One of our regular commentators — Dr. John McHugh — has apparently developed an “app” that can be used by newly diagnosed men on their “smart phones” to help them evaluate their options after an initial diagnosis of prostate cancer.
For the massive investment of 99 cents you can download the ProstateMD app from the iTunes store. Additional information about the app can be found in this media release and on Dr. McHugh’s web blog.
Prior to full release, we understand that the content of the app was carefully peer-reviewed by Dr. McHugh’s world-renowned chocolate labrador, Penelope.
In an interview this morning, Penelope was kind enough to advise us as follows:
“Dad’s a really good guy and he practices what he preaches — but you do need to remember that he is a urologist. (He has to be able to pay for my daily upkeep somehow.)
“Anyway, as a urologist, he has been affected by his training and experience over the years and so some people might think that he over-emphasizes the value of surgery. On the other hand, he had surgery for his own prostate cancer, so at least he has some real experience of what he is talking about from both ends of the scalpel — so to speak.
“Gotta go now ‘cos we’re going out fishing today and I need a quick romp to warm up.”
Anyway, what this means is for those who are obsessed with their iPhones and Droids and who can read type that is vanishingly small, yes … “There IS an app” to help with prostate cancer decision-making.
Filed under: Diagnosis, Management, Risk
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Hi … The Pepster here …. Johnny boy said to tell you thanks for the shout out and that about this “urologist thing” you mentioned … that “He don’t have a dog in that fight.” He mentioned for your consideration comparing the reimbursement to the urologist of a patient having a prostatectomy vs. ongoing surveillance (i.e., Hopkins-recommended twice-a-year office visit with PSAs and once-a-year prostate biopsy) and see how the average urologist fares with each. (It might surprise you.) Wonder what Loma Linda gets for a course of proton therapy (not the radiation oncologist — Loma Linda), or the hospitals around the U.S. for radioactive seeds or 42 treatments of external beam radiation? I know those numbers … Do you? Are they biased in recommending radiation and should we forgive them for recommending a treatment that utilizes a machine they have spent so much money on to acquire and justify? (The saying, “He (urologist) who burns the midnight oil earns his way to fame. He that sells (hospitals, proton clinics, seed clinics) the midnight oil gets there just the same,” comes to mind.
Since my great grandfather had prostate cancer and was an experimental dog in Huggins’ epic paper on the sensitivity of prostate cancer to hormones this is of interest to me.
Anywho … the whole thing is “ruff” and we think the Sitemaster does an excellent job, does it daily, and is of immense value to all folks out there.
PS: Dogs get prostate cancer arond the age of 8 … and now I am getting concerned that the vet will not approve or recommend a PSA on my father. … Maybe I can learn to sniff his urine from time to time to see if there is prostate cancer? Is there a school for that?
Thanks for all you and yours do.
Chompepesie