Test Anxiety? Read This!

If any of the items on this nice list helps -- that's great! I have a different attitude toward my PSA testing. This will sound hard to believe for some, but I look forward to my PSA. This has always been my thinking:

(1) My (u)PSA has been stable and low (it would be "undetectable" on a <0.1 or <0.05 test). I choose to assume it will remain the same at my next test (end of this month) and therefore I look forward to having that confirmation and good news.

(2) My current PSA is what it is: the test only reveals it. I want to know what it is. I don't take the ostrich approach. If my PSA is rising, I want to know that, too!

(3) IMO, much of PSA anxiety is learned, negative thinking (i.e. more of a meme than a given). I try to reinforce a different habit: each good result is confirmation of success. Should I encounter BCR, I'll deal with it, just as I dealt with my high-grade PCa in the first place. But I'll deal with it then, and not worry about it now.

(4) Knowing my PSA to a better degree of accuracy with the Labcorp uPSA test gives me additional security. I know what small, normal fluctuations are for me, and I'll have more data points and more lead time if I should see a true rise at any time.

Djin

Thank you for that last it is very helpful.

I am trying (and I emphasize trying) to adopt the philosophy of "you are born and then you die, worrying in the middle usually doesn't change the outcome." I am tired of worrying about health issues, The worry itself is probably the biggest risk to my health. For some reason its hard for me to get that.

Good list.

Had blood draw today, expecting result tomorrow. Kinda getting used to it (sigh).

Robert

So waiting desperately for a scan read tomorrow, spent the day fishing with my brother and friend. It worked!

Thank you for this post! I'm a wife, and the hubs was diagnosed in Jan. PSA of 12. Biopsy was 6/12 bad samples. All on right side. Gleason 3+4. Had robotic nerve sparing surgery in May. Negative margins. Epe present but non focal, right base, adjacent too but not involving seminal vesicle. Seminal vesicles negative for tumor. No mass legions of Lymph node candidates identified. Lymph nodes checked, per husband's request. The ones they checked were negative for metastasis. Devastated by a 7.5 psa 3 months later, surgeon surprised, got a retest immediately which came back 7.6!!!!!
Now waiting on bone scans, cat scans and whatever else. The waiting is horrible. Thanks for the ideas!!!

Edit: please note that after posting this, Shellkat reposted in her own thread, so to avoid confusion, let’s respond to that thread, which can be found here: https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=4213693&g=4213693#m4213693&gsc.tab=0

Post Edited By Moderator (Pratoman) : 8/18/2020 6:45:47 PM (GMT-6)

I used to be carefree about the PSA test. But the first time it went up and kept going up, my 2 1/2 years of confidence eroded. Now, I dread each test.

Those activities are awesome suggestions!!