The phone rang last evening, it was my friend who, with his wife, visited one recent evening to talk about his slightly elevated PSA and a nodule detected during a DRE. An earlier post (see "A friend in need" posted Feb. 15) describes his fears, concerns, and my suggestion he had nothing to fear before the biopsy...and, once known, we would decide what to do with the results.
With a smile that could be heard through the phoneline, he began the conversation saying, “The biopsy came back and there is no cancer. The doctor thinks the nodule is probably just a calcium deposit.”
I congratulated him and told him how happy, and relieved, I felt for him.
Were the PSA test and DRE unnecessary? After all, had neither test been done, no biopsy would have been ordered, no fear would have surfaced, and no medical bill would have been generated.
On the other hand, had the biopsy findings been more ominous, the problem could have been addressed immediately if treatment was his wish.
From our conversation, the assurance of no cancer made the biopsy, concerns, and cost well worthwhile. Did doctors make a few bucks? Yep, but what is the price of peace of mind?
Is the debate only about whether doctors made money? I hate to think that's the first thought when a doc finds a lump.
ReplyDeleteJeanne...The debate over testing frequently comes down to the doubters insisting tests (and subsequent treatments) are needlessly lining Urologists', Radiologists', and Surgeons' pockets. So, for some, yes...it's a first thought.
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