OMG it's that horrible PSA test time of the year again

Hi Guys,

Once again the fretting, no sleep, anxiety bug is showing its ugly head.  Last PSA test had a slight bump from the previous .01 to .021 which is still not too bad.  However, I can't stop this horrible anxiety each six months.  Kudos to those brave soles who have had major increases and proceded to more therapys.  I've have read your post and you help keep me going indeed.  I wish you could share a little of your courage with me, LOL.  My blood test is tomorrow and should have the results back in about 4 days.  I feel somewhat guilty even mentioning this when so many of you have been battling this PCa with such courage and dignity when the prognosis if often not that good.  I suppose at this point if the PSA jumps to .05 or above my focus should turn to SRT (depends on what the doc says of course)  or is there a pill out there that can lower PSA with being nuked and making you feel very miserable?  My brave friend Purg has had such a horrible ordeal after radiation therapy and it makes one quite fearful.  I hope that is the exception and not the rule.  He has endured so much. 

The interesting thing about the last two years:  incontinence is so much improved hardly need pads, even the sexual stuff is 75% better. 

Oh well, thanks everybody for listening to my nerve inspired thread.

Best of health to all.

I find out about mine today. Hope you're numbers are low Viper. hang in there!
Mike

Good luck, sure you will do well.

Don't understand how a PSA of .021 would cause anyone to be concerned or remotely worried.

You even mention a futuristic .05 (which obviously hasn't happened yet), even that wouldn't dictate a need to talk about SRT.

You would need at least 3 consecutive rises over .10 before those thoughts should be entertained.

At .02, you are only 20% of the way to being considered detectable.

Wish I had a way to make an anti-worry-about-ultra-sensitive-PSA-readings pill, and send them out free to all the men at HW awaiting tests. Life is far too short to worry about a reading change from .01 to .02 or even if it went to .05.

Not trying to make you feel bad, just trying to express, that you have nothing to worry about, so try to find ways not to. My last PSA in April was over 60.x, and I may have one next month that might show a rise to 80.x or higher, and I am not worried or fretting. Don't let those ultra sensitive tests get into you head and ruin your life.

David

Not really. For a guy who never worries, David you sure post a LOT. Choosing to IGNORE getting regular PSA readings is not the same as not worrying

Mel

Given my last tests and concommitant anxieties, I have no standing to tell anyone to relax. I need to do more of that myself. This last one was by far the worst ever but I've also been advised that the HT contributes to much of this!

Mel

Mel, you said:

Choosing to IGNORE getting regular PSA readings is not the same as not worrying

This is the first time in many, many months that I saw what you posted, and this is why I don't. That was a rude and callous remark to make.

For starters, I am not IGNORING getting regular PSA readings. Get that straight in your head. I am doing exactly what my oncologist has advised. He only sees the point of me getting tested once a year at this juncture of our WW. I am requesting a 2nd one next Month, just for my own curiosity. He does not need or want many more PSA points, said it will serve no purpose to him or to me. We are buying me time, with a greatly diminished QOL going on, and will not advise any further treatments until he's sees the first evidence of mets anywhere in my body. Will be doing another PET scan in February, and compare it to last years. He knows first hand, how much suffering I go through every day with severe non-stop pain, despite being on the level of strong pain meds. Plus, and I shouldn't have to repeat this after nearly 5 years, he is not of the early use of HT. He has strong views on this.

Different PC journey, different circumstances.

And second, the number of times I post should not be your concern. You don't read worry into my posts, even if I am posted about my own circumstances, I strictly am relating to whatever is going on at the moment with me.

There's a world of difference between needless worry (totally non-productive) and honest concern about a given situation. I don't worry about anything whatsoever in my life, just not me, not my style. Never did, never will. Just accept that there are people in the world like this (me), and people in the world like you (that worry all the time). That's what makes us difference.

And my PC journey is nothing like your PC journey, and they are being handled by good doctors that are looking out for each of us, in their own ways, in our best interest.

With this said, I will return to my former status with you.

David

Post was taken as it was intended. There are a lot of worry warts like myself out there and it's great to have someone present a different perspective. Reminds me of an old Seinfeld episode where George thought he had cancer and wanted the doc to say: "Get out of here it's nothing" "Don't worry about it" I guess we all have a little George in us, LOL.

I have a great Uro and I'm sure once the results are back I can have a serious discussion regarding the results (which I pray are good).

Thanks again.

Thanks, Viper, had a feeling you understood what I meant. None of us has an "easy" PC fight, each have our own battles, whether they be in the mind or body or both.

My single greatest concern right now in my life, is falling down and breaking a hip or leg. The way my hips the past two months just suddenly give out, already been too many close calls. Never broke a bone in my life, and now would not be a good time. Still seriously thinking about trying some kind of walker when I am out in public, pride or no pride. Getting to the point, that just my cane alone may not be enough to save me.

Looking for another great PSA result from you

David

Got my PSA results back today. Up a little (0.025 from 0.021) but I'm still in the safe zone. However it concerns me that each test seems to increase a little. I am going to try some of those snake oil remedies such as the Cayenne pepper stuff. There's actually some science that supports cancer benefits from this stuff. I'll never get over the anxiety of these test.

Thanks to all who listen to old man worry wart.

Hi viper,

Congrats, you are in the good range of "0"

All the best ...