fstopmike
PC Chronicles #1
I recently had a biopsy of my prostate gland done. The results came back positive. I have prostrate cancer. It was detected through screening during a routine physical, so it is very early and highly treatable.
Prostrate cancer is a very slow growing cancer and the cancerous cells I have are the least aggressive type.
Prostrate Cancer cells in the earlier stages of the disease produce a substance called Prostrate Specific Antigen (PSA), which is measurable through a routine blood test. It is recommended that all men over the age of 50 have a PSA screening as a part of a routine physical. I had a physical about 18 months ago, and my PSA measured 6.7. Normal is between 0 and 4. The PSA level raises with age, and a reading of 6.7 corresponds to a man of between 70 and 80, not someone who is 60. I had a biopsy then, but the results were negative.
At my last physical, my PSA was 6 and the doctor recommended I be under the care of a urologist. Since my brother had Prostrate Cancer, my risk was greater, so I agreed. I went to the urologist, and since the results were mixed, (a decrease in the PSA and a negative previous biopsy) we did a more definitive test called a total free and clear PSA. The total free and clear PSA should be greater than 30%. Mine was 9.5% and my regular PSA at this test was 7.8--good reason to do a biopsy.
Most men don't die from Prostate Cancer, but they die with it. In my research, I found out that 80% of men 80 or over have prostrate cancer. They just die of other causes before the cancer gets them.
It would probably be about 10 years before the cancer would cause me problems, but I would only be 70 by then, so there is a need for treatment.
Prostrate Cancer is incurable, but highly treatable if it is caught inside the prostrate gland. There are two methods of treatment, surgery and radiation, both of which are equally effective. What one has to do is evaluate the side effects and choose one's poison.
Once the cancer gets outside of the prostrate, it is no longer treatable, it can only be maintained and attempts made to make life more liveable. Prostrate cancer feeds off testosterone, so once it is outside the gland, the treatment is to remove the source of the testosterone, which means chemical or surgical castration, definite side effects I want to avoid!
So I'm at that stage where I am pondering whether to have surgery or radiation....
PC Chronicles #1
I recently had a biopsy of my prostate gland done. The results came back positive. I have prostrate cancer. It was detected through screening during a routine physical, so it is very early and highly treatable.
Prostrate cancer is a very slow growing cancer and the cancerous cells I have are the least aggressive type.
Prostrate Cancer cells in the earlier stages of the disease produce a substance called Prostrate Specific Antigen (PSA), which is measurable through a routine blood test. It is recommended that all men over the age of 50 have a PSA screening as a part of a routine physical. I had a physical about 18 months ago, and my PSA measured 6.7. Normal is between 0 and 4. The PSA level raises with age, and a reading of 6.7 corresponds to a man of between 70 and 80, not someone who is 60. I had a biopsy then, but the results were negative.
At my last physical, my PSA was 6 and the doctor recommended I be under the care of a urologist. Since my brother had Prostrate Cancer, my risk was greater, so I agreed. I went to the urologist, and since the results were mixed, (a decrease in the PSA and a negative previous biopsy) we did a more definitive test called a total free and clear PSA. The total free and clear PSA should be greater than 30%. Mine was 9.5% and my regular PSA at this test was 7.8--good reason to do a biopsy.
Most men don't die from Prostate Cancer, but they die with it. In my research, I found out that 80% of men 80 or over have prostrate cancer. They just die of other causes before the cancer gets them.
It would probably be about 10 years before the cancer would cause me problems, but I would only be 70 by then, so there is a need for treatment.
Prostrate Cancer is incurable, but highly treatable if it is caught inside the prostrate gland. There are two methods of treatment, surgery and radiation, both of which are equally effective. What one has to do is evaluate the side effects and choose one's poison.
Once the cancer gets outside of the prostrate, it is no longer treatable, it can only be maintained and attempts made to make life more liveable. Prostrate cancer feeds off testosterone, so once it is outside the gland, the treatment is to remove the source of the testosterone, which means chemical or surgical castration, definite side effects I want to avoid!
So I'm at that stage where I am pondering whether to have surgery or radiation....