PSA Number Back - Moving the Wrong Way

Todd, thanks brother. Thats' all any of us can hope deep inside in these trying situations. I am a "facts" person, always have been, probably too pragmatic at times, so I have a hard time of not faking myself out in a situation. Fortunately, all my medical team has consisted of straight shooters right from day one, and I appreciate that.

I still am reeling from your news, as I know you have been putting up an "h' of a fight from the start. I can't even begin to imagine your own situation, othen than to say, if you are like me, you try to fight it and live it one day at the time. I am most sorry that you are still so young. You are about the age that I was fighting for all I was worth with my prior cancer, non-PC related. The big difference, there was no support network, no web help, no local groups, etc, not when at the time, I was one of only 38 known cases ever in US medical history. In the 10 years since then, my case is now been reduced to one of six known cases. At least with PC, its common enough to have so much info and support related to it, for that I am grateful.

I wish you only the very best, as you get into the next phase of your war. I can only assure you, that myself included, all the brethren, and our dear sisters too, are behind you 100% of the way.

David in SC

offpsa,

no, there is no connections between any PSA readings of mine and the blockages/stricture issues that I have been fighting. Not apples to apples. Those problems are more mechancial with my body, a combo of the original surgical problems made worse by salvage radiation.

kerry, thank you very much for your kindness

6071, looks like you are still doing great, I am happy for you, hope you keep on keeping on.

Todd, I know you are scared, and I know you are sad. I am feeling both things toward you. I haven't been able to get life insurance for over 10 years because of cancers. I haven't worked in over 2 years now, and still unable to. What my wife and I have been doing, is paying down and off of any debts we can. I am fortunate in that she is a skilled nurse, and makes as much money as I was when I was working. I hate all the financial burden being on her, instead of me like it was for decades before. I am trying to make sure that she will be able to be self-supportive financially if I were to ultimately pass from this disease. That's all I can do right now, so, to the best of my abilities, I have become her full time house servant, I try my best to do all housework, cleaning, laundry, most cooking, shopping, etc, so that when my poor wife gets home from her 10-12 hour shifts, she doesn't have to do any thing but rest and enjoy being home. Makes me feel of value too. To her at least.

Sounds like you are doing the best you can too with what you have to work with. You got my e-mail here, I would consent to talk to you by phone if you think that would help. I talk to a handful of the brothers here on a regular basis.

My own personal fear, is not that of dying, I am pragmatic about that part, we all have to die one day, some day, of something, whether it be PC or a heart attack or getting hit by lightning. I just worry about my wife and family too, because we are all close knit.

I feel your hurt, brother, I really do, and it slays me that I am not in any kind of position to directly help you in some meaningful way. We are already brothers of the PC, and friends too. I will watch out for you, you watch out for me, and we will keep this fighting spirit going.

May some peace come to your heart.

David in SC

Todd, nothing wrong with being an LPN, in my area, a well seasoned with good credential LPN can make as much as an RN. Just a phone call away, brother. You can vent and/or share your fears and worries anytime with me.

Thank you, Billy, for your words and advice. Can't afford to do monthly tests, insurance wouldn't cover it, no cheap way to do it here, and I insist that all my tests have been done by the same lab. By some accounts, .05 is considered a true detectable ammount, such as my very first Post-surgery PSA, was a .05, then it quickly started moving up. If this .06 is true, then I would expect it to increase by November. According to my current Radiation Oncologist, there should only be decreases to a leveling off number, she said there should be no increases at all, no matter how small. So post SRT, I had two lowering numbers, and now on paper, a 50% increase, November's reading will be interesting. Of course, it could be a blip, or something else, but again, with my velocity issues pre- and post-, its more likely an increase in the beginning stages. If its not, I will be pleasantly surprised. I see my uro/surgeon in a week, I will see what he thinks of this new number, but we will mostly be talking about the urinary diversion surgery, I have over 25 questions so far I need answered properly before moving ahead.

There is no such low cost means here to do that, zufus.

That was an easy one to solve. My PCP, took one look in my left ear, said it was 100% blocked. Sent in a nurse, she puts some fizzy drops in the ear, and left. A few mins later, she had a large metal syringe and kept filling it with plain warm water, and douched it out. First 3 times, nothing came out, on the 4th, she saw the nugget, and removed it. This was followed by one more washing out. The dr. came back in, took one look again, and declared it clear, and looked at the other ear and saw no problem. My hearing was restored instantly at that point.

With all I have been through, it was nice to see something easy to fix on the medical front.

gibson,

no its not. and yes, that was a real option for awhile being considered, an actual reconstruction of the entire bladder neck and bladderneck/urehtra connection. it would have involved an advance reconstructive surgery, and probably would have been performed by one of the experts at Duke.

had this been done before i went through SRT, it might have happened. there was/is so much damage in that area from the SRT, that the experts don't want to risk the op or even attempt it, as they said the radiation damage changed the playing fieled, and that the odds were terrible for the op being successful, and that at best, i would be fully incontinent for life.

for me, radiaition changed my life for good, for a second time, and not in a good way. because of the damage, my options to alleviate the suffering are really limited

thanks for suggesting though

david in sc

pk5,

thanks too, that option has been disucssed here before, and while my dr doesnt object to its use for some matters, he didnt feel if would be useful or effective for this situation.

Thank you so very much, Sephie, and your John. Despite the disapointment, I am a fact person, and I will wait till November and see if this rise is but a fluke, or a trend. Based on the PSA Velocity Theorists, it would more likely be a rise, but until I know, I am still in the zero club.

I must playfully correct you, I have no southern heart. lol. I am of Northern stock, and a proud d*** yankee and a Carpet Bagger of the highest order. I don't even eat sweet potatoes or catfish. General Sherman was a hero to me, and lifetime Red Sox, Patriot, and Celtics fan, how much more northerner could you get? lol. I live in the south, that's it.

Yes, Bro. Todd's story and current situation is heartbreaking