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100 Questions & Answers About Prostate Cancer
Questions & Answers About Prostate Cancer provides authoritative and practical answers to the most common questions asked by patients and their loved ones. Providing both doctor and patient perspectives, this easy-to-read book is a comprehensive guide to the basics of prostate cancer, risk factors and prevention, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and life after diagnosis. Written by Dr. Pamela Ellsworth, a prominent urologist and best-selling author, Questions & Answers About Prostate Cancer is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in learning what to expect after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.
- GenresNonfictionHealth
238 pages, Paperback
First published May 15, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 12, 2016
I don't know yet what to think. My doctor gave me this book today along with the news I was expecting, but did not really want to hear. That's life. It is what it is.......Michael
December 26, 2019
ReedIII Quick Review: (Fifth Edition read in 2019) Excellent, comprehensive, up to date information presented in a clear Q&A style. Easy to find and read specific areas of concern. Patients and supporters with this information make the best decisions and the most of all Doctor's meetings.
July 10, 2017
I read this older edition (2003) when someone gave me a copy. I am scheduled for a prostate biopsy.
I found a wealth of info, most of which is still probably relevant, although you should read the current edition. The material was organized around questions with answers that were as straight forward as possible given this is a complicated medical situation.
With this book as an intro, you should be able to go on to speak intelligently to your urologist, and pick up other more current material and be comfortable with the ideas and vocabulary.
I found a wealth of info, most of which is still probably relevant, although you should read the current edition. The material was organized around questions with answers that were as straight forward as possible given this is a complicated medical situation.
With this book as an intro, you should be able to go on to speak intelligently to your urologist, and pick up other more current material and be comfortable with the ideas and vocabulary.
January 19, 2019
This is an easy to read book that is well organized. You don't actually have to read the entire book as it is organized very logically: general information and diagnoses of prostate cancer; treatments; the aftermath. Additionally, it is written in a Q & A format, which allows you to focus on particular aspects of prospects of prostate cancer that might concern the reader.
I found it to be very helpful as it not only answered many questions I had, but also helped generate new ones.
I found it to be very helpful as it not only answered many questions I had, but also helped generate new ones.
October 6, 2016
Comprehensive and yet only about 200 pages (the text) this book gives a lot of information quickly.
Some of the information was hard to understand but for the most part it is written for the patient and/or interested family member.
Some of the information was hard to understand but for the most part it is written for the patient and/or interested family member.
March 7, 2014
It was very informative and helpful. It answered all the questions I had in a way that I would have asked about them.
January 26, 2015
I hope I don't have to read any more of these.
June 21, 2016
Informative
July 31, 2019
Like most of the other reviewers, we got this book when my husband got the news that he had prostate cancer. It is a definitive explanation of the disease.
July 15, 2026
“You have prostate cancer.” That’s four words that one in eight men will eventually hear. "100 Questions and Answers About Prostate Cancer" by Pamela Ellsworth, MD has a 4.17 out of 5 stars rating on GoodReads. And all the written reviews share a common theme. “My doctor gave me this book today along with the news I was expecting but did not really want to hear.” “When my husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer, the doctor gave us this book.” It’s not a book anyone hopes to get for Christmas, but it is very well written. I suspect every urologist has a stack of these at the ready.
My dad had prostate cancer at my age, so my diagnosis was neither a shock nor unexpected. My PCP had been monitoring my PSA for years. This past January, my prostate-specific antigen results measured 7 ng/mL. Generally, a PSA below 4 ng/mL is considered reassuring, although age and other factors matter. An increased PSA level could be the result of several things: having sex just before bloodwork, a long bike ride on a banana seat, or anything that could irritate one’s prostate. My January results warranted a second round of bloodwork – to rule out irritation from the banana seated bike that I don’t own. The second round was similarly high, so my PCP referred me to a urologist.
My first appointment with the urologist lasted five minutes and consisted of a handshake, a digital rectal exam (DRE), and an appointment to have an MRI. The DRE was "not the most pleasant experience," but considering the procedures to come, it was a day at the beach. I later learned that this sort of understatement has a name: litotes.
The MRI proceeded smoothly. After confirming that I was not claustrophobic and had no hidden body piercings, they hooked me up and slid me into a tube for 45 minutes. They piped in 70s music to drown out the persistent kerchunks offered by my sleeping quarters. I may have dozed off; I don’t recall. A couple weeks later, I met back up with the urologist who explained that the MRI revealed a couple of spots. One had a 75% chance of being cancerous, the other had a 50% chance. It was time to schedule a biopsy.
I had talked to friends who had their prostates biopsied. They all said the exact same thing. “It was not the most pleasant experience.” There it was again. I prepared for the worst. I had done some research on my own, so I had a good understanding of the procedure. Trust me when I say it was not the most pleasant experience; I wouldn’t even count it in the top 5. Then the doctor said it was vital for me to remain still during the procedure. No talking, coughing, laughing. I withheld an internal chuckle. The whole procedure lasted 5-6 minutes but felt like an hour. I had one day of discomfort and then I felt normal again.
A few weeks later, we have a video conference call with my urologist who says what so many of my friends and family have heard before. “You have cancer”. Oddly enough, hearing the words was easier than waiting for them. And the good news is we caught it early. Interestingly, the two spots identified by the MRI were benign, but some of the additional random samples they took revealed small amounts of cancer growing elsewhere within my prostate. He said I don’t need to rush into the next phase of the journey. I have options to consider. A week later, I received a package in the mail with no return address. It was “100 Questions and Answers About Prostate Cancer” by Pamela Ellsworth, MD.
I’ve read the book front to back. It contains many charts and statistics which occasionally make for dry reading. And it is easy to get lost in all the acronyms. But there are questions and answers that are specific to me and my journey, and that felt reassuring. It outlines all the treatment options along with the side effects. For many men, the idea of urinary incontinence and/or erectile dysfunction is almost as scary as the cancer diagnosis itself.
Personally, and emotionally, I feel great. I expect to take it easy this fall after surgery, but I hope to be back to 100% soon after and then get on with enjoying retirement.
I truly believe laughter is the best medicine. If this report convinces one friend to get their PSA checked, then I have done my job. As for Pamela Ellsworth’s book, it was a necessary read at this stage of my life. I just hope I never have to lend it to a friend. 5 stars.
My dad had prostate cancer at my age, so my diagnosis was neither a shock nor unexpected. My PCP had been monitoring my PSA for years. This past January, my prostate-specific antigen results measured 7 ng/mL. Generally, a PSA below 4 ng/mL is considered reassuring, although age and other factors matter. An increased PSA level could be the result of several things: having sex just before bloodwork, a long bike ride on a banana seat, or anything that could irritate one’s prostate. My January results warranted a second round of bloodwork – to rule out irritation from the banana seated bike that I don’t own. The second round was similarly high, so my PCP referred me to a urologist.
My first appointment with the urologist lasted five minutes and consisted of a handshake, a digital rectal exam (DRE), and an appointment to have an MRI. The DRE was "not the most pleasant experience," but considering the procedures to come, it was a day at the beach. I later learned that this sort of understatement has a name: litotes.
The MRI proceeded smoothly. After confirming that I was not claustrophobic and had no hidden body piercings, they hooked me up and slid me into a tube for 45 minutes. They piped in 70s music to drown out the persistent kerchunks offered by my sleeping quarters. I may have dozed off; I don’t recall. A couple weeks later, I met back up with the urologist who explained that the MRI revealed a couple of spots. One had a 75% chance of being cancerous, the other had a 50% chance. It was time to schedule a biopsy.
I had talked to friends who had their prostates biopsied. They all said the exact same thing. “It was not the most pleasant experience.” There it was again. I prepared for the worst. I had done some research on my own, so I had a good understanding of the procedure. Trust me when I say it was not the most pleasant experience; I wouldn’t even count it in the top 5. Then the doctor said it was vital for me to remain still during the procedure. No talking, coughing, laughing. I withheld an internal chuckle. The whole procedure lasted 5-6 minutes but felt like an hour. I had one day of discomfort and then I felt normal again.
A few weeks later, we have a video conference call with my urologist who says what so many of my friends and family have heard before. “You have cancer”. Oddly enough, hearing the words was easier than waiting for them. And the good news is we caught it early. Interestingly, the two spots identified by the MRI were benign, but some of the additional random samples they took revealed small amounts of cancer growing elsewhere within my prostate. He said I don’t need to rush into the next phase of the journey. I have options to consider. A week later, I received a package in the mail with no return address. It was “100 Questions and Answers About Prostate Cancer” by Pamela Ellsworth, MD.
I’ve read the book front to back. It contains many charts and statistics which occasionally make for dry reading. And it is easy to get lost in all the acronyms. But there are questions and answers that are specific to me and my journey, and that felt reassuring. It outlines all the treatment options along with the side effects. For many men, the idea of urinary incontinence and/or erectile dysfunction is almost as scary as the cancer diagnosis itself.
Personally, and emotionally, I feel great. I expect to take it easy this fall after surgery, but I hope to be back to 100% soon after and then get on with enjoying retirement.
I truly believe laughter is the best medicine. If this report convinces one friend to get their PSA checked, then I have done my job. As for Pamela Ellsworth’s book, it was a necessary read at this stage of my life. I just hope I never have to lend it to a friend. 5 stars.
June 20, 2017
When my husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer, the doctor gave us this book.
It gives somewhat explanations of some concerns. Others, I felt, when combined with information from the doctor, seemed perhaps contradictory.
Happily, the treatments (hormone therapy and radiation) were successful and my loved one moved into "watch" status. Unfortunately, after a few months, we discovered he had another cancer, not related to the prostate cancer, and this new one had already metastasized.
It gives somewhat explanations of some concerns. Others, I felt, when combined with information from the doctor, seemed perhaps contradictory.
Happily, the treatments (hormone therapy and radiation) were successful and my loved one moved into "watch" status. Unfortunately, after a few months, we discovered he had another cancer, not related to the prostate cancer, and this new one had already metastasized.
June 30, 2022
We got this book (the fifth edition) from the doctor when my husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I read through this so I can better understand the treatment options while talking with the doctor. I find it very informative and helpful, even though some questions don’t pertain to our particular case. It gives great info and is very straightforward and I like that I don’t have to read between the lines to get answers.
September 25, 2023
This is a well organized book that allows the reader to skip irrelevant parts and easily reference things that are helpful. Part seven, social effects of prostate cancer, was probably the most useful. There are also some good details in part one, the basics, despite the copyright date being a bit old at 2015. (review written in 2023)
October 29, 2022
This is a comprehensive book about prostate cancer, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. It was a bit overwhelming, but a good read.
December 3, 2024
This book was a great source of information and was an easy read. It really helped guide me through what to expect with my cancer and the various treatments available.
September 30, 2025
I read the latest edition which is 2018. Information is not up to date. A better reference book is Patrick Walsh's Surviving Prostate Cancer. 2.5
December 20, 2025
Informative and understandable textbook explaining prostate cancer, its diagnosis and treatments. Helpful for those suffering this affliction to make decisions for medical treatments.
January 25, 2023
My husbands urologist gave us this book when recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. However, after finishing this book, we found it to not line up with the cancer center treatment options, success rates or side effects rates/treatment options of the place he is going for treatment. It's already apparently out of date with the information and technology. In addition, it tends to lean heavily on prostatectomy when, while successful, comes with a higher rate of side effects and for most prostate cancers (obvi not all) is equal to less invasive techniques with way less after/side effects. We didn't find this book as helpful as we hoped overall. After the chapters explaining the ratings and groupings of prostate cancer and explaining the Gleason score, the rest of the book we could have easily skipped reading because all it really did was depress us and make us less hopeful and basically was like "you have prostate cancer, sorry, you're screwed, you are going to end up wearing a diaper and have ED" when that's not the case at all with the latest technologies in radiation treatments. It was definitely a downer and knowing what I know now, would have skipped reading it.
October 31, 2013
Information for patients and families about prostate cancer
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews