PSA Today
Steve Kramer
We are often asked, in private, at meetings, and on this forum, about our
apprehensions with regard to PSA tests. I have answered variously since my
outlook has changed over the years. I thought about the 'next test' often
in 2002 and 2003, was somewhat apprehensive going through later years, and
almost not at all in recent years.
But, at 4:52 this morning, I woke up with a start, remembering that today I
will get my script for a blood pool that I will likely get tomorrow and find
the results Friday or Monday. And, I could not get back to sleep.
I find that odd considering I haven't had a PSA problem in almost four
years. Though, I know, one day....
PSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46
Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c
RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins
PSA <.1 <.1 <.1 .27 .37 .75 PSAD 0.19 years
EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47
PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 PSAD 0.56 years
Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 and every 4 months there after
PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145 PSAD 1.40 years
Casodex added daily 07/06
PSA undetectable since. Next Assay 02/02/10
Illegitimati non carborundum
jloomis
I had my test in Aug. as per Dr. request @ Stanford.
Well, I have a different Dr. here in the small town where I live.
He asked about prostate test and digital test.
I told him I do not have a prostate and a digital test is not done.
He requested at the last visit I get a blood draw for a PSA test. I told
him I had one in Aug. but obliged and the following day had it done.
I never heard the results............this was over a month ago.
Anyway.......life moves ahead.
Wish you all the best.
john
"Steve Kramer" <skr...@cinci.rr.com> wrote in message
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Bob Caron
Bob Caron
"Steve Kramer" <skr...@cinci.rr.com> wrote in message
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chazjac
--charlie
Gourd Dancer
a favorite song from 1967"
When I think of all the worries people seem to find
And how they're in a hurry to complicate their mind
By chasing after money and dreams that can't come true
I'm glad that we are different, we've better things to do
May others plan their future, I'm busy lovin' you (1-2-3-4)
Sha-la-la-la-la-la, live for today
Sha-la-la-la-la-la, live for today
And don't worry 'bout tomorrow, hey, hey, hey
Sha-la-la-la-la-la, live for today
Live for today
We were never meant to worry the way that people do
And I don't need to hurry as long as I'm with you
We'll take it nice and easy and use my simple plan
You'll be my lovin' woman, I'll be your lovin' man
We'll take the most from living, have pleasure while we can (2-3-4)
Sha-la-la-la-la-la, live for today
Sha-la-la-la-la-la, live for today
And don't worry 'bout tomorrow, hey, hey, hey
Sha-la-la-la-la-la, live for today
Live for today
Take care of your Grandkids, my Friend.
Gourd Dancer
"Steve Kramer" <skr...@cinci.rr.com> wrote in message
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Steve Kramer
UPDATE: I was given the wrong date. My appointment is today. And, I slept
like a baby for 9� hours. Go figger.
"Gourd Dancer" <fa...@gmail.com> wrote in message
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Colophony
Colophony
"Steve Kramer" <skr...@cinci.rr.com> ha scritto nel messaggio
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Alan Meyer
> -- skramer remarks
>
> We are often asked, in private, at meetings, and on this forum, about our
> apprehensions with regard to PSA tests. I have answered variously since my
> outlook has changed over the years. I thought about the 'next test' often
> in 2002 and 2003, was somewhat apprehensive going through later years, and
> almost not at all in recent years.
>
> But, at 4:52 this morning, I woke up with a start, remembering that today I
> will get my script for a blood pool that I will likely get tomorrow and find
> the results Friday or Monday. And, I could not get back to sleep.
>
> I find that odd considering I haven't had a PSA problem in almost four
> years. Though, I know, one day....
It seems that certain battles that we fight have to be fought
again and again. We think we've conquered depression or anxiety
and we have. But then it crops up again and we have to conquer
it all over again.
However, one thing I think we can conclude from our experience is
that each time we win the battle we get a little stronger for the
next fight.
Good luck with the test.
Alan
Vince
> -- skramer remarks
>
> We are often asked, in private, at meetings, and on this forum, about
> our apprehensions with regard to PSA tests. I have answered variously
> since my outlook has changed over the years. I thought about the 'next
> test' often in 2002 and 2003, was somewhat apprehensive going through
> later years, and almost not at all in recent years.
>
> But, at 4:52 this morning, I woke up with a start, remembering that
> today I will get my script for a blood pool that I will likely get
> tomorrow and find the results Friday or Monday. And, I could not get
> back to sleep.
>
> I find that odd considering I haven't had a PSA problem in almost four
> years. Though, I know, one day....
>
>
Steve,
Guess it's just me, but I've never really had any apprehension with my
PSA testing. Since I had testicular cancer way back in 1978, I faced the
fact that life can be short at a young age. And since then, I've just
lived for the moment. One day at a time.
So far I've beat testicular cancer and prostate cancer, so I'm not going
to let a PSA test get me excited.
Vince
--
PSA 4.73 07/2000 @ 48
Biopsy 07/2000 G7 (3+4)
RRP 09/2000 @ 49 G7 (3+4), T2b Neg margins
PSA < 0.1 for 14 months post op
PSA .8 .8 .6 .8 04/2008 thru 12/2008
IMRT 02/2009 - 04/2009, 38 treatments, 60.8 Gy total
PSA .02 05/18/09
PSA .01 09/22/09
PSA <0.008 01/25/10
Steve Kramer
news:hkiq6d$1c1$2...@news.eternal-september.org...
> On Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:15:35 -0500, Steve Kramer wrote:
>
>> -- skramer remarks
>>
>> today I will get my script for a blood pool that I will likely get
>> tomorrow and find the results Friday or Monday. And, I could not get
>> back to sleep.
>>
>
> Guess it's just me, but I've never really had any apprehension with my
> PSA testing. Since I had testicular cancer way back in 1978, I faced the
> fact that life can be short at a young age. And since then, I've just
> lived for the moment. One day at a time.
-- skramer remarks
I'm not exactly a day at a time kind a guy, but I think the apprehension
(this time) was a short-termed issue. I went to the doctor that day and was
told my appointment was two days later. I got my script on Thursday and had
my blood pulled yesterday.
I get my PSA tested every 8 months. Today, I'm looking forward to Tuesday
(or Wednesday) when I get that call that tells me that I have another 8
months to live.
PSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46
Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c
RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins
PSA <.1 <.1 <.1 .27 .37 .75 PSAD 0.19 years
EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47
PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 PSAD 0.56 years
Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 and every 4 months there after
PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145 PSAD 1.40 years
Casodex added daily 07/06
PSA undetectable since. Next Assay 02/04/10
Illegitimati non carborundum
El Woody
> "Vince" <cbxc...@nospam.aol.com> wrote in message
Funny - I had my blood test today. My GP asked if I had seen the
surgeon in the past year.When I answered"no" he upbraided me for not
following up. I said since my PSAs had been undetectable, what's the
worry? His answer was that I was putting the responsibility for cancer
follow up on him and not the surgeon and that he would not accept that
responsibility.
Thoughts? If all is good do I need to see the surgeon once a year?
Vince
I've found over the years that GPs, PCPs, family practitioners or what
ever they like to call themselves, vary greatly in both what they know
and what they will do. I currently have a PCP in the VA system who
thinks he knows it all and does not like to be corrected as I found out
when I pointed out a few things that he didn't know.
As to your question of followup, not knowing your history as to what type
of surgery you had, that again depends on the GP and surgeon you have.
It sounds like your GP is not comfortable taking over that part of your
care in regards to your surgery. I had a RRP and my surgeon handled all
follow up. Now I've had SRT 9 years out and my Radiation Oncologist is
seeing me every 6 months and my PCP is seeing me every 6 months and my
Uro is also seeing me every 6 months. Which makes it interesting when
they all want to do DRE's every visit. I told them once a year was
enough!
I'd just go to the surgeon for your checkups. It's important to get
them. I quit going for my checkups a year and a half or so after my RRP,
because all was good. Then about 6 years later when I finally went to
the doctor for another issue and he ran a PSA we found out that my PSA
had gone back up again during the years I did not get checkups. Better
to be safe than sorry.
Steve Kramer
news:42199891-76a9-48bb...@c5g2000vbh.googlegroups.com...
Funny - I had my blood test today. My GP asked if I had seen the
surgeon in the past year.When I answered"no" he upbraided me for not
following up. I said since my PSAs had been undetectable, what's the
worry? His answer was that I was putting the responsibility for cancer
follow up on him and not the surgeon and that he would not accept that
responsibility.
Thoughts? If all is good do I need to see the surgeon once a year?
-- skramer remarks
If you believe in DREs after surgery, then I guess there is a good reason to
get it done at your uro's office. GP's are not practiced at feeling
risidual cancer tissue.
Alan Meyer
> ...
> Funny - I had my blood test today. My GP asked if I had seen the
> surgeon in the past year.When I answered"no" he upbraided me for not
> following up. I said since my PSAs had been undetectable, what's the
> worry? His answer was that I was putting the responsibility for cancer
> follow up on him and not the surgeon and that he would not accept that
> responsibility.
>
> Thoughts? If all is good do I need to see the surgeon once a year?
Personally, I know of no reason to have any checkup other than
a regular PSA test. If the PSA goes up, the best guy to see will
probably not be the urologist anyway, but either a radiation or
medical oncologist.
Why pay the extra cost and make the extra visit to see the specialist?
I would tell the primary care physician that yu don't really need any
follow up from him, just a regular PSA test. If it shows something,
then you'll see a specialist.
My radiation oncologist told me there was a study of something like
860 patients, I think maybe they were all treated with radiation,
not surgery, I'm not sure. Not a single one showed anything on a
digital rectal exam unless they first had a rising PSA.
Alan