Nothing is Finite with PCa

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Clarence Crow - 15 Jan 2005 22:07 GMT

Nothing is Finite with PCa

1.     PSA readings can vary
2.    DRE by Urologist can prove wrong
3.    TRUS Biopsy can miss important tissue.
4.    Full Body Bone Scans can not positively detect Mets.
5.    ADT can end up Cancer tolerant.
6.    RRP's can leave residuals, necessitating ADT and Rad.
7.    Any External Radiation therapy can show reversal over time.
8.    Seeding Brachytherapy can show reversal over time,
9.    HDR Temporary Brachytherapy can miss important tissue.
10.    CryoSurgery can miss important tissue.

I possibly haven't covered all the bases here, and this must look like
a Doomsday List.

If anyone has something to add, please do.

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Leonard Evens - 15 Jan 2005 23:29 GMT

> Nothing is Finite with PCa

I don't have anything to add, but I'm curious about your use of the term
"finite".

Do you mean "definite"? In mathematics, "finite" refers to a set of
things that can be counted, perhaps using a very large number.
Sometimes, in science it refers to some phenomenon that is bounded in
some way. In both these cases, the opposite of "finite" would be
"infinite". Occasionally it refers to a small positive quantity that is
clearly not zero. In that case the opposite would be "infinitesimal".

But your meaning may be some relatively recent colloquial use of the
term that I haven't seen before.

> 1. PSA readings can vary
> 2. DRE by Urologist can prove wrong
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> -- CC

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Clarence Crow - 15 Jan 2005 23:42 GMT

>> Nothing is Finite with PCa
>
>I don't have anything to add, but I'm curious about your use of the term
>"finite".

having definite or definable limits (Merriam-Webster) for starters.

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Beverley - 16 Jan 2005 15:50 GMT

It may seem like a Doomsday List but the reality of the situation is that
there is no perfect treatment. If there was the perfect treatment we've all
be using it. But at least there are treatments and the treatments have
improved over the last 30 years, 20 years, 10 years, etc.

So, depending on the person, we attempt to educate ourselves and choose a
treatment and a doctor. We do what we can in increase the odds in our favor.
Then we pick up the pieces of our lives shattered by PC and try to live
whatever time we have left with the highest possible QOL that each
individual can achieve.

And while we are busy living our lives we can attempt to educate those
around us about PC. By urging our friends to have PSA tests and help those
who have had theirs understand the numbers and what they mean. We can often
educate our own primary care physicians so they are aware of the importance
of earlier screenings, treatments, etc., something they probably were not
taught in med school when they attended. We can urge our own sons and
daughters to have earlier screenings for hormone driven cancers. And we can
contribute to websites such as http://www.phoenix5.org which serves to
educate the public or to research for an eventual cure. We are not going to
be able to save the world but if we manage to help at least one other person
then our own experience with this dreaded disease has had a positive effect.

No one knows if they are going to be one of the lucky ones or not. We choose
our treatment and then roll the dice over and over every 6 months with
another PSA test. Each time wondering if we have cheated the Grim Reaper one
more time. We are not getting out of life alive - we just don't want it to
be death by PC.
Bev

> Nothing is Finite with PCa
>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
> -- CC

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Clarence Crow - 16 Jan 2005 21:52 GMT

>It may seem like a Doomsday List but the reality of the situation is that
>there is no perfect treatment. If there was the perfect treatment we've all
>be using it. But at least there are treatments and the treatments have
>improved over the last 30 years, 20 years, 10 years, etc.

<snip>

>No one knows if they are going to be one of the lucky ones or not. We choose
>our treatment and then roll the dice over and over every 6 months with
>another PSA test. Each time wondering if we have cheated the Grim Reaper one
>more time. We are not getting out of life alive - we just don't want it to
>be death by PC.
>Bev

I'm a pragmatist and that's the way I am. Anything better than the
worst is a Bonus.

If I was a cat, I would've already used up at least 4/9 lives,
recovering from previous Disasters and Accidents, both Medical and
Acts of God.

Before I joined this group, I was wandering in the wilderness re PCa,
and was lucky to be accepted into a Clinical Trials Study after I
fired the original female Radio Oncologist for perceived incompetence.

My "Doomsday" list was distilled from reams of posts I've read here
plus visiting as many PCa websites, (good and bad), as I could.

The majority of my PCa treatment lies ahead of me, so I don't know
where my mind will be at in another 6-7 months, let alone 18 months.
If I seem refractory now, I would like to stay that way.

Let's see if they can break me.

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