Does it ever get any easy ?

    Had my first six month PSA check last week [10 months post surgery] and I have to say I was sweating bullets a week or two before the exam. In a lot of ways it was harder than the first after surgery report and of course the nurse put me in the room where I had my biopsy, not the regular exam room, which had me thinking up all sorts of fun things.

    My question is does it get easier I mean I know I'm always going to be looking over my shoulders and so far I count myself as very lucky but as time hopefully goes by do you tend to handle it better?

   10 month .01                                               Thanks Guys  Tim

I get nervous a couple of days before the test results come in the mail. And I've got to tell you that opening that envolpe is a real issue for me. It has gotten a bit better over time.

Since there isn't a gosh darn thing I can do but deal with the results I don't sweat the small stuff.

Now you have me anxious. I will have my first PSA, since I completed my radiation, in March. I don't have a clue as to what to expect, so how will I know whether it is good or bad? I am hoping my PSA is less than half of my pretreatment PSA. I hope that is a realistic expectation.

Timm
For me, it is something I just don't think about or worry about. With your numbers, your chances of recurrance seem low. I have to say I go into the office fully expecting things to be fine - if it crosses my mind "what if..." I figure I'll deal with it when it happens. Till then, life is too short to sweat this stuff.
Paul

Try to take one thing at a time.

For example, right now I'm focusing on finishing this post.

Zen9

I have honestly passed the point of fearing any PSA test. When I decided to skip my last post-SRT test in November, so that I could enjoy the holiday season for the first time in 3 years, it completely changed my thinking.

According to my logic, I have used up both curative cards with open Surgery and SRT. The last indicator was that the PSA was rising again. I am 2 weeks out from having my PSA checked, and with a 6 month gap (the longest since I was dx) there is no telling what is going on. My doctors believe there will be a continual and noticable rise. I expect that myself.

It might sound odd, but I have no apprehension, worry, or fear about this upcoming test. I have used my cards, and whatever it will be, will be at this point forward (unless something new and amazing is discovered on the curative front).

I am fully resigned to accept whatever it is. Can't fully explain, but that is how I feel. I am calmer now, then in any of the many previous PSA test waiting periods.

To me, not saying anyone has to agree in the slightest, but with cancers in particular, you do what you can do, and the rest of it, you have to deal with whatever cards you are dealt in the bigger picture of things. If you keep trying to blame yourself or someone else (i.e. doctors, treatments, etc) or if you keep hoping on some magic cure or miracle, I think a person is setting themselves up for a big disapointment in the end.

For many, there are cures for their PC, and for others, there simply isn't. All the good eating, dieting, supplements, etc, exercise and wishful thinking isn't going to change what is meant to be. Again, not asking anyone to agree or disagree, just stating a personal opinion.

David in SC

Post Edited (Purgatory) : 2/8/2011 3:41:36 PM (GMT-7)

I'm with David, I am way past worrying about it, my PSA has risen from 0.5 to 0.7 in 3.5+ years, other than that, I can do all the things I did before the operation, I am seeing my Urologist today for a routine 6 month appointment, to give you an idea how I feel, I have damaged my medial meniscus in my knee, and may not be able to play lawn bowls for the rest of the season, NOW THAT IS A WORRY!!

Regards Mal.

JNF -- i'm more than five months past my last IGRT dose.  i had my last 3-month shot of lupron on sept 14.  i went to the uro for PSA results today....tho i could have called last week and gotten it.  my PSA was undetectable but my testosterone count is 6.  everything was pretty much as expected and i didn't really worry this time. 

ed

 

Timm we are human,after almost six years of 0.04 I still get nerves whe I call the doc

office for my result.

Thanks Ed, great info.

My oncologist says the PSA will be very low, perhaps 0.10. I will know in a month.

Hi Timm,

I have to say I am not a worried at all with waiting for test results

My Blood test was in Mid January and I met with the Uro just this week and got the results <.001. So far 4 for 4 of <.001's see you in 12 months was the Uro's parting words.

I figure there is nothing I can do to change it , its out of my hands, live life and deal with anything that comes up after it comes up