Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2015/02/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Steve, My PSA was taken after a lapse in treatment as I had changed Physicians because of pain issues. It turned out that the new physician adored testing, and gave me every kind of test except a PSA. When his direction yielded no result in the pain issue (neck), I returned to my regular phyhsician who noted I hadn't had a PSA in some time. The resulting number was so high that he called me at home to ask me to come in for a repeat. The upshot is that I went to an urologist that our family had good experience with, and after more tests (and a second opinion) began treatment including radiation and chemical therapy, which at the time was about the most conservative treatment. Regarding MRI, I have no experience, but only read about it, and know there are cautions in that method of diagnosis. Biopsy is quite painful, and effects last a few days, but it does reveal small tumors, that some MRI machines/software misses. Age issues? I was 64 at the time, and of course the news about Dennis Hopper got my attention. Sonny On Sat, Feb 21, 2015 at 9:45 AM, Steve Barbour <steve.barbour at gmail.com> wrote: > > > Sent from my iPhone > Steve Barbour > > On Feb 21, 2015, at 4:35 AM, Sonny Carter <sonc.hegr at gmail.com> wrote: > > As in all things medical, it is essential to make certain of the > credentials of your physician. > > This is one area that gets an abundance of research, and a good share of > fakery as well. > > In the few years since I heard my news, diagnosis and treatment have > advanced tremendously; MRI was not an option then. Don't be deceived, > though, make sure the equipment is capable of seeing small tumors. > > Cancer cells won't hurt you much, it's the tumors that do the damage. As > Steve said, most men will get prostate cancer cells if they live long > enough. > > Find a doctor you love and trust. You're embarking on a journey that will > take a while. You might as well get a bus driver who will deliver you > safely on the trip. > > This disease changed my life in more ways than I can tell you, and I won't > go into all of that here, but this past December, I got the good news again > that I'm cancer free. That's always music to my ears. > > > I have two questions Sonny. > 1. If you will be requesting an MRI is it wise to get a baseline MRI, like > now? > 2. As I recall, George had an apparent rise in PS.A. from 3. To 7 > something in about 3 years.... So roughly a doubling... Seems slow, > questionable?? Meaningful? > Your thoughts? This sort of result in 6 or 8 months would get my > attention. Any experience with this? rate of rise? I would do a PSA again > now just to validate the numbers. > I would take this off the list now unless others may find this sort of > discussion helpful to them. > > > > Sent from my iPad > > > On Feb 21, 2015, at 12:26 AM, Steve Barbour <steve.barbour at gmail.com> > wrote: > > > > > >> On Feb 20, 2015, at 5:23 PM, George Lottermoser < > george.imagist at icloud.com> wrote: > >> > >> thanks for weighing in on this Steve. > >> I'd hope to hear a bit from you. > >> > >> Though I'm confused by the metaphor? > >> are you referring to the Medical System Bus? > >> or > >> are you referring to the bus i'm on as i continue on my journey? > > > > > > George, > > > > Live your life fully and enjoy it. At this point the "bus", or the > trajectory of the workup to be done, are one and the same... I see no > reason to do other than what you have said George. > > > > Whether you consider old guidelines, or the new ones, or ignore them > both and use common sense, I suspect you have findings that ask for some > resolution. > > > > Be aware of any new symptoms, listen carefully to expert advice, get > second opinions, obtain an MRI, follow PSA values closely, if the apparant > rise continues, or not, or if it reverses, it will be important and must be > confirmed. > > > > I am not a urologist, I am a non expert, so I can only tell you what I > would do, if I found myself in your situation...I have no interest in this > approach beyond your own. You must be comfortable and feel free to discuss > it with loved ones and your doctor. I sincerely hope this will help. > > > > Steve > > > > > > > > > > > >> > >> My thoughts at the moment: > >> okay. I'll make an appt with a urologist. > >> I'll listen to what he has to say. > >> unless given a helluva good reason to do otherwise > >> I'll follow the most conservative, non invasive means of monitoring my > prostate > >> i.e. mri before biopsy - etc. > >> > >> thanks again and have a wonderful weekend. > >> > >> a note off the iPad, George > >> > >> On Feb 20, 2015, at 6:36 PM, Steve Barbour <steve.barbour at gmail.com> > wrote: > >> > >>> hard to conclude now, that it's wise to stop the bus. > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Leica Users Group. > >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Leica Users Group. > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > -- Regards, Sonny http://sonc.com/look/ Natchitoches, Louisiana 1714 Oldest Permanent Settlement in the Louisiana Purchase USA