Prostate Cancer Author Strongly Supports Cancer Council of Australia

June 08, 2005 (PRLEAP.COM) Health News

The Cancer Council of Australia has shot down mass PSA screening in Australia saying the benefits of PSA screening are unproven (according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation).

“One of the major reasons that such organizations don’t back mass PSA screening for prostate cancer is that it’s questionable if screening does more good than harm,” says Dr. Bradley Hennenfent, author of the new book, “Surviving Prostate Cancer Without Surgery.”

ABC quoted a urologist who used the word “irrelevant” to describe the Cancer Council after it reinforced its anti-PSA screening position.

“The real heroes are the doctors at the Cancer Council of Australia such as Dr. Suzanne Steginga, who stick to hard science, and aren’t swayed by criticism from urologists who stand to make thousands of dollars for every prostate cancer operation they perform, whether men benefit or not,” says Dr. Hennenfent.

The radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer has been proven to be highly unsuccessful for prostate cancer in two randomized controlled studies. The first randomized controlled study (Iversen et al.) showed no benefit for prostate cancer surgery over placebo after 23 years of follow-up. The second randomized controlled study showed only a 5% benefit for men who underwent surgery after 10 years of follow-up.

“The odds of surgery extending overall survival are small, while the side effect rate of surgery is always 100 percent,” says Dr. Hennenfent.

All men are made sterile by prostate cancer surgery, all men suffer sexual dysfunction, most men suffer smaller penises, and many men suffer impotence, incontinence, and urinary strictures.

“Surviving Prostate Cancer Without Surgery” is all about treating prostate cancer while avoiding the harmful affects of surgery.

“My own view about PSA testing is men should control their own health care dollars and be able to get whatever tests they want with their money instead of having third parties take their money and take their health care decisions away from them,” says Dr. Hennenfent.

Dr. Hennenfent has seen five uncles suffer from prostate cancer and has seen them be treated by various methods. He co-founded the Prostatitis Foundation (www.Prostatitis.org), founded the Epididymitis Foundation (www.EpididymitisFoundation.org), and founded the Acoustic Neuroma Foundation (www.AcousticNeuromaFoundation.org). He previously published "The Prostatitis Syndromes."

"Surviving Prostate Cancer Without Surgery" can be found in fine bookstores everywhere. Biblio Distribution (800-462-6420) and Roseville Books/Rayve Productions (888-492-2665) distribute the book. It’s $19.95, a trade paperback, 334 pages, 34 chapters, ISBN Number: 0-9717454-1-2, and was published January 15, 2005. Twenty-seven illustrations and cartoons are included within the book, which also includes an extensive index.

Website: www.SurvivingProstateCancerWithoutSurgery.org.
Contact: Arnold@RosevilleBooks.com