[meteorite-list] OT - Waaaayyyyyy OT

[Gary K. Foote]

Thanks Pat - and you are right - there is a noted 
number of cases that 'go against the flow' with a 
high PSA and negative biopsies for years.  But like 
you said - establish that baseline.  I wish I had.  
My first PSA was this January and I tested at 24.8.  
Catching it earlier on the curve would have made 
some difference in treatment options.

Thanks for your good wishes,

Gary


> Hi Gary, 

> 

> I wish you good luck in your battle. 

> 

> I would also like to add to and to amplify your

> message. There are two PSA tests. The inexpensive one

> that is used for routine screening is called the

> _Total PSA Test_. Usually this will be of some value

> in determining if you have active prostate cancer,

> however this is not true for all men. 

> 

> There is a significant range in an individual's Total

> PSA test results and an absolute level is not a high

> confidence indicator of whether an individual has

> active prostate cancer. The Total PSA test should be a

> regular part of your annual physical. Having a number

> of tests 1 year apart establishes a baseline for YOU.

> Change from these baseline levels is more important

> than the absolute value. 

> 

> Be aware that there is a very strong genetic

> pre-disposition in prostate cancer risk. If you have a

> pattern of prostate cancer in your family, get an

> additional blood test called _Free PSA_. This is a

> more expensive test, but it is much more sensitive

> than the Total PSA test. The ratio of the Total PSA to

> Free PSA is a much better diagnostic indicator of the

> presence of active prostate cancer. 

> 

> The reason I know about this is that my father died of

> early onset agressive prostate cencer at the age of

> 64. He was diagnosed at age 55 and the cancer had

> already started to spread, making it inoperable. His

> PSA never got higher than 4.0ng/ml, even with very

> active prostate cancer. My younger brother caught his

> case of prostate cancer early enough to be cured via

> operation. He is alive today because he did both tests

> and established a baseline. 

> 

> Your doctor may argue against routine PSA tests, as

> there is aome risk of a false positive if your Total

> PSA number is higher than 4.0ng/ml. It is also true

> that if men live long enough they will almost all get

> prostate cancer. BUT, the prostate cancer that men get

> at age 80 , 90 etc. is generally a very non-agressive

> cancer and few of these older men will die of prostate

> cancer. 

> 

> So, get tested for _Total PSA_ early and establish a

> baseline.

> 

> If there is a history of prostate cancer in your

> family (you will have to ask several relatives, as

> often people of the greatest generation do not talk

> about such things), get both the _Total PSA_ and the

> _Free PSA_ tests as part of your annual physical.

> Create a baseline for you.

> 

> Pat Brown 

> p.s. I am not a doctor or medical professional, I am

> an engineer that wants to be an informed patient. 

> 

> --- "Gary K. Foote" <gary at webbers.com> wrote:

> 

> > Sorry to go so off topic but if this post helps one 

> > person then I will happily endure the ire of my 

> > fellow listoids for years to come.

> > 

> > I have been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer.

> > 

> > It could have been detected as early as 2000 or so 

> > had I had a simple PSA test then [Blood test.  Costs

> > 

> > about 15 or 20 dollars] and today I would not be 

> > approaching surgery and followup therapy for two 

> > years at the end of this month.

> > 

> > My very first PSA was 6 times the panic button 

> > number, so its been growing in there for some time 

> > and is quite aggressive.  Zero symptoms, so PSA is 

> > the best early detector.

> > 

> > I urge every man on this list who is over 40 to get 

> > a PSA test, if not for yourselves, then for your 

> > wives, sons, daughters, girlfriends, mothers, 

> > fathers, friends and anyone else you care about.  

> > They need you in their lives and early detection 

> > means 99% survivability.  Do it TODAY! NOT 

> > TOMORROW!!!

> > 

> > [getting off soapbox now]

> > 

> > Gary

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> 

> 

> 

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