Comments on: Researchers Answer another Piece of the Prostate Cancer Puzzle

By: John Abert

John Abert — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:41:36 +0000

Tom,
With even minimal insurance, which I have because that’s what my employer offers, the cost of the MRI was in the same range as the cost of the biopsy. In fact, the cost of my last biopsy was nearly my life, since I suffered severe rectal bleeding for over 5 hours and lost 6 pints of blood.
As a prostate cancer survivor who has had his prostate frozen in a very invasive surgery — only to see it return –
I will never have another biopsy unless it is performed in a hospital with a recovery room provided for a blood infusion.
My urologist now agrees with my decision to wait until my PSA doubles — 1.4 — before deciding on another tack.
I am sold on the MRI, which also told my caregivers that my cancer had not spread to any other organs. That. at least. was comforting.

By: John

John — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:06:42 +0000

Tom,

You’re an idiot.
Do you think an MRI is really that much more expensive than a biopsy? I would estimate that there is less than a couple percent difference in costs between the two and would not be surprised if a biopsy costs more.
If there was no more research where would new treatments come from you to compare?
There are many ways that health costs could be contained. But, preventive care is not one of them.

By: Dave Williams

Dave Williams — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:26:25 +0000

I would believe that missing a diagnosis and spending the money to treat a un detected turmor that progresses will probably far outway the cost of the MRI.

Dave

By: vance brown

vance brown — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:13:21 +0000

my father suffered unknown to him for years & didn’t even know he had this cancer until it was too late to treat with any kind of effective method. prostate cancer is the WORST thing that can happen to a man because there is no pain symptons that would alert someone of the promblem. however modern technology in medicine has made significant breakthroughs in the treatment of this cancer. tom i hope that you don’t have this problem! early detection is the most important thing you can do. i kind of agree with on the reseach issue, but the thing is that why waste taxpayers money on something that the pharmacutical industy wil try to sell you as “THE MAGIC BULLET CURE”. anyone’s best option is to have faith in god & let him decide what your lifespan will be. everybody should realize that we have a limited time on this earth! GOD BLESS YOU tom for at least having an concern about this issue! signing off brother & take care. vance brown hopes to see you in heaven!

By: George

George — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:37:13 +0000

Great idea, Tom—-then we can save more money which is far more important than saving lives!

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:19:07 +0000

This could mean that expensive MRI’s will be used instead of biopsies. The more research, the more do medical costs go up. They keep going up much faster than inflation. If this continues, in 50 years most of our federal budget will go to medical care, and our taxes will be sky high. Maybe we should outlaw all research except research to see if specific already existing treatments are better than others or than no treatment.