Over the years terms, phrases and many other things change names and so does nomenclature of how we refer to the modernization or events of these terms. One of the most recent popular terms is ?The Bucket list? as a list of things to do before you die. Quite different from the concept that many of us grew up with. What was once a ?wish list? is now referred to as ?the bucket list.? Previously the term bucket referred to the ?trash can? and not the ?wish I want list.? I never gave it much thought until I met a 37 year old prostate cancer patient that came to see me with a diagnosis of prostate cancer and was interested in High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) treatment. I listened to him as he told his story of finding himself in a bucket list he did not want to be in. A list of genetics that had a long family history of prostate cancer. His bucket list was not one of things he wanted to do before he die. It was one he wanted to remove from his life and not die from? like the old fashion trash can: prostate cancer.
Familial history of medical problems play a role in the way we choose to live our life?s. The fear of prostate cancer based on genetic predisposition is like a pending alarm waiting to ring. My dialogue with my ?bucket list patient? was extremely revealing and an eye opener. He explained to me that he did not fear his diagnosis of prostate cancer, nor did he fear death from cancer. What he feared most was how his life would fare after treatment. He feared everything he knew from his relatives that had undergone surgery or radiation. He emphasized that if given the standard options for the treatment of prostate cancer versus doing nothing, he would risk doing nothing. But that was before he learned about High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU). Five years later after his HIFU treatment, ?The bucket patient? remains free of cancer and all body functions are working well. The evolution of HIFU as a treatment option for localized prostate cancer has gained global acceptance, and a light of faith for such patients that have their own definition of ?the bucket list.? Medical research supports HIFU as an alternative for localized prostate with less risk of potential side effects.
George M. Suarez, M.D. F.A.C.S.
Founder, Medical Director Emeritus
USHIFU, International HIFU
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