prostate

I know my prostate is not in my neck or head LOL. Some of you might remember that I was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year. Had my 2nd 3 month checkup today. Blood work showed no change. still at 5.5 PSA, doc did the digital job and said there is no change and the risk of prgression is low, another one in 3 months. Go March to see the pulmonary people, hope for the same results. Denis

Comments

  • KTeacher
    KTeacher Member Posts: 1,103
    H & N

    You started with us, you stay with us.  Everything is not about H & N and many will appreciate your information.  Keep you numbers low and hopefully no growth in the lungs.

  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    Glad to hear it Denis

    Just keep plugging along.  Did I really just say that?

     

    Pat

  • MarineE5
    MarineE5 Member Posts: 1,030 Member
    Wait and Watch program

    Denis,

    I too am in the process of tracking my PSA and getting checked roughly every 4 months. I am sure you know not to eat any spicy foods before your blood work as well as no heavy lifting of any sort.

    My brother and I served in Vietnam at the same time, he had Prostate cancer and it is on the list of Agent Orange cancers. He is doing well now, but I am aware of the possibility that it may bite me one day. I had the Biopsies, and they came back with an all clear, so just keeping a watchful eye on the PSA level for now. Recently, I read that they have adjusted the PSA level for those of us over 60 to 4.5, I think it is 5.0 for those that are at 70 yrs old and above.

    My Best to You and Everyone Here

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    Hi Denis

     

    5.5 PSA maybe a little high, my doc wants me to stay under 3.0 PSA but sometimes that is not possible due to Age and the effects of cancer treatment that we had. I know in men who are in there 70s sometime a normal PSA can be as high as 6 or 7 PSA. So there are a lot factors that go in reading what is or is not a normal PSA. I think the main thing that they look for is if the PSA levels start to go up.

     

    Hope this helps my friend

    Tim Hondo

  • MarineE5
    MarineE5 Member Posts: 1,030 Member
    Hondo said:

    Hi Denis

     

    5.5 PSA maybe a little high, my doc wants me to stay under 3.0 PSA but sometimes that is not possible due to Age and the effects of cancer treatment that we had. I know in men who are in there 70s sometime a normal PSA can be as high as 6 or 7 PSA. So there are a lot factors that go in reading what is or is not a normal PSA. I think the main thing that they look for is if the PSA levels start to go up.

     

    Hope this helps my friend

    Tim Hondo

    Sudden spike

    Hondo,

    So true on the PSA rising. It is suggested that biopsies be taken when the PSA goes up .7 or more within 1 year. That was the case for me, as I mentioned, my brother had Prostate cancer and my Doctor is aware of the fact. I had a sudden jump in the PSA of .7 and Biopsies were done. I was unaware that I was not suppose to eat any spicy foods or lift anything heavy before the blood work. I had been splitting wood for a week when I had the blood work done. Anyway, the Biopsy was clear and the PSA returned to what it was before on the next check up.

    My Best to You and Everyone Here 

  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    This is good news

    Dennis, glad to hear things are stable. This is good news

    Stay strong

    Mike

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    denis, glad it went so well. 

    denis, glad it went so well.  saying a prayer for the pulmonary to be just as good.

    God bless you,

    dj

  • denistd
    denistd Member Posts: 597

    denis, glad it went so well. 

    denis, glad it went so well.  saying a prayer for the pulmonary to be just as good.

    God bless you,

    dj

    prostate

    Yep you did just say that Pat, ha. I was given a small list of the things not to do a day or so previous to the blood test. Do not have a digital exam of the prostate, this massage type thing will cause the PSA to jump. Do not do any really strenuous work, no sex 48 hours before the test, at my age now that's no problem. The odds of getting prostate cancer for men as they age is really high. I have a gleason reading of six and research now shows millions of men go through most of the older life not even knowing they had it, six is the lowest score you can get and he described my cancer as "in situ" which apparently means it's only in one spot, I am sure Pat could clarify that terminology. Denis

  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    denistd said:

    prostate

    Yep you did just say that Pat, ha. I was given a small list of the things not to do a day or so previous to the blood test. Do not have a digital exam of the prostate, this massage type thing will cause the PSA to jump. Do not do any really strenuous work, no sex 48 hours before the test, at my age now that's no problem. The odds of getting prostate cancer for men as they age is really high. I have a gleason reading of six and research now shows millions of men go through most of the older life not even knowing they had it, six is the lowest score you can get and he described my cancer as "in situ" which apparently means it's only in one spot, I am sure Pat could clarify that terminology. Denis

    yes I can

    That's an interesting thing, carcinoma in situ.  Complex topic.    I'm traveling at the moment, but will PM you in a couple of days when I get home.  Pretty cool.

     

    Pat