[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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