InTheShop: "However, I've heard of others here who've had the laparoscopic procedure and have done well." Where did you hear of others who've had the laparoscopic hernia repair following radiation...
InTheShop "I did. No issues for me. They did an open procedure. My surgeon said that kept him as far away from the radiation site as possible while still being able to fix the hernia." It certainly...
Have any of you had inguinal hernia repair surgery AFTER having completed radiation treatment? If so, was it open OR laparoscopic surgery? I had a consultation with a surgeon at Mayo a week ago while...
While undergoing my IGRT at Mayo I consulted a surgeon there about having inguinal hernia surgery. He told me he had never operated on a man undergoing radiation treatment. Back in my home town I...
Am seeing my PCP next week so will ask for this prescription. Do I have the doctor write the prescription for Generic "Revatio" 20mg OR for Generic "Sildenafil" 20mg ? 142, Should I have the doctor...
Mel, Since you are at Mayo one of the things you should investigate is having the proton treatment done there. When I was there last year they said theirs will be completed in 2015. This will jive...
Good advice. Had mine before the start of IGRT. However now I am having a small rectal discharge of mucous. Just enough to be annoying and also soil my shorts. This no doubt is from the IGRT. Wonder...
Tall Allen said: "I'm barely exaggerating when I say that telephone conversations with a doctor belong to the last century. At most tertiary care centers, most communications with doctors are via...
Tall Allen said..."I hope your RO told you all this when he gave you your latest PSA. I hope you can improve your communications with him." I didn't travel to Mayo to get the PSA test. Mayo mails me...
Tall Allen says: "They discarded the old "3 in a row" definition of biochemical recurrence because they found it was not prognostic of clinical recurrence. The current definition is "nadir+2," so you...
InTheShop, Just got the PSA and am scheduled to see the doctor in July. Tony, Stopped the Proscar when I started the IGRT but continued the Casodex right up to the end of IGRT. What is the known...
Update in my signature....didn't have the date of my last PSA test for some reason. PhilC...
Break60, At Mayo I had the 6 months of ADT and radiation (IGRT) for high risk prostate cancer. But my RO said I did NOT need another shot of Lupron. Sure hope he was right but I just had my third...
Just had my third rise in a row after finishing IGRT radiation treatment. I remember a quote by John T saying that if you have 3 rises in a row you have a recurrence. Never known him to be wrong....
az4peaks explains, "Hi Phil, - Let me try to explain why it only needs to show a Free Testosterone on the order. A Free Testosterone test, is usually reported as a % of the Total Testosterone. It,...
142 (Forum Moderator) says: "As to the sig, 400 total characters (including spaces, punctuation) is the limit. I suggest that you keep yours in a text doc, where you can use the "properties" to see...
Tall Allen, Thanks for pointing that out. My Testosterone, Free came back at 11ng/dL. Would that be 'normal'? My Testosterone, Total increased to 521ng/dl. When I try to add this to my signature it...
LupronJim says: "I have this note in my spreadsheet, unfortunately cannot give due credit to the source since I did not cut and paste credits too PSA Free% 25 rarely associated with cancer This is...
Tall Allen says: "Sounds like an error - why not call them? Good advice as usual from you. Thanks They said they were actually doing BOTH the Testosterone, Free and the Testosterone, Total tests. But...
Just received my PSA Test Kit from Mayo. Under Test Ordered it has ONLY the Testosterone, Free test ordered and NOT the Testosterone, TOTAL. ALL of my pervious Testosterone Tests were for the...
John T, I agree with Gunfighter's post. You have helped me a great deal with your analysis on this and all other aspects dealing with prostate cancer. We are very fortunate to have you informing us....
The doctor I seen in the Division of Endocrinology at Mayo prescribed this for my osteoporosis: Calcium 600 + D3 and Vitamin D3 2,000IU Phil...
Old Sailor, You ask: "Did MEDICARE pay for the Choline C-11. MEDICARE would not pay for my F18 Pet scan at Mayo Jacksonville." The bill for the C-11 Choline Pet-CT scan was $7,200. I have Medicare A...
Tall Allen, What a relief to hear that the PSA has to be 2 points above the nadir value before I have a biochemical recurrence! So these 2 PSA increases are a result of the ADT getting out of my...
Just got the results of my third PSA test since finishing IMRT/IGRT in June of 2013. First PSA test in November, 2013 was .06. Second PSA test in January, 2014 was .54. And now my third PSA test just...
"It is not unusual to have someone with PC die of a stroke or heart disease or complications from diabetes or..." ___________________________________________________________ This is a direct result...
1. An important caveat is that the claims data is irrespective of the grade of toxicity, so a visit to the doctor for a problem that is resolved by a prescription for Flomax is counted the same as a...
GeetarMan said: "That's why I'm getting a 2nd and maybe 3rd opinion. Major surgery just seems ridiculous at this point. I have read quite a bit about over treatment of this disease. It's tough when a...
In his article he said, "Medical Oncologists: 1. Take leadership of a medical team comprised of medical doctors from various specialties" This isn't true at Mayo. When I was there I made an...
When I contacted them about having their proton treatment they refused to treat me because of my high PSA. So what high risk men DID they treat? Mayo will finish building their new proton treatment...
Redwing57 said: "It's a shame to lose the beauty of today worrying about the horror of tomorrow." AND Tall Allen said: "I'm with Redwing and Alfred E. Newman - what, me worry? I live in the present...
BOOGEE, I have Norton 360 also and haven't encountered any blocking. PhilC...
ksargent, I should have specified that the ADT ended when the radiation was finished. My fault/omission. PeterDisAbelard, See above reply to ksargent... sorry InTheShop, Very funny reply. I do not...
After finishing radiation treatment how long was it before you worried about your PSA increasing? Some say it may bounce. Some say it will take 1 to 2 years for the radiation's effect on PSA to have...
Tall Allen said... "Read it for yourself. It says "a rise by 2 ng/mL or more above the nadir PSA be considered the standard definition for biochemical failure after EBRT with or without HT." So for...
wOhll, You are about the same distance to Mayo in Rochester, Minnesota as I am. All you have to do is take I80 east to I35 and then take I35 north to I90 and you are there. All interstate highway....
Baptista, You said... "Your present “dirty” nadir (0.064 ng/ml) stands as valid, independently of the treatment (HT or RT or both) causing the effect." This is not what others have said. They said if...
JNF says: "I reached a nadir of <.10 90 days after my first Eligard shot and just after I completed radiation therapy. I have stayed there for three years." This is my conundrum. I have been told...
Tall Allen, In 142's post he said his T level was back to pre-shot level after 6 months. My first PSA test was also done just after 6 months, so it had to be above the castrate level and should...
142, You write: "After 6 months, still full on SEs, T was back to pre-shot level, PSA rising quickly." Your T was back to pre-shot level after 6 months. My first PSA test was done 6 months AFTER my...
Kayak808, So if my T gets above 50 then my PSA test results can be used to show my nadir, right? gearlose, Wow, 2.5 is really low! I know the ADT makes you feel terrible. The older you are the harder...
Tall Allen, What number is T considered at castrate level? What number do you need to be at to be ABOVE castrate level? Before ADT my T was 826. I read where you only regain 60% back after ADT. Is...
Was told that men who had radiation treatment and ADT cannot determine their nadir until all of the ADT is out of their system. How do you know or tell when it is no longer in your system? How long...
An38, Had my last 3 month Lupron shot on April 28, 2013. So it should have been only good until July 28, '13. That makes it 6 months since it should still be in my system. So shouldn't my second PSA...
Break60, No, Mayo doesn't answer email questions. You have to phone them. We have a cancer center where I live. I go there. I would have had the IGRT here but they weren't going to do any tests to...
PDL17, So I can't use the .064 as my nadir? Am confused about what point (how long) at which you determine your nadir. Should have had my testosterone level determined when I had the second PSA. I am...
142, "I could get them, and freak out about results, but they would not change anything except my panic level." You got that right. But my limited knowledge told me that if the PSA goes up it is best...
PDL17, That makes sense. But my Testosterone was only 13 when I had my PSA of 0.064. So you believe that isn't my nadir and that it takes one to three years to reach it? Buddy Blank, So if I have two...
My PSA result yesterday (January 16) was UP to 0.544. The first PSA test on November 1, 2013 after IGRT and ADT evidently was my NADIR at 0.064. So I only had less than 3 months in the ZERO CLUB....