ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE: TRANSITIONING TO TREATMENT A CANDID CONVERSATION

We on the ASPI Board would love to hang out with you all on February 25 at noon EST with a presentation from three of us: Thrainn Torvaldsson, Joe Gallo, and our newest member, Govinda Ramakrishna, who, at different points during their Active Surveillance management protocols, needed to choose intervention and transition to treatment.

Each of us has gone through, and continues on, the prostate cancer journey with a different story. The latest estimate in the United States is that approximately 50% of men on AS need to transition for various reasons. Isn’t that the way with prostate cancer… it is a long, winding, and unpredictable road – a divergent experience for all of us. Every one of you has your own narrative.

You can read our own stories online, and we thought it would be compelling and informative to hear from those who have progressed. Many years ago, when many of us chose Active Surveillance, fear of a possible future finding of more aggressive cancer necessitating treatment with possible side effects gave us pause. The word on the street – and scientific studies – suggested high percentages of erectile dysfunction and incontinence once one chose intervention. Men are reluctant to speak of these issues. Our Board Members who have progressed have had challenges but have found ways to cope with and lessen their fears. Our intention for this hour or so is to speak freely of these issues – and other aspects of the transition to treatment – when we come together.

Save the date! We welcome you to join us on February 25 to hear several stories and participate in our regularly scheduled Q and A following. Our mission is to give you information to empower you to make informed choices during your shared decision-making process with your doctors. This program is a first – and we believe it is important to present and share it with you.