47 yr old family history new member

[Guest guest]

Can you help this member?

Comment from user:Hello All: I am 47 years old, with a history of prostate cancer in myfamily... my PSA is at 2.7, so I want to gather as much information tohelp me make decisions.

[Guest guest]

I would never suggest that anyone do

nothing if they have an elevated PSA. That is a clear warning that something

is amiss and therefore that something should be done. I just don’t think

that the first thing that should be done is an invasive procedure, which is

what a biopsy is.

If the man does not have a history of PSA

results, the first step is to verify the initial reading, which, as I said in

my post can be elevated for any number of reasons, apart from PCa and to get a

free PSA percentage. The volume of the prostate gland should also be calculated

as an enlarged gland (due to Benign Prostate Hyperplasia) can cause an elevated

PSA reading.

If a second PSA is the same as the first, and

assuming a high fPSA percentage, then the next step might be to establish if

there is an infection in the bladder or prostate – there are non-invasive

tests for this and/or treat the man with a course of antibiotic medicine. There

are many studies that demonstrate how elevated PSA numbers can be knock down in

this way – the highest I have seen reported was a PSA of over 300 ng/ml

that was reduced to normal.

In any event, PSA tests (including free

PSA tests) should be taken at regular intervals (every three months is

suggested) and the man should have a DRE after the blood is taken, to monitor

any movement. If there is a continuous rise in PSA then a biopsy may well be

the way to go, but absent that continuous rise, the chances are that it isn’t

PCa causing the higher number.

I was sorry to read from your second

posting that this kind of action was not taken. Did you husband have DRE with

every test? If he did I am surprised that it was not possible to feel a tumour

as they usually achieve a significant mass before they metastasize, although

having said that, as Aubrey Pilgrim says, “The golden rule of prostate

cancer is that there are no rules.”

All the best,

Terry Herbert in Melbourne, Australia

Diagnosed ‘96: Age

54: Stage T2b: PSA 7.2: Gleason 3+3=6: No treatment. August '06 PSA 27.4

My site is at www.yananow.net

As a

physician, I am painfully aware that most of the decisions we make with regard

to prostate cancer are made with inadequate data: Dr “Snuffy” Myers.

From: ProstateCancerSupport

[mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ]

On Behalf Of dee banks

Sent: 13 August 2006 11:59 AM

To: ProstateCancerSupport

Subject: RE: 47 yr old family history new member

My husband's psa 7.1 in 2004, nothing done. psa

10.48 in 2005. psa 43 in 2006. dx advanced prostate cancer,

mets. He is 62.

From: " Terry Herbert " <ghenesh_49optusnet.au>

Reply-To: ProstateCancerSupport

To: <ProstateCancerSupport >

Subject: RE: 47 yr old family history new member

Date: Sun, 13 Aug 2006 11:06:10 +1000

Hi ,

You ask : <snip> My doctor wants to schedule a biopsy, and I

am a little stressed over the procedure, do you think it is warranted?

<snip> The answer, as far as I am concerned and as far as most people

with any knowledge of prostate cancer is concerned is NO. But the decision must

be yours.

Although your PSA may be regarded as elevated for a man of your age

(and the concept of what the PSA SHOULD be at any particular age is and

arbitrary one) it is highly unlikely to be associated with prostate cancer

since PSA is not prostate cancer specific (it isn’t even prostate gland

specific, but that’s another story). In the majority of cases where the

PSA number is elevated the cause is something other than prostate cancer

– such as a transient infection of bladder or prostate or even sexual

activity.

You might find it useful to go to these pages on one of my sites to

understand a little more about PSA before you make the decision to have an

invasive procedure: PSA 101 at http://tinyurl.com/8x6my

; My personal PSA variance at http://tinyurl.com/cxwj6 (This shows

the results of an experiment I ran some years back where I had daily PSA tests

just to see how much they varied ; What’s

new ine? at http://tinyurl.com/p7h4b

a well written piece by long time PCa activist Ralph Valle.

Those three sites should give you a good idea of what a good

decision might be.

All the best,

Terry Herbert in Melbourne, Australia

Diagnosed ‘96: Age

54: Stage T2b: PSA 7.2: Gleason 3+3=6: No treatment. August '06 PSA 27.4

My site is at www.yananow.net

As a

physician, I am painfully aware that most of the decisions we make with regard

to prostate cancer are made with inadequate data: Dr

“Snuffy” Myers.

From: ProstateCancerSupport

[mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ]

On Behalf Of Carson

Sent: 13 August 2006 09:53 AM

To: ProstateCancerSupport

Subject: Re: 47 yr old family history new member

Thanks for the reply, Jim. My doctor wants to schedule a biopsy,

and I am a little stressed over the procedure, do you think it is

warranted? This seems somewhat invasive, and the thought of blood in my

urine, stools, and (yikes!) semen for weeks is somewhat disconcerting. I

have enjoyed good health all of my life, and this is the first blow to my

youthful feeling of immortality. My ladyfriend is eight years younger

than I am, and I hope to be an active participant in our romantic life as long

as possible.

[Guest guest]

That is crazy. A biopsy is the ONLY way to be sure. If you suggest he

do nothing then why don't you send him some nails for his coffin too.

---

Manley

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Jim Manley's Photoshop Elements Page

http://www.geocities.com/jim_p_manley/index.html

Jim Manley's Photo Retouching Page

http://web.mac.com/jamespmanley

> I would never suggest that anyone do nothing if they have an

> elevated PSA. That is a clear warning that something is amiss and

> therefore that something should be done. I just don’t think that

> the first thing that should be done is an invasive procedure, which

> is what a biopsy is.

[Guest guest]

Kathy, I couldn't agree more!

---

Manley

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Jim Manley's Photoshop Elements Page

http://www.geocities.com/jim_p_manley/index.html

Jim Manley's Photo Retouching Page

http://web.mac.com/jamespmanley

> ,

>

> You have two choices. Do not have the biopsy and have regular PSA

> tests and monitor the change. The down side is that the cancer can

> grow and be beyond localized treatment stage when and if you do

> anything about it.

>

> Have a biopsy. The men can talk about their biopsy experience since

> as a woman I have not had one. If it is negative you can relax a

> little but you still need to follow up with regular PSA's and

> DRE's. If it is positive then you have to decide what you want to

> do. One option, if it appears to be a slow growing variety is to do

> active surveillance. Other options might be surgery or radiation,

> cryosurgery, proton beam, etc. The younger more healthy you are and

> the most skilled your clinician is the less your side effects will be.

>

> As far as sex after PCa is concerned. One symptom of growing PCa is

> sexual difficulties. As a woman who lived with a man who was

> technically impotent we had a great sexual relationship. We cared

> about each other and we were creative and both gave and received

> pleasure from each other. Not all couples can make that transition.

> Maybe their relationships were not great before the cancer, I do

> not know but I have heard from many men that their sexual

> relationships with their wives have actually gotten better. Hey it

> isn't routine.

>

> One thing is sure. If you have cancer. It will not go away by ignori

[Guest guest]

> " That is crazy. A biopsy is the ONLY way to be sure. If you suggest he

>do nothing then why don't you send him some nails for his coffin too. "

JP.

I guess that's the rub. There is no SURE when it comes to cancer and

especially prostate.cancer. When you are presented with an elevated PSA

result it is like falling down a rabbit hole into another world. You meet a

guy in a white coat and say to him, " I am here to get some answers, " and he

replies, " There are no answers today. Come back tomorrow. " Another white

coat comes along and you ask him, " Do you have any answers today? " and he

replies, " Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that

catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun the frumious Bandersnatch! Proceding

on your journey seeking truthful answers you begin to wonder, " What sort of

world have I arrived in? " But then you realize there are no answers.

2600

" il faut d'abord durer " Hemingway

[Guest guest]

There are some new imaging techniques that are in the pipeline or just

beginning to be used that should eventually help this situation when

they get into widespread use.

Kathy

Re: 47 yr old family history new member

> " That is crazy. A biopsy is the ONLY way to be sure. If you suggest he

>do nothing then why don't you send him some nails for his coffin too. "

JP.

I guess that's the rub. There is no SURE when it comes to cancer and

especially prostate.cancer. When you are presented with an elevated PSA

result it is like falling down a rabbit hole into another world. You

meet a

guy in a white coat and say to him, " I am here to get some answers, " and

he

replies, " There are no answers today. Come back tomorrow. " Another white

coat comes along and you ask him, " Do you have any answers today? " and

he

replies, " Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws

that

catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun the frumious Bandersnatch!

Proceding

on your journey seeking truthful answers you begin to wonder, " What sort

of

world have I arrived in? " But then you realize there are no answers.

2600

" il faut d'abord durer " Hemingway

There are just two rules for this group

1 No Spam

2 Be kind to others

Try to delete old material that is no longer applying when clicking

reply Try to change the title if the content requires it

[Guest guest]

I am not one who is talking from experience. I have an enlarged

prostate, A tumor in my bladder as well as nodes in my lungs. My PSA

is doubling each test & I went through a biopsy last Wednesday & they

removed my bladder tumor. It is very survivable. Yes I am in pain but

it is better than death.

There are answers so tell the rabbit to stay out of areas he knows

nothing about.

---

Manley

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Jim Manley's Photoshop Elements Page

http://www.geocities.com/jim_p_manley/index.html

Jim Manley's Photo Retouching Page

http://web.mac.com/jamespmanley

>

>> " That is crazy. A biopsy is the ONLY way to be sure. If you

>> suggest he

>> do nothing then why don't you send him some nails for his coffin

>> too. "

>

> JP.

>

> I guess that's the rub. There is no SURE when it comes to cancer and

> especially prostate.cancer. When you are presented with an elevated

> PSA

> result it is like falling down a rabbit hole into another world.

> You meet a

> guy in a white coat and say to him, " I am here to get some answers, "

> and he

> replies, " There are no answers today. Come back tomorrow. " Another

> white

> coat comes along and you ask him, " Do you have any answers today? "

> and he

> replies, " Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the

> claws that

> catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun the frumious Bandersnatch!

> Proceding

> on your journey seeking truthful answers you begin to wonder, " What

> sort of

> world have I arrived in? " But then you realize there are no answers.

>

>

> 2600

> " il faut d'abord durer " Hemingway

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> There are just two rules for this group

> 1 No Spam

> 2 Be kind to others

>

> Try to delete old material that is no longer applying when clicking

> reply

> Try to change the title if the content requires it

>