Sometimes I just sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits

After sixteen years of blood draws, I have experienced both the anxiety and the nothing burger responses. My therapy is probably doing something physical, and it helps. Keep us posted.
Michael

Prato,
I have written here that my anxiety doesn't get jacked up until they have my blood in hand. After that I want the result NOW. My general blood tests come up surprisingly fast. The PSA not as fast -- it's probably an antibody assay. The fastest was 90 minutes, but usually about 2.5 hours and never more than 3 hours. A couple years ago a PSA test result didn't come after 4 hours or even 8 hours. Being a Friday I really did not want to wait until Monday or maybe even for my MO meeting on Tuesday to get the number. So, at 4:30 that afternoon I sent a portal message to the Oncology Nurse asking if there was a delay. Her answer, which came back shockingly fast, was the result can take 24 hours to post. It did, in fact, post in middle of the night while I slept. I ended up thinking about it afterwards and I decided it wasn't really that stressful after all, and the late result somehow reduced my stress for PSA tests going forward, all of which have come back in a timely manner as usual. Maybe the late result was due to a staff shortage or some similar delay.

The interesting thing is when I mentioned it to my MO the following Tuesday he looked puzzled and said all the PSA blood is held in batches and the tubes are then transported to the main hospital, which takes about 3 hours, before the assays are even started. And that the PSA results for his patients aren't sent to him until the next day. Hmm. Something isn't adding up. I had visions of rogue Techs giggling as they send fake PSA results to patients before the Techs even have the blood

Aye yi yi...the strange things that PSA anxiety does to our minds!!!

Well, good news. PSA undetectable. <.05.
Testosterone low at 264, although not far from baseline pre ADT which was 322.

I’m now 5 years post SRT . Think I’m going to one year testing , will speak with NP via video visit on Tuesday.

On another note, for some reason, there was an order in to do my lipids as well.

My total cholesterol is 75 and get this, my LDL is 6 (no typo, SIX). my LDL has always been low recently. It’s been in the 20s never this low. I suspect that it’s a result of my Florida cardiologist adding ZETIA to my existing prescription for Crestor.

Triglycerides down to 184 but still too high so I’ve got work to do.
Anyway, like everybody here is a big relief to see that undetectable result.

I’m going to celebrate tonight with a very unhealthy dinner LOL.

fiddlecanoe said...
Get tested less often and experience the test anxiety less often.

I've mulled over this theory a few times. I don't think it's necessarily bad advice. But come test time does an annual test have twice as much anxiety as 6 month tests? If that's true then the anxiety damage from two 6 months tests is exactly equal to that of one annual test? What about the increased anxiety between tests when you're wondering what the PSA is doing that whole year until the next test? So, probably not a good idea to go to two year tests. Maybe total anxiety is exactly the same. The anxiety for the test itself + that lingering in-between test anxiety = dead even regardless of test interval. I doubt it. There must be a sweet spot.

Maybe one of our math-heads can devise a formula. 🙂

Pratoman said...
I’m going to celebrate tonight with a very unhealthy dinner LOL.

That ALWAYS works for me.

Hey Pratoman,
Congratulations on your "Undetectable!" Looks like I get to consume another Zero bar
Ron aka:Boomer

Prato - I wrestle with the same decision. My current thought is while the anxiety may be high at PSA test time, the relief that one gets knowing that there are 12 months until the next one must be huge as well. Would you rather be "cured" for 6 months or 12 months? Not so sure I want to be told no more PSA testing since I will die before that causes serious problems although maybe that is a form of good news?

Thanks guys for all the good congrats and comments.

@fiddlecanoe, this is my thinking exactly? I’d rather experience the anxiety less often

@mattam, if I had twice the anxiety ad I have with more frequent testing, I think my brain would explode lol. I think I might be a little more anxious the first time just as I was this time because it was the first time I had gone nine months without a test. But after the first time, I think it would get a little bit easier, especially being so far out.

If I can get to 80 with undetectable, my plan is to stop testing. If anything happens after that, I’ll wait till I have symptoms by that time I’ll be 85 and they’ll treat me.

@Mumbo, I’m not really wrestling with this decision. I’ve made the decision. A year and a half ago my nurse practitioner, who I have my meetings with told me we could go to one year testing. I told her I wasn’t comfortable so I did six months then this time I did nine months now I’m ready for one year. Less anxious weeks the better.

That's great news, Pratoman!

After having my PSA assessed at the lab every four weeks, for almost a decade, I now have it assessed every 10 weeks.

I might have more PSA scores in my file than most fellows!

But, when I was first diagnosed, I was pursuing various treatments, and staying on top of PSA scores was essential.

Here's to your good news!

We all celebrate alongside you!

Handshake, fellowship, and congratulatory wishes ~

CYCLONE ~ # Iowa State University

Prato, that's wonderful news of course! Congrats! Once a year for you now should be fine. If you get nervous in between you can always throw in an extra.

Jim

This is what I experience every 6 months. I always tell myself that I should not complain if this is all. This is the minimum tribute we have to give for being cancer patients.

Met with the NP today, and it's official I'm going to one year.

We also discussed Hormone Replacement Therapy as my T is at the low end of normal at 264. I am going to discuss it with my cardiologist, wondering if it would help my coronary artery disease by raising testosterone. But I don't know, feels a little uncomfortable.

I know the science shows that its not harmful, and like the NP said, it might raise PSA if there is cancer there, but if there are no cancer cells in my body, it won't do any harm. She said after 5 years of being clean, it's doubtful that it would hurt me. Said if I decide to pursue it she would set me up with Dr Mulhall, at MSK, who is highly regarded in these issues. So we will see. Gotta sits and thinks.