Short Cuts...A Health Hazard

By Dennis E. Golden

3 min read

A lot of men struggle when it comes to issues below the beltline, and the main struggle often centers on what choices should be made. Do I stay silent? Do I make an appointment with an MD? If so, which one? While we all make countless decisions, choices every day, most of them like deciding what we want for lunch are or very mundane. And then there are the “others” who need a different approach as they can have a significant impact on our lives and health.

Decision making becomes more difficult as we age

If you're in a situation where due to time commitments and other obligations you are routinely making quick decisions without a lot of thought, it can be very easy to brush over an important issue like prostate health. While decision-making for many becomes more difficult as we age, it is typically the problems with multiple options and potential answers that prove to be the most challenging.

Making decisions based on reality

The good news is that as we age, not all decisions are difficult. Why? Because along with our advancing years comes the benefits of history and experience. Both "gifts" in many ways allow us to take some shortcuts in our decision process. For example, if you've taken a cruise to the Bahamas in the past, it would not be difficult for you to decide on taking a cruise to Alaska or elsewhere. Your brain says this event is different, but at the same time, it is familiar, so it is ok to go full speed ahead down the fast lane. The challenge with using shortcuts arises when you make decisions based on history that does not apply to your new reality. The fact that you've not encountered prostate cancer in the past and are making decisions based on your previous health history is dangerous and not the best decision-making tool as you move forward.

Collecting basic information

I often deal with a lot of men and their partners who are facing prostate challenges. One of the first bits of advice I offer is to try and get as much BASIC information as possible about the topic – in short, get the big picture. Many men have no idea what's involved with the prostate or diseases of the prostate, or how to take the next step. By gathering some basic information, you begin to have more confidence as you look to make future decisions. The big danger here is that some men then choose to spend an inordinate amount of time trying to get more and more information and wind up with paralysis by analysis.

When you're making an important decision about your prostate and future health, spend some time thinking about the decision. Do not jump into a treatment protocol. With this disease, you have time to make decisions. With prostate cancer, unlike other cancers, take your time, don't rush it. Rather try to get as much information as possible while narrowing down the many treatment options you will have. If possible, try to narrow your options down to two.

Listing out the pros and cons

Most often, older adults can be overwhelmed when they face too many options in the decision-making process. An interesting trick if you find yourself stuck on trying to decide on one path vs. the other - my advice is to change roles. Stop and pretend for a few moments that you are trying to convince someone else to make the same kind of decision you are making.

In many ways, the above process is a variation of listing the positives and negatives in two columns on a piece of paper and then weighing one set of facts against the other. Final decisions when it comes to your health are never easy that said … examine the facts and information at hand and just know you made the right decision.

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The ProstateCancer.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

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Jim Early Moderator & Contributor
Dennis, I have talked about this in the past, but I facilitate a prostate cancer support group in Palm Springs. We have a roster of about 45 patients and 14-16 attend any given session both by zoom and in-person. When men who are newly diagnosed join they are often scared and anxious. What happens during these initial visits is fairly predictable. The group recounts their experiences and either shares how glad they were to fully research their cancer and take the time to make an informed decision or they recount their regret that they didn't take time and fully understand what their choices were and even how important second opinions can be. Frequently, the newly diagnosed only have a vague idea about the parameters of their diagnosis. They may have little understanding of the staging of their disease such as their Gleason score; and how staging effects the degree of urgency in treating their cancer. The desire to "get rid of the cancer" is a powerful emotion and allowing them to share their anxieties and hear the importance of time and information is often a great relief. Time and time again we hear new members express their gratitude for all the support and reassurance the group offers! Whenever possible, joining a support group can be a valuable first step for the newly diagnosed and even for those who simply need more support on their continuing journey.
Dennis E. Golden Moderator & Contributor
<inline-mention username="Jim Early" user-id="4566171"/> ... AGREE fully on finding and joining a support group. Our local hospital supported a face-to-face prostate cancer support group for over 10 years. In addition the hospital also offered a 2 hour pre-op seminar run by a nurse and also attended by 2 former patients who had undergone surgery. The amount of open communication in these environments was amazing. Now ... COVID came along and also a decision was made by the hospital that we could only meet via ZOOM --- While on line is somewhat effective in offering information I believe the benefits of face to face cannot be overstated. For reasons known to a "select few decision makers " we remain in a ZOOM environment. While something is certainly better than nothing if you can try to find a group that offers in person opportunities. Joining a group can be rewarding on so many levels when facing and living with PCa. Dennis(ProstateCancer.net TEAM)