Well, the August number is in and it is 5.1.
This is two tenths more than the last time that I was tested in May and shows a slow progression of about two tenths of a point every three months.
Bad news: The numbers are getting bigger
Good news: The numbers are getting bigger slowly.
This level is getting just under my historical high, but I've still got a ways to go before "treatment." So, I get three more months to contemplate mortality (at least in terms of Prostate Cancer).
Sigh.
Next test: November - just in time for Thanksgiving.
PSA tests are like most tests, a survey under a microscope that is impercise. A 2/10's of a percent change is statistically insignificent, most probably due to the tester rather than the sample. My PSA's have ranged from 4.0 to 6.0 over the last six years. When I put them in a spreadsheet, graph them with least squares regression line, the line is basically flat with a slight downware slop. Don't sweat the small changes. If your doubles over 3 years then things are perhaps speeding up. This is a slow lazy cancer.
Look into the dietary aspects. Eat more soy and drink more pomergranete juice. I know it sounds wacky but some studies have indicated a positive effect. Japanese males (with a high soy dietin Japan) have a much lower Prostate cancer rate than Americans. When they come to America their rate increases dramatically and their sons raised in America have the same rate as their American peers. pomergranete juice has many healthy effects as well as on PSA levels.
I know the tendency is to focus on each PSA reading and each biopsy, but this disease happens very, very slowly and we need to keep our heads on straight, do the research, and make intelligent treatment decisions based on facts, analysis and research; not fear.
Brendon
Posted by: Brendon Sullivan | January 26, 2010 at 11:08 AM