Trump fan struggles to cope at work Many options for prostate treatment
Dear fan.
I just started a new job. Every single TV at work is playing CNN.
I knew this coming in. However, now I have heard one teammate consistently speak up against Trump.
I have a hard time rebutting him, not because of any physical reaction, but because it could hinder my position within the company.
How should I handle this situation? — Peter
Dear Peter: First of all, unless you work in media, I don’t see why it is necessary to have any television on at work. But you don’t seem to object to the television itself; you just don’t want to watch the news.
Throughout time, people have been forced to suck it up and keep their opinions to themselves at work, if their views were in opposition to bosses or more powerful coworkers. You are now experiencing what it is like to be quiet on the outside, but pretty loud.
The workplace isn’t the place to discuss politics. Topics at work should be confined to work-related matters and benign personal interchanges.
According to my research, speech is not necessarily protected at private companies, so yes, your job could be in jeopardy if you express a political opinion that your boss or the business owner finds offensive, or merely disagrees with.
But — you knew all of going in.
The current political and media climate has fostered a level of personal discord that has infested many relationships.
At work, keep your political opinions to yourself; it is within your rights to benignly suggest that others do the same. I also think that the televisions should be turned off.
In fact, I would love it if all of the televisions — at the airport, in the dentist’s office or the tattoo parlor — were all either off, or turned to the gardening channel. Amy: I’m
aTrump
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Dear Dr Roach: I am a 79-year-old male who has been on tamsulosin for years, but it is not helping much. A recent CT scan showed my prostate at 6.2 cm transverse measurement. My urologist suggests taking Avodart to shrink it. However, I have read that this drug can cause an aggressive type of prostate cancer. I have noticed that you also favor prescribing those drugs. My question is, Why should take it if I’d have to give up my sexual relationship and end up dying from cancer? I am very sensitive to drugs. My urologist says that the aggressive cancer information is not true. — T.F.X.
I wouldn’t prescribe a drug if I really thought it would cause terrible side effects in many people and increase their risk of aggressive prostate cancer.
Let’s start with side effects. All drugs have the potential for side effects. Avodart and drugs like it block the form of testosterone that increases prostate size. The major side effects are sexual. They can cause a decreased libido, difficulty getting an erection and problems with ejaculation. In one study, the risk of developing any of these problems was only 5%. Newer studies suggest the risk is closer to 14%.
One study did suggest that aggressive prostate cancer might be more likely in those who take these testosterone blockers. However, critics identified a methodologic problem in the study, suggesting that the apparent increase in risk of aggressive prostate cancer was not real.
I still feel that these medications are a valuable part of therapy for men with symptomatic enlarged prostate. Men with intolerable sexual side effects should find a different option. In addition to medications, there are a wide variety of surgical and “semi-surgical” options, some of which have very low risk of sexual side effects.