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Ah well! That's not good news today. My PSA is up again, ironically to about the same level as it was 15 years ago - talk about coming the full circle!!
But it's not quite the same this time: Third consecutive rise in my PSA with a castrate level Testosterone while on Zoladex. What does that little forumla indicate? Most likely AIPC (Androgen Indpendent Prostate Cancer) or as it is now known in some circles CRPC (Castrate Resistant Prostate Cancer).
So......what to do next? Standard practice in the US would be to try another ADT (Androgen Deprivation Therapy) or a combination of those therapies - maybe include DES (diethylstilboestrol)?. But.....my oncologists says "No! Not for discussion. But...how about joining a trial?" Well, no, not really. I greatly admire men who join trials because without them there would be no advance, but there is always a 50% chance that you'd get the placebo and then there is only a small chance that an experimental drug will acutually work, let alone the issue of what side effects might be produced. And since most early trials are about MTD (Maximum Tolerated Dose) rather than MED (Minimum Effective Dose) the risk of side effects is high.
Given these options, I take another - find another oncologist. I'll be seeing him next week and will report back then.
I've updated my myProstate entry - hope anyone reading who hasn't yet put their entry there will do so soon.
I'm certain I speak for all in wishing you all the best going forward, Terry.
And yes, please do join myprostate.eu everyone! One neat feature: you can click the "Abo" button on reports of those you wish to follow. I got this message from Terry sent to my email inbox automatically as soon as he entered it in myprostate...before I had a chance to check in on YANA recent posts.
That 'follow' feature is a very god one, but is only one of many available on the site. I have posted a link to the useful Instructions which will help you get the most out of the site at USING myPROSTATE . Just cick on the ORDERING REPORTS link for a pdf.
That Instruction also shows that if you want to e-mail another man on the site, you just click the envelope icon on the myProstate site. It is in the top left side of the page which gives the man's personal details or Characteristics. You will then need to fill in your user name and e-mail address and message and it will go directly to him. if he accepts the message he will be able to mail you directly in the normal way. As with so much on the site - and in my E-Letter - this is a protection against Spam.
I'm sorry to hear about the continuing rise in your PSA but as always I support the decision you made to have a life without the serious issues that any form of treatment has. So please know that I'll keep you in my prayers and wish you the best going forward.
Oh. I did go to myProstate and read your entry, but it continues to seem like a hard site to navigate. I suppose if I spent some time there I might change my mind, but at this point I still think yananow served it's people in a better way. So thanks for everything you've done here, but get on with your life and live it to it's fullest.
Thanks Stranger for your good wishes - as you know I live my life to the full now and will continue to do so as long as I (and my funds) allow me to. Our next adventure starts at the end of this month when we are off on another cruise.
Yes, the myProstate site is a little daunting at first sight, which is why I have posted some help points on how to get the best out of the site. Having said that I KNOW that most men will not read those. After all, it is in men's genes to ignore the instruction manual. But.....I've found it can be rfeally helpful:-)
