Patients Explain: an interview on prostate conditions

Dr. Briers is Founder and General Director of Beta Ventures a publisher, congress organiser and business consulting firm providing information, journals, further training and services for clinical biologists and the diagnostic and medical industry.

In addition to his work at Beta Ventures, Erik is an active member of Wij OOK! a Belgian Advocacy group for men with prostate cancer, representative of Belgium to Europa Uomo. Wij Ook Belgium is a chapter of Us TOO International. Wij Ook Belgium's primary objectives are to support prostate cancer patients both on an individual basis and as a group. Wij Ook Belgium informs patients based on their own experience with the disease. As a group, we favour "quality of life" and not just survival, we strive for optimal quality of care and equal care for all men, not only men in Belgium.

Upon his 50th birthday, during a medical check-up Erik requested a Prostate Specific Antigen test (PSA). The test revealed elevated PSA levels and upon further tests, Erik was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2001. Following diagnosis, he underwent a radical prostatectomy at the Leuven University Hospital. Nerve damage resulted from the prostatectomy and complications during surgery. Surgery was successful, and Erik now has a PSA of zero and is living without having to undergo further treatment for the cancer (until now).

Erik began his career as a physics and chemistry instructor, holds a doctorate in Chemistry from the University of Leuven and is fluent in Dutch, French and English.

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• prostate
• cancer
• erik
• briers
• patients
• explain
• urology
• week