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Latest PSA and check off Bucket List Item #1

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Posted 4/29/2023 9:38 AM (GMT -5)
This past Tuesday, 4/25 I had my latest PSA screening and the results are in: <0.06. My question to all of you is: Siemens Lab completed the test and the last 2 results were <0.06. I know that that result is determined to be undetectable. Do any of you know if Siemens Lab record results less than 0.06 or do they routinely record <0.06?

Now for my Bucket List news. 5 years ago and before my diagnosis of PCa, for a retirement/birthday gift, my wife gave me money towards my #1 Bucket List item to go to Scotland to play some of the most famous and historical golf courses. Unfortunately, my buddies that agreed to go with me ended up bailing. Then, Covid hit, delaying my trip to Scotland. Well, I'm happy and proud to say that I just returned from Scotland and I got to play some of the most historical and famous courses in the world. I played The Old Course at St. Andrews, The Castle Course at St. Andrews, Prestwick, Gleneagles, Turnberry, Troon Ailsa, Western Gailes, Machrahanish Dunes and Machrahanish. That is 9 rounds of golf in a row and having to walk all nine rounds of golf in consecutive days (most courses in Scotland do not allow riding carts, called Buggies). I refused to let PCa keep me from living this dream. I am still on Lupron and will be getting my last shot in May, which will get me to the 18-month mark. One of the guys on the trip with me completed his ADT last August and he was a great source of information and support for me.
If any of you have followed some of my postings, last summer I reported that I went through 9 weeks of radiation and went play golf after each session. Towards to end of my treatment, I was getting tired on the back nine and my scores went up, but again I refused to let PCa and my treatments stop me.
The message that I'm hoping to get across to those who have been newly diagnosed and anyone else who has been treated for PCa, is to live your life and refuse to let PCa control your life.

Ron (Boomer)
Posted 4/29/2023 12:34 PM (GMT -5)
Great result, and great message.

As to your question i can not speak to the Siemens result, but somewhat related perhaps, i have been getting readings of <.05 at MSKCC (KNOCK WOOD) and that is the lowest level of detection their test goes to. It is listed as the EIA, Beckman Assay
Posted 4/29/2023 1:43 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you for answering my Siemen's question.
Have a great day Pratoman!
Posted 4/29/2023 2:35 PM (GMT -5)
I love this post! You are living life to the fullest!

Your post will inspire others, who are facing a new diagnosis, or wondering whether treatments are "worth it."

Ask anyone who saw you golfing in Scotland!

Well worth it, INDEED!

Thanks for keeping the torch lit for others who read here!

With my best ~
CYCLONE ~ # Iowa State University
Posted 4/29/2023 7:18 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you for the wonderful response to my post. When I get such positive responses from you veterans here, I feel great! I wish I could post the picture of me on the Swilcan Bridge at The Old Course, St. Andrews! I was holding back the tears. I did have a tear fall when I teed off at the first hole of The Old Course. Best of all, my caddie at The Old Course caddied for Seve Ballesteros when he won the The open in 1988!
Posted 4/30/2023 7:20 AM (GMT -5)
Wow, Boomer. Well done. I have played a few of those courses and they are indeed hallowed ground for both golfers and historians. And thank you for showing people that cancer and treatment doesn’t have to be anything more than some inconvenience for so many of us. My heart goes out to those that really endure much pain and suffering due to surgery, chemo and extensive spread. But for so many these days, the treatment is not really a life changing impediment, just look at former President Carter. He didn’t miss a beat through cancer and treatments even at advanced age.
Posted 4/30/2023 7:38 AM (GMT -5)
Thank you for the kind words JNF. I agree with your comments about former President Carter. Today's scientists are working very hard at finding cures and treatments for cancer with as little side effects as possible. I truly believe that there will be a cure around the corner.
Posted 4/30/2023 11:02 AM (GMT -5)
Not completely sure, but I think I have Siemens non-untrasensitive tests as well. But I never get < values, I guess my lab reports raw results directly from the readings. I asked my uro what my fluctuating values mean and he told me that they are like <0.1 in other places. I also asked him if many people get plain 0 results there and he told me he did not remember anyone never. I believe I should take my figures as upper bounds, less or equal, values.
Posted 4/30/2023 11:20 AM (GMT -5)
Thank you jmadrid for your information regarding Siemens testing results. I'll be talking with my Urologist about the results in a couple weeks when I go for my Lupron shot.
Posted 4/30/2023 1:40 PM (GMT -5)
A minor quibble: the Siemens test has another zero: <0.006. That being said, 0.006 ng/ml is the lowest detectable value the test can measure, so anything below that gets the "<". This is a statistical thing that simply means that we can't report a true zero--because zero isn't a number. We can only report what we can measure--or report that the answer is below that.

It's kind of like using a standard carpenter's measuring tape. With a good one, you can measure down to 1/16th inch. anything less than that you might call a 'hair' or a 'freckle'--and if you're asking the helper with the saw to give you a tad extra you'll say, "cut it to the strong side".

Same thing.

Congrats on your Scotland visit. I'm not a golfer, but doing bucket list stuff IS a big thing. Good for you!
Posted 4/30/2023 4:14 PM (GMT -5)
Congratulations Boomer;
My bucket list includes visiting many of the famous whisky distilleries in Scotland. Not quite as healthy as playing golf.
😀
Posted 4/30/2023 4:16 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you halbert! The information that you shared regarding Siemens test results was very helpful.
Yeah, my next Bucket List item is to go to the golf hall of fame. I figure that while I'm down in FL next winter, I'll knock off the golf hall of fame and head to the Red Sox Spring Training camp. Two bucket lists items in one trip!
Posted 4/30/2023 4:20 PM (GMT -5)
Hey Sr Sailor, I'm not a whisky drinker, but a couple of my buddies would get three shot samplers at each of the restaurants we sent to. They raved about the samples that they tested.
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