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Posted 7/17/2021 4:51 PM (GMT -5)
So 3 months after I lost my less than sign with a 0.07 I dutifully went for my quarterly blood draw and it came back with 0.18. My T is up to around 250. I feel physically good but my mood is down.

I sent my MO a note, as i will not see him until September.

The week of the blood test I was really stressed, and for some reason it takes Quest like 72-84 hours to get the upsa number done. It seems they ship the sample all the way to California based on who signs the results. My draw was Tuesday and it took until Friday night to get the results. I was checking constantly from Thursday morning onwards.

I also had germline genetic testing done (unrelated to the blood draw) and as it turns out I have some sort of defect in a gene called MSH2. Doing some internet sleuthing there is now a good chance my cancer is MSI-h (microsatellite instability high) which may open up some future treatment doors for me….ie Keytruda/Opdivo. They will have to send a sample of my renegade prostate for testing to see if that is the case.

I plan on testing again before my September visit. I should be over 0.3 by then and hopefully a psma pet will point out a hot node in the pelvic area so we can get on with eradicating the remnants.
Posted 7/17/2021 5:33 PM (GMT -5)

Hello, Stephen S. ----

Always follow your posts ... appreciative of your loyal membership here & your posts and contributions.

I regret the "waiting game" you went through, while waiting for PSA results.

I get tested monthly --- so, I go through the process often. My oncologist monitors various components of my labwork, including PSA.

My labwork is processed "in house" ---- so I stop by the lab first ---- stop by a bookstore or run an errand --- grab some lunch at a favorite cafe or deli ---- and a couple of hours later, I return to see my oncologist, and he has received results by then.

I have had 2 genetic tests run, since my grandfather, father, uncle, and I have all faced a prostate cancer diagnosis.

One genetic test used tissue samples saved from my original biopsy in the lab -- the other genetic test was processed using a blood sample.

I am glad you are seeing your doctor in September.

I like your idea of visiting the lab again, before then ---- good to build some data, to track any trends or fluctuations.

You're being proactive, in every sense of the word ---- and you're staying right on top of things.

Wanted to send a line --- and I will watch for your future updates, Stephen S.!

Best to you ~~~
CYCLONE ••• # Iowa State University
Posted 7/19/2021 2:49 PM (GMT -5)
Sorry to hear about the rise, Stephen! I can relate. You can get a PSMA scan? Good on you. I'm not having much luck in that area so far.
Posted 7/19/2021 3:16 PM (GMT -5)

Billybob388 said...
You can get a PSMA scan?

I hope so! The game I am i intending to play is proof of pelvic node involvement and essentially do the treatment that would have happened if they found it at RALP.

We will see though what the MO thinks.
Posted 7/19/2021 7:22 PM (GMT -5)

Stephen S said...

Billybob388 said...
You can get a PSMA scan?

I hope so! The game I am i intending to play is proof of pelvic node involvement and essentially do the treatment that would have happened if they found it at RALP.

We will see though what the MO thinks.


..........................................................................
Good luck!

Post Edited (BillyBob@388) : 7/19/2021 7:51:45 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/19/2021 7:41 PM (GMT -5)
Stephen S - your plan has been and continues to be solid. I discussed the PMSA testing with my RO stating I was hoping for only a spot or 2 if (when) I recur. He says that is not normally the way it happens.
Posted 7/19/2021 10:05 PM (GMT -5)

Cyclone-ISU said...
….. grab some lunch at a favorite cafe or deli

Cyclone, that sounds delicious! Whats good to eat there?
Posted 7/20/2021 6:26 AM (GMT -5)
Stephen, I have nothing to add but well wishes as you move forward.

Jim
Posted 7/20/2021 7:52 AM (GMT -5)

Hello, Stephen S. ----

To answer your question ...

Recently had the toasted "Club Royale" club sandwich with summertime homemade strawberry shortcake.

They have awesome chicken salad sandwiches on croissants, with rhubarb custard cream pie in the summertime.

For heartier fare, I stop at a Midwestern barbecue restaurant --- they have a huge stack of hickory logs ---- great hickory-smoked barbecue sandwiches on onion flavored buns, with sweet potato fries.

They have an old-fashioned soda fountain, so you can get a root beer, cream soda, a Green River soda, or sarsparilla --- along with a complete ice cream sundae menu and every malt you can possibly imagine!

I also just revisited my favorite "deep dish" pizza joint from college days ---- sold by the slice at lunch time ---- thick, braided wheat crust, LOADED with toppings.

The tradition there --- you save the braided wheat crust to the very end, then dip it in honey, which you drizzle on your plate at the end. Delicious! Two pieces of this deep dish pizza and you are stuffed to the gills!

Just for fun today!

I will continue to watch for your next posts!

Sending my best to you ----
CYCLONE - # Iowa State University
Posted 7/20/2021 8:20 AM (GMT -5)
Stephen S and Cyclone-ISU, are you guys at or near the same town in Iowa? Sounds like some good eating there! I was planning on fasting today, but reading about "Recently had the toasted "Club Royale" club sandwich with summertime homemade strawberry shortcake................you save the braided wheat crust to the very end, then dip it in honey........" is weakening my will power! ;)

Post Edited (BillyBob@388) : 7/20/2021 7:29:12 AM (GMT-6)

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