I can still recall my inability to move a muscle for what seemed like an eternity after hearing my diagnosis. But another resource I am most thankful for was the availability of an abundance of information that helped me plan my own fight against this dreaded disease. This year in the United States, almost 180,000 men will be told that they have prostate cancer. After a diagnosis of prostate cancer, a man and his family face several choices regarding treatment.
Decisions involve many factors, personal as well as medical.
Before making these decisions, it a very important that he learns about all the options available. This booklet can help a man and his family understand what a diagnosis of prostate cancer means and what treatment choices are offered. It suggests questions to ask the doctor and identifies other resources for more information. To help you understand the meaning of the words you will hear used to describe your cancer, medical terms are printed in bold type and are explained in the Glossary section at the back of this booklet. With this knowledge, a newly diagnosed prostate cancer patient can participate more confidently with his doctor in planning his individual treatment.