In response to my latest EconLog post, “Competition Works, Even in Health Care,” August 17, 2024, a number of you commented or sent emails or Facebook messages expressing your concern. I appreciate all of you who did.
Yesterday, I got some pretty great news. Then biopsy had yielded 12 tissue samples. 10 showed no sign of cancer. 2 showed evidence of cancer but the Gleason score on each was 3 plus 3. That’s apparently what one hopes for from a Gleason score. The Gleason score, as you might guess, is named that famous comedian Jackie Gleason. No, seriously, it’s named after Dr. Donald Gleason.
By the way, I am not planning to make EconLog the place where I post about my health. I will do that only on my davidrhenderson Substack, “I Blog to Differ” and/or on my Facebook page. The only reason I mentioned my health on my Sunday post was to tell my competition story. So the only posts in the future where I talk about my health on EconLog will be ones in which there’s an economic component.
Thanks again for all the good wishes.
The accompany picture is of comedian, and noted medical researcher, Jackie Gleason.
READER COMMENTS
Dale Courtney
Aug 20 2024 at 7:53pm
This is great news!
Thanks for letting us know.
best,
Dale
David Henderson
Aug 20 2024 at 10:44pm
Thanks, Dale.
Andrea Mays
Aug 20 2024 at 11:08pm
I am glad to hear your good news!
V L Elliott
Aug 21 2024 at 7:56am
Me too!
David Henderson
Aug 21 2024 at 10:12am
Thanks, Andrea and V L.
veronique de rugy
Aug 21 2024 at 10:15am
Wonderful news, David.
David Henderson
Aug 21 2024 at 4:53pm
Thanks, Vero.
herb
Aug 21 2024 at 7:52pm
Glad to hear that is was only 3-3.
David Henderson
Aug 22 2024 at 12:48am
Thanks, Herb.
Joy Schwabach
Aug 23 2024 at 10:44am
David,
I’m so sorry to hear about this. Joel Furhman, MD, best-selling author who has had many PBS specials on health, has a Q&A on his website about this. His books, including his latest “Eat for Life” has been so helpful to me personally, for example, bringing down my cholesterol from 297 to 178. You might want to look up Dean Ornish’s reversal program too. Here’s a bit from Dr. Furhman’s website in the health concerns Q& A section:
Q.
Recently, after taking a routine blood test, my doctor informed me that my PSA was 13.4. Does this high PSA mean that I have prostate cancer? If so, does PSA determine what stage I am at? I went to see the urologist who informed me that I should do a biopsy and ultrasound. What would you advise as my next course of action?
A. On a global scale, testing and treating men with a PSA level like yours has not been shown to extend lifespan. There is no convincing evidence in the scientific literature that evaluating and treating prostate cancer is extending the healthy life expectancy of men. In other words, all the tests and treatments may be a big money-generating medical industry, but they do not prolong lifespan in men.
On an individual level, if I were you, I would follow a Nutritarian diet strictly (with a glass of green juice once a day) and follow up my PSA levels in 6 months to see how low I can get it to go. If it improves and does not keep rising, I would continue to only treat it nutritionally. The standard of care, however, is to get tested and treated if cancer is found, but I am less concerned with whether the biopsy shows prostate cancer or not, as I have even seen those reverse (as has Dr. Ornish). So, you have all the options, but it is still your decision. The option I am recommending here is often called “watchful waiting” by physicians.
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