Lions learn importance of shared medical decisions
Prostate Cancer International Executive Vice President Jan Manarite spoke to the Sanibel-Captiva Lions Club on the importance of shared medical decisions at the September dinner meeting.
“Be a part of decisions with your doctor and don’t be afraid to ask questions,” she said.
For more than 15 years, Manarite has been a calm voice to caregivers and patients trying to make sense of a prostate cancer diagnosis.
It was her experience over 13 years of searching for treatments for her late husband, Dominic, that gave rise to her calling as a patient advocate. In 2001, she started working for the Prostate Cancer Research Institute and today continues to spend time talking to patients and caregivers at the small non-profit.
“The first step in understanding more about your diagnosis is getting your medical records,” Manarite said. “They provide the foundation for your decisions and the more you know, the more empowered you become. And that leads to shared decision making with your doctor.”
Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. While it usually grows slowly and may not cause serious harm in the prostate gland, some types are aggressive and can spread quickly.
“You can always request a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test, but know that it is used as a measurement for risk not for diagnosing,” she said.
In addition to providing comfort and advise, Manarite organizes free patient conferences, like one scheduled on March 2 at Florida Gulf Coast University.
The Sanibel-Captiva Lions Club meets on the third Wednesday of the month at The Community House on Sanibel, with a different guest speaker. The meetings begin with cocktails and appetizers at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Visiting Lions and anyone interested in becoming a Lion are welcome.
For more information, visit online at sanibelcaptivalions.org.