By-passing my November PSA test

While meeting with my uro Monday, he brought up the fact that my 4th post SRT PSA test was due in a couple of weeks.

I told him, I had thought long and hard about it, and talked it over with my wife.  I am skipping this one and will take the

next one in February, 2011.

I had a small uptick on my last one, may or may not be a fluke, or may be the start of evidence of SRT failure.  With my PSA

velocity history, that is what my uro is concerned about it.

My reasoning, and no denialism going on here.  I am in the middle of a long and difficult surgerical recovery period.  I am adjusting

to being an ostomy lifestyle, and all the holidays are before me.  The last two holiday seasons were wrapped either around my prostate surgey or radiation treatments.

If my PSA has risen, I simply don't want the knowledge of that to dampen my recovery or spoil my holidays.  And I told my good doctor,

that besides, I have used up my curative cards, so knowing now, if there is a rise, or waiting till then, doesn't really make any

difference in the big picture.  Perhaps I will be surprised with good news in February. 

It will simply have to wait till then.

I have enough on my plate right now, I feel.

David in SC

At this point we can only express our encouragement and hold you and your family in our prayers. Enjoy the holiday season.

thanks

as long as you can handle not knowing that sounds like a plan. good luck and get well ASAP!

ed

thanks guy

Life is to lived abundantly so any nudge you can give it is not only acceptable, but preferred.

Were it me, I might even lie to myself and say the uptick was a laboratory anomaly, which is indeed possible.

Enjoy your Holidays,

Dave

Good plan, heard to believe a few months wait will be of any consequence except to bolster your energy.... at any rate it'll be good news in Feb.

Our best,
Jake

I think that is an AWESOME move!. I dont say that lightly. I think that HAS to be a great move in the scope of your entire health, mental AND physical.

What could you POSSIBLY gain by stressing during - what could be - the most enjoyable time of your life? Really.

Before I was DXd, I use to tell folks "i'm going to live life while i'm alive".

Now I know what the hell I was talking about.

I hope you have an awsome holidays, and when it's over I hope you get even better news!

My specific prayers go to you tonight.

In my opinion ( for what it's worth) it's a pretty sensible approach David. One thing at a time. A bit of a delay is not really going to make much difference, so it's time to smell a few roses. A break over the holidays from all things medical would do wonders for your emotional well being as well as the family getting the ol' man back. Can't be anything other than good for all.
Bill

David,
I like your logic. If RT didn't cure you then why rush into HT.

I'm with you, Dave. You handle what you can handle.

DJ

thanks guys

edc - i have no plans to pursue HT if the SRT fails, the more I read, the more I don't like it, I dont think I would deal well with it,
and it would still be a stalling plan, not a cure, and more concerned ultimately about QOL issues.

exactly, jeff