March Tests

Bump,
It's still March, and we need some very positive test result posts, this has been a trying month for some members, especially Mel and Jim
Wings

celebrate life said...
....
The daffodils, poppies, lupins and tulips are beginning to bloom too

For some reason the "Dennis Moore" Monty Python sketch about lupins popped into mind.

Something to lift a heavy month here!

And, just for documentation here, as noted in other threads I've posted, my March PSA was up again to 0.7. Possibly an early harbinger of recurrence, though we'll check again in late May to see if the numbers continue straight up the log slope. (A May reading of 1.2-1.4 says yes, and scans will follow. A reading of 0.8 or less says PSADT >12 months, and no immediate follow up.)

A 3 month PSA doubling time is not what I was hoping to see! Maybe it will level off.

I'm transitioning my care from my former uro and RO to an MO due to recurrence after SRT. I'm declaring today's results good news. When I saw my RO in Feb my PSA was 0.53 - more than double my October PSA of 0.21. My result today was 0.64 - an increase to be sure, but nowhere close to another doubling.

MO wants me back for quarterly tests going forward. I will have another test in 3 weeks when I have appointments with my RO and uro, but will tell them that this is also farewell.

Wings of Eagles,
Thank you for the lead to get assistance. I have over the last three plus years burned through a bunch of coins dealing with the cancer. CTCA in Zion, IL and I believe that is the home base for them is wonderful. Every time we got picked up at midway airport for the 1 hour ride to Zion in a white stretch limo. Every staff member always reached out to help with everything. We were amazed. I have turned a few cancer folks on to them. I will pick up zytiga "samples" from my uro tomorrow with prescription for prednisone and of course my oxy. Love your attitude Just wondering where you at in Southern Cal? I lived in the "Valley" (Northridge) for a few years then bought in Simi Valley and loved it. Became a big Trojan fan. Docs nurse is working with manufacture to get me zytiga. You know if cant get them I am cool as the other side of the pillow. Heading back to veggian diet totally drop some weight and start walking big time under Carolina blue sky. But I will say I sure loved the weather and the atmosphere in So Cal. Going to grocery store late at night and seeing a bunch of actors was truly cool.

MO called me today with yesterday's PSA results (6 week + 2 day post op) of "undetectable." Meet with RO Monday, then RO and MO will present to 'the group' to formulate treatment plan.

Very impressed with the people and processes of MD Anderson, and feel very fortunate to be able to get these consultations.

Wilderness said...
Good month for me - PSA declined to .03 (from .06 late January). Has me wondering a bit about the lab. I'm full-on with diet and exercise endeavoring to delay secondary therapy, but don't really know the source of these gift months. I've been up to .06 twice now.

Best to everyone especially so many here working through very hard challenges.

Wilderness.

Yesterday, my URO was saying that it is debatable how much the machines can be trusted at these very low levels. He was claiming that the calibration of the machines can cause some variation in the results over time(they have their own machines and lab techs in office, I get the results by the time he gets in to see me). IOW, a change of .01 or maybe even slightly more, in either direction, could simply be a difference in the results of the calibration. I suppose the only thing that we should really be suspect of is if there is a steady trend in one direction over time. I doubt variations in calibration would account for that. With you dropping back to .03 from two .06s, it certainly makes one wonder which direction it is really going. I guess the answer is: "no one knows". So I'd just take it as good news as you appear to be doing.

In fact, as i look at your entire PSA history, I see you previously also had dropped back from a .02 to .01. It does indeed make one wonder if most of this is simply variations in the machine calibration or being to near the accuracy limits of the machine. A ng here added, a ng there taken away. nanogram = 1 billionth of a gram. 1 gram = app .035 oz . ( about 1/29th of an oz)

6 months post therapy in prostvac trial at NIH.

PSA has gone from 0.06 in October to 0.38 in January to 0.76 today.

Perspective. I am relieved it is only 0.76. Could have been 1.5 to 2.

Will get scans on next trip in June per trial protocols. Relatively asymptomatic for now. Except for a tumor in bladder neck that bleeds abit now and then.

Yes, but not today....
Rf

Redwing,
I adore Monty Python. We have the holy hand grenade rabbit that protects our holy grail. She's a beautiful lop, but after I feed her and close the door to her hutch, all heck breaks loose in there, and no on wants to go back in to see what in the world that rodent is up to!
Gary gat his PSA today and 14th round of mitaxantrone. PSA was up a bit to 669. His weight was 140.
We are going to Yosemite in a couple of weeks, God willing.
We need some beauty in our lives to remind us that every day is a gift.
Beth

Latest ultra sensitive test reports less than 0.02. Had Davinci surgery March 29th 2008 and pathology report indicated a positive margin about 1/2 inch. I was a gleason 6 with 4 in 12 cores positive at biopsy 10% to 30 % and PSA of 3.0 . Gleason 6 confirmed at surgery. I had always had the standard test at Quest labs until one report came back as 0.1, instead of less than 0.1. Since I have switched to the ultra sensitive reading have been less than 0.02.

Just wanted to give this input and give some feedback to those who have positive margins. This site has been very helpful to me over the years. The information form everyone is great and sooooo helpful. You get knowledgeable information from caring individuals that give you much needed direction and support.

Thank you to all and wishing everyone going through these daily concerns the very best.....