this disease. Ralph Blum's account of his
personal struggle, together with Dr. Mark Scholz's presentation of new
scientific advances, offers convincing evidence that this noninvasive
approach can be crucial in preventing tens of thousands of men from
being overtreated each year. This revised and updated second edition:
-Highlights the latest prostate cancer treatment options that preserve
erectile and urinary function while prolonging lifespan
-Establishes updated protocol for how to accurately interpret high
prostate-specific antigen (PSA) while avoiding the invasive, dangerous
random biopsy
-Recounts true patient stories that accurately represent the hurdles
today's patients face while navigating a prostate cancer diagnosis
-Introduces the latest evidence in the radiation vs. radical
prostatectomy debate
-Presents the latest thinking on diet and exercise for men with prostate
cancer
