Guest guest Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 Hi Terry, I should have given more details in my new member registration, I have already received treatment which was IMRT about 15 months ago. Last PSA was 1.5, next one due in January. The PSA was 3.6 before treatment,biopsy Gleason 6, stage T1c I believe. I am 50 years old. Anyway, things are going pretty well so far. My only complaint is a little rectal bleeding which I did not expect. But it seems to be getting better( I hope). Happy New Year to all, > > Welcome to circlek2 circlek2@... who has joined the > ProstateCancerSupport group and says: > > > > I am a prostate cancer patient and am interested in learning about others > experiences with treatments and side effects... > > > > Sorry to hear of your diagnosis but welcome to the club you never wanted to > join. No doubt you're in a bit of a state of shock, and perhaps feeling > isolated. You'll find plenty of friendly folk on this List who will do what > they can to help you through. > > > > You might find it useful to visit YANA - You Are Not Alone Now > www.yananow.net <http://www.yananow.net/> a site set up for newly diagnosed > people. The first section gives some basic information in plain language > with links to more complex and technical sites. The second section of the > site is where men are invited to tell their prostate cancer stories and how > they arrived at their decisions regarding treatment. Many people have mailed > to say how useful they have found this, especially because most of the men > are happy to respond to specific questions. The section of the site can be > found by clicking the link labelled Experiences or going to > http://www.yananow.net/Experiences.html > > > > But in any event, please post some details of your diagnosis - your Age, > your PSAs leading up to the diagnosis, your Gleason Score and Staging (these > terms are all explained on the YANA site) and any questions you might have. > Just remember - there are no dumb questions. We all started off where you > are now, but we've collectively learned a lot over the years. > > > > > > > > All the best > > > > Terry Herbert > > in Melbourne Australia > > Diagnosed '96: Age 54: Stage T2b: PSA 7.2: Gleason 3+3=6: No treatment. June > '04: TURP. Nov '06 PSA 31.4 > > My site is at www.prostatecancerwatchfulwaiting.co.za > > It is a tragedy of the world that no one knows what he doesn't know, and the > less a man knows, the more sure he is that he knows everything. Joyce > Carey > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 G’day , I was a bit busy yesterday and I’m not sure if anyone addressed your specific questions. I’ll provide my 2 cents worth in case no one else has – my comments below preceded by **TH <snip> 1. Is it usual practice for a Physicians Assistant to perform the biopsy. <snip> **TH I’ve only had two biopsy procedures. Both times they were performed by qualified doctors. Although the incidence of bad side effects from biopsy is reportedly low, I would personally prefer to have the procedure done by the best qualified person. <snip> Also, the doctor's office is telling me that I have to come in two separate times...the first for just an ultrasound and the second for the actual biopsy. Otherwise the insurance company will not pay for it. <snip> **TH I don’t see any necessity for this double dip, but there is no harm done either, apart from the waste of your time, but then our time doesn’t usually come into the equation as far as the medical world is concerned. <snip> 2. Should the free PSA be taken before doing the biopsy? <snip> **TH Yes, in my opinion. The free PSA is part of the diagnostic procedure (or should be) and indicates the probability of an elevated PSA being associated with PCa or some other cause. The whle idea of having a free PSA test is to establish whether it is worthwhile having a biopsy and to avoid unnecessary biopsy. <snip> My doctor says that the free PSA test should be done instead of a second biopsy (6 months later) if the first biopsy is good. <snip> **TH I cannot understand this line of thinking at all. It makes no sense to me from what I have learned. <snip> 3. Also, I was reading about a doctor at Northwestern University who does a Pro PSA test and says this is more reliable? <snip> **TH I always think I am pretty well up with new developments, but I must confess I had never heard the expression pro-PSA prior to your posting, so thanks for that (anyone else interested might like to read this: http://www.drcatalona.com/quest/quest_fall03_1.asp ) I see that it is a further enhancement of the free PSA test and has been developed by Dr Catalona and his team. What he says makes sense to me as an additional test to be taken in the decision making process prior to biopsy. <snip> 4. Also, should a radiologist read the ultrasound? I asked my doctor about this and he said he reads it. <snip> **TH One bit of advice given me (by a radiologist admittedly) was that most of the equipment in doctors rooms is either outdated or inefficient so that the scans are poor quality. Add to that the lack of expertise on the part of the doctor and the way to go for any scans (or any other procedure for that matter) is to get the person best qualified with the best equipment to do the work! Hope this helps some. I must say that if I were in your position I’d be considering looking for a doctor who may have a greater interest in PCa than your guy seems to have. All the best Terry From: ProstateCancerSupport [mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of herestoyou2007 Sent: Thursday, 4 January 2007 8:38 AM To: ProstateCancerSupport Subject: New member I am 54 years old and have had prostatitis about 6 or 7 years ago. I also ride my bicycle over 4000 miles a year which I have read may cause inflammation? About 2 months ago I was experiencing similar symptoms and went to general physician. He prescribed antibiotic (Factiv). Went back in two weeks and he did DRE and prescribed Bactrim for approx two weeks. Went back and he ordered a PSA. It came out at 7.7. I continued to take Bactrim and went to a urologist approx. two weeks later. He did another PSA which came in at 7.6. He also did a DRE. He wants a biopsy and this is the point at which I have questions. I have done some research and have these concerns. 1. Is it usual practice for a Physicians Assistant to perform the biopsy. Also, the doctor's office is telling me that I have to come in two separate times...the first for just an ultrasound and the second for the actual biopsy. Otherwise the insurance company will not pay for it. 2. Should the free PSA be taken before doing the biopsy? My doctor says that the free PSA test should be done instead of a second biopsy (6 months later) if the first biopsy is good. 3. Also, I was reading about a doctor at Northwestern University who does a Pro PSA test and says this is more reliable? 4. Also, should a radiologist read the ultrasound? I asked my doctor about this and he said he reads it. Any info is greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2007 Report Share Posted January 11, 2007 Since you have so many questions you might want to go for a second opinion with another urologist. Kathy From: ProstateCancerSupport [mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of herestoyou2007 Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2007 4:38 PM To: ProstateCancerSupport Subject: New member I am 54 years old and have had prostatitis about 6 or 7 years ago. I also ride my bicycle over 4000 miles a year which I have read may cause inflammation? About 2 months ago I was experiencing similar symptoms and went to general physician. He prescribed antibiotic (Factiv). Went back in two weeks and he did DRE and prescribed Bactrim for approx two weeks. Went back and he ordered a PSA. It came out at 7.7. I continued to take Bactrim and went to a urologist approx. two weeks later. He did another PSA which came in at 7.6. He also did a DRE. He wants a biopsy and this is the point at which I have questions. I have done some research and have these concerns. 1. Is it usual practice for a Physicians Assistant to perform the biopsy. Also, the doctor's office is telling me that I have to come in two separate times...the first for just an ultrasound and the second for the actual biopsy. Otherwise the insurance company will not pay for it. 2. Should the free PSA be taken before doing the biopsy? My doctor says that the free PSA test should be done instead of a second biopsy (6 months later) if the first biopsy is good. 3. Also, I was reading about a doctor at Northwestern University who does a Pro PSA test and says this is more reliable? 4. Also, should a radiologist read the ultrasound? I asked my doctor about this and he said he reads it. Any info is greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 HELLO I AM NEW TOO, LIFE THROWS US SOME CURVE BALLS SOMETIMES BUT WE CAN HANDLE IT WITH FAITH AND FRIENDS wrote: Hello everyone. I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Osborn I'm 25 and happily married to a wonderfully supportive man. I was diagnosed with MS a little over a year ago. September 10th of 2006. Though I've been told I've probably had it since kindergarten after going blind then having my vision come back about a year later. My biggest symptom now is the fatigue. And going to college isn't helping that any lol. I think that's about it for now. I hope to get know to you and if you have any questions or want to know more about me feel free to ask! Take care! ~~ --------------------------------- Never miss an email again! Yahoo! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail arrives. Check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 Hello, I came across this group in search for answers to my own mysterious problems. First of all, about 15+ years ago I wasn't feeling well and was found to have a very high viral titer to Epstein Barr Virus which at the time caused a severe chronic fatiuge. Since then I went on to develop Grave's disease ( an autoimmune disease) and was treated with the maximum dosage of radiotherapy to destroy my thyroid gland, now I have to repy completely on thryoid replace homones but still have problems wtih this autoimmunity. My ANA is high, I am seeing a neurologist for muscle weakness, especially in my legs. I can not stand in line as my legs become too weak. I used to be able to play the piano and sing in church but I can not do that any more. I can't stand on the stage to sing as my balance is off and my legs become too weak, the last time I tried I had to hold onto something for balance and to keep my legs from giving way. I attended church last Sunday night, my Dad is music director and I sit with him on the front row, well I was scared almost to death as I felt so dizzy that I felt like I was going to pass out and then I couldn't walk to the back of the church to leave as I was too dizzy, I finally told my Dad that I had vertigo and would have to leave, he asked if I could wait for a few moments that the service was almost over and it seemed like forever but I made it, after church was over though, I stood up slowly and told my Dad that I needed to walk along the wall and not the center isle to get outdoors and he offered to go wtih me, he lead me outside and I couldn't even make it to my car, so he walked me to his car and drove me home, then went back for my car. The point is, I could hardly walk across the parking lot and when i got to his car, it was all I could do was to stand there. I have had this dizziness for over a month now, really bad. I know there are a lot of things that can cause dizziness but for this long? I do have pressure it seems, in my ears and allergies it seems but I have never had it this bad. I don't know what is causing the dizziness. I know that when I stand in line that I can not stand there for only a few moments and then I have to go to my car and rest, then go back in and try my best to finsh my transaction, it is embarrassing but when I also have a difficult time when it gets really bad of moving my hands fast enough to get my money out and coordinating myself. My neurologists wants me to have a muscle biopsy but I haven't had that as of yet. I did have EMG of my arms and it shows capel tunnel. My primary complaint is muscle weakness and dizziness when I see my neruo. A few years ago I had an MRI of the head, ( I had 2 or 3 which were normal at the time). I have a family history of autoimmune disease and I know that MS may be connected in some way. can someone please enlighten me as to whether or not this sounds like MS? I am not looking to have another autoimmune disease, I just need to know somehow what in the world is going on and who knows I have also thought that it may be due to my Graves disease but I don't know of people who are having these kind of problems with it although I know when you don't have enough thyroid hormone in your body it can cause leg weakness but still, I have suspected something underneath causing all of these strange sypmtoms. I have a list of sypmtoms over the years but the ones that concern me the most now are, loss of balance, unable to stand or walk very far as my legs are weak, dizziness ( severe) extreme fatigue, even after resting. I am unable to work. Thank you for your patience, I know this way long. God bless all, Vicky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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