The Dave Rietz Prostate Cancer Info Page

About This Page

This page will provide the reader with a realistic overview of Prostate Cancer (from my personal experience) and attempts to provide a bounty of information to make plotting a course of action... easier.

I have added this page to DORway because I am convinced that one or more of the many toxins in aspartame or conversion components from its breakdown played a significant role in my contracting prostate cancer.

I have provided a lot of personal detail with the main purpose of impressing everyone that no doctor is perfect. No doctor knows it all. No doctor can or should be placed on a pedestal as being above human fragilities. I trusted too much and I got burned. That affected my bodily functions for the rest of my life, drastically altered my role as husband and lover and wasted a lot of money. Doctors are all too human, and, after spending a great deal of time learning about the human body and diseases, they are all too ready to make money. Pumping the patient with expensive drugs does not earn that doctor a dime. Repeat business, does! Repeat business that requires more attention is better yet. As in any negotiation - Caveat Emtor! (Let the buyer beware).

What does it all really mean? It means take charge of the situation. It means learn all you can about the subject. It means learn all about current as well as "experimental" treatments. It means discuss the problem with doctors and patients, and then select the best options that work best for your situation. Do NOT rush into any course of action without getting all the facts! Surgery, by the way, is perhaps the WORST option! I read somewhere that 80 percent of those who elected surgery required radiation or other treatments at a later date (read a Jan. 2000 article on surgery).

Also please note: If you find any bad links, or you believe that some item is not correct, or you know of an item that should be noted... please do everyone a favor and notify me by e-mail.

About Prostate Cancer

Prostate Cancer. Those two words can strike fear and confusion into anyone personally involved, especially when the doctor is addressing you face-to-face! In all probability you are visiting this site because you, or someone important in your life may/does have prostate cancer.

A Death Sentence it is NOT! Rest assured that MOST prostate cancers are slow growing. And because prostate cancer is generally a slow-growing disease, many victims will die of other causes rather than from prostate cancer (especially so for those diagnosed when in their 60s). Should the one you are concerned about be a more virulent type, the physician should be knowledgeable enough to say so. Regardless, there is plenty of time to arrive at a well-informed and rational course of action. Important: There IS NO NEED TO PANIC and to rush into a course of action you will later regret! READ READ READ! Do the homework, get all the facts, discuss the options ... and then settle on the best course of action for the case that confronts you!

FIRST... slow the growth of your cancer. Do this by abandoning ALL cow's milk and dairy. The hormone IGF-1 in dairy is identical between cow's and humans... and you can think of it as "plug and play cancer fuel"! Read more about IGF-1 (and milk) at NOTMILK, and my own experience.

2003 Update: As of last year, all efforts to contain my prostate cancer have ceased to be effective. My PSA is rising again at an alarming rate and I am now on chemotherapy (Taxotere). For more info read a running log on my situation. Read this article on chemotherapy and other therapies.

Additionally, I have two files on Taxotere that may be of interest:
Taxotere 1 and Taxotere 2.

Think Positive!

What cancer cannot do! The many stages one can encounter.

Here are a few facts to keep in mind: (More info at: CoMed)

If a man lives long enough he WILL get prostate cancer.
Heredity plays a significant role, but it is NOT a given as to how soon it will happen.
Diet more than likely plays a greater role (meats products and fried foods with lots of fat increase the risk!)
Elevated levels of testosterone
There is growing evidence that having a vasectomy may increase the risk for getting prostate cancer.