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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate Cancer / September 2006numbers for Steve Kramer
Hi Steve, Knowing that you compile numbers from the men in this group, I have a new one for you. My new psa reading is 0.27 as of 9/14/06. (Last 4 month Lupron shot was 12/27/05, after two increases in the psa.) Prior recent readings, all while on Lupron, were .09 on 7/5/05, and .12 on 12/20/05, .18 on 5/3/06, and now the .27 reading. Current expectations are to get new numbers in mid-December and go from there. Casodex will probably be started at that time, and Lupron may or may not be restarted then also. In the meantime life is good, pomengranite is a daily diet addition with hopes that it actually does more than just taste good, and salmon fishing is just getting into full swing so I will not be here following the postings daily like I now do. I will say that the current vacation from Lupron has not resulted in any big reduction in side-effects, but having been on it for some time now, I would expect a considerable time lag to seeing any benefits. T might never really come back anyhow, from what I read. I maybe have more energy, but that might be from the new active lifestyle brought on by my recent retirement. Do you still feel that the Casodex is not giving you any problems, no new side effects? How much longer before you find out how effective the Casodex is for you? Bob C > [my] current vacation from Lupron has not resulted in any > big reduction in side-effects, but having been on it for some time now, I > would expect a considerable time lag to seeing any benefits. T might never > really come back anyhow, from what I read. One statistic posted here a year or so ago pegged the threat of T not returning during IADT pause at about 40% overall, and it seems tilted towards seniority. > I maybe have more energy, but > that might be from the new active lifestyle brought on by my recent > retirement. Nothing like a little PASSION to awaken our aging bodies and minds. My wife's "smile factor" very obviously doubled almost overnight when she retired, and she loved her career. Congrats! I.P. > Hi Steve, > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > readings, all while on Lupron, were .09 on 7/5/05, and .12 on 12/20/05, > .18 on 5/3/06, and now the .27 reading. Logged.... albeit, sadly. > Do you still feel that the Casodex is not giving you any problems, no > new side effects? How much longer before you find out how effective the > Casodex is for you? I went to Casodex with trepidation. I still have an active job and want to keep it that way for as long as possible. I was afraid that Casodex would do to me what it's done to Ron Figueroa and others here. Instead, I seem to have surprising spurts of energy. I'm walking faster, golfing without fatigue and sleeping great. I'm also nearly incontinent when golfing. Oh well. I find out in October whether it's doing any good. > I went to Casodex with trepidation. I still have an active job and > want to keep it that way for as long as possible. I was afraid that [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > I find out in October whether it's doing any good. Hi Steve..... I just wanted to say that Ron had tons of energy, etc. for about 7 months after starting Zoladex and Casodex. Normal is about 3 months, according to Dr. Loblaw. Ron started HT in October of 2004. He refinished about 9 pieces of early Canadiana furniture in February and March, 2005. And they were big pieces such as chests of drawers, blanket boxes, and so on. You probably will be like him and keep on truckin' for longer. His testosterone level is now up to 1.0. Which will mean nothing to you guys because we have a totally different system. I believe normal is around 3.5. But he can now work on his beloved British sports cars. On HT, his level was 0.1.......and he had trouble walking 20 feet from the living room to the kitchen. But knowing you, you will defy the odds and not be like most (G). Good luck to you.....and I will report in with the latest test results shortly. It doesn't get any easier waiting for them as time goes by......does it. But Dr. Loblaw is really quite happy with how things are going. Cheers.....Heather <snip> >His testosterone level is now up to 1.0. Which will mean nothing to you >guys because we have a totally different system. I believe normal is >around 3.5. But he can now work on his beloved British sports cars. >On HT, his level was 0.1. To convert ISO T levels to US levels ISO 1.0 = USA 28.8 (approx.) Conversions here: http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/scales/clinical_data.html -- Reader to complete... -- Please reply to this ng as my email adress is fake: -- Regards -- CC Thanks Clarence......I knew you would have the answer. I guess the US is the only country with different *numerical levels* for things like testosterone and cholesterol. Our cholesterol measurements are out of 10.....with 4.xx being the desired level. Gets lower every year and I am firmly convinced that is because the pharmaceutical companies make more money that way, lol. Cheers....Heather > <snip> >>His testosterone level is now up to 1.0. Which will mean nothing to [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > -- CC >> I went to Casodex with trepidation. I still have an active job and want >> to keep it that way for as long as possible. I was afraid that Casodex [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > after starting Zoladex and Casodex. Normal is about 3 months, according > to Dr. Loblaw. Great! That means I have what? 4 months, max.  SignaturePSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05, 5/05, 10/05, 2/06, 6/06 PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145 Casodex added daily 07/06 Non Illegitimi Carborundum >>> I went to Casodex with trepidation. I still have an active job and >>> want to keep it that way for as long as possible. I was afraid that [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Great! That means I have what? 4 months, max. Oops!! What I meant was that Ron didn't follow the usual pattern and there is no reason that you will either. Dr. Loblaw said that Ron was hit harder by the SE's than most men. And knowing you, you won't have any (G). Cheers....Heather Heather, Know of any sarcoma expert in Toronto who would take on an American, who has no money? (female 38ish) - desmoid tumor - Aggressive Fibromatosis (very rare) longer story is she married young and worked for her hubby in Hawaii (for years) - no pay, they split up. She moved to Florida to marry someone else who works as a carpenter and no health coverage (low income), in wait mode for Disability or other benefits. Surgery was 5 months ago. (on begged money) She has no financial resources, so there was no followup check to see if general surgeon did it right nor radiation therapy. She's been searching ever since (for funding or an expert who would take her on).... and "begging" more money... Got a scan. And just got scan results: It's in her arm, and left chest and left rear area (pressing on lung). The only way to (possibly) save this woman is to get immediate expert surgery and RT. PS I saw on Terry Fox run - TV Friday, some hospital in TO brings in kids from Africa. Why can't they help an adult. A sarcoma patient (some years ago) had to go Princess Margaret (from NS) to get the expert (shoulder) surgery. Have you any connections there? (please) J > Heather, > She moved to Florida to marry someone else who works as a carpenter [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > NS) to get the expert (shoulder) surgery. > Have you any connections there? (please) J.....I am totally stunned that the low income/welfare medical system in the US is not helping this woman out. As you well know, our medical system treats everyone in this country, rich or poor. And I hope some of the American posters can come up with some sort of answer for this....are there no trials, free medical care, or compassionate doctors in the US?? Do you die waiting for health care if you are poor?? Unbelievable!! As for the questions re Terry Fox and so on, the hospital that brings in children from Africa (and also the US btw) is Sick Children's Hospital and 18 is the upper age limit. Princess Margaret and Sunnybrook Hospitals are the two best adult cancer hospitals in Toronto....but unfortunately I have no connections in Princess Margaret. And to be honest, she would have to pay because she is not Canadian. I doubt that her condition would be considered rare enough to warrant bringing her up here for free treatment. I truly wish I could help. But perhaps Alan or some of the others might know of trials or that sort of thing that she could get into. I did pull up the NCI trials for sarcoma and there are a lot of them.......but there are many different kinds of sarcoma as well. All the best to you and this lady and I was vacationing in your area this year. Lunenburg was gorgeous. Cheers.....Heather > J.....I am totally stunned that the low income/welfare medical system in > the US is not helping this woman out. Go with that first impression, Heather. While I trust J, it is apparent to be that she is not privy to the truth, the whole truth or nothing but the truth. > As you well know, our medical > system treats everyone in this country, rich or poor. As you know, in our country, we have made being poor illegal. We shower or useless, lethargic leaches with cars, TVs, housing, appliances and food and other riches depending on how many bastards they birth. > Do you die waiting for health care if you are poor?? Wrong country. I have heard of such things occuring north of us, 15000 miles east of us and on the opposite side of the world from us. All socialist healthcare countries, of course. Geez... when did "compassion" become defines as helping someone with somebody else's money? SignaturePSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05, 5/05, 10/05, 2/06, 6/06 PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145 Casodex added daily 07/06 Non Illegitimi Carborundum >>J.....I am totally stunned that the low income/welfare medical system in >>the US is not helping this woman out. [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > Geez... when did "compassion" become defines as helping someone with > somebody else's money? I am not a chirstina, but I seem to remeber there was this man 2100 years ago who said something like that. >> Geez... when did "compassion" become defines as helping someone with >> somebody else's money? > > I am not a chirstina, but I seem to remeber there was this man 2100 years > ago who said something like that. Really? Assuming you meant "Christian", I do not recall the passage. I was, however, obviously divinely inspired :-) >>>Geez... when did "compassion" become defines as helping someone with >>>somebody else's money? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Really? Assuming you meant "Christian", I do not recall the passage. I > was, however, obviously divinely inspired :-) Sorry for the misspelling and miscounting. See www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/healthcare206.htm which I believe ednorses the idea---rather timidly---of universal health insurance. It is my impression, while there is much that I disagree with about official Catholic Church positions on social issues, I agree with them much more than I disagree. Can you say the same? > It is my impression, while there is much that I disagree with about > official Catholic Church positions on social issues, I agree with them > much more than I disagree. Can you say the same? This is really dangerous ground. You know what happens when we mention specific churches. However, an honest question deserves and honest answer. I have agreed most of the time with the previous and current popes. Of course, I sometimes disagree and I am always careful to see when the "official" position is really that of the Pope. SignaturePSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05, 5/05, 10/05, 2/06, 6/06 PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145 Casodex added daily 07/06 Non Illegitimi Carborundum >> J.....I am totally stunned that the low income/welfare medical system >> in [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Geez... when did "compassion" become defines as helping someone with > somebody else's money? Leonard is right.....even if it took me a minute to figure out he meant "Christian". I am not one either, but to me "compassion" means a caring person/doctor/company who does pro bono work to help those that for whatever reason cannot afford his/its fees. We do see that up here quite often and I am sure it happens in the US.....or one would hope it does. Not to mention those of us who contribute money or goods to people who are in need. I believe that is called "charity". Closely allied with the word "compassionate". Go look up the Herbie Fund......named after a young child from the New York area. Seems he couldn't get the care he needed in the US, so Sick Kids Hospital did the surgery and ordinary people donated the money to cover it. That is called "compassion". http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_1375.aspx explains the Herbie Fund. Heather >> Geez... when did "compassion" become defines as helping someone with >> somebody else's money? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > person/doctor/company who does pro bono work to help those that for > whatever reason cannot afford his/its fees. Sadly (unless I'm wrong about what Leonard and Christ were saying), you missed the point. Being compassionate is helping someone in need (actually, it's feeling sympathy or pity, but we'll let that pass for now) ... not expecting a doctor to do it pro bono... not expecting a government to pay a doctor to do it. EXAMPLE: A woman has diabetes and used all her sick time on kidney problems. Then, she falls and breaks her left ankle, left wrist and left elbow and cannot work or even care for herself. She is out of sick time. Her boss donates to her five days of his vacation time. That's one week less he can take off that year or, maybe, $1500 US he 'sell back.' > We do see that up here quite often and I am sure it happens in the > US.....or one would hope it does. Not to mention those of us who > contribute money or goods to people who are in need. I believe that is > called "charity". Closely allied with the word "compassionate". Exactly. The doctors who do pro bono are charitable and, probably, if there is no tax deduction in it, compassionate. You and others who contribute money and goods to people who are in need (emphasis on "in need") are probably compassionate, though other motives exist. > Herbie Fund......named after a young child from the New > York area. Seems he couldn't get the care he needed in the US, so Sick > Kids Hospital did the surgery and ordinary people donated the money to > cover it. That is called "compassion". By George, I think you've got it! Charity begins in the home, not Congress. > less he can take off that year or, maybe, $1500 US he 'sell back.' Gawd! My typing is just awful! > "J" <macyinno@nospam.inv> wrote in message > > [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > doubt that her condition would be considered rare enough to warrant > bringing her up here for free treatment. Not to mention she'd be queue jumping... > I truly wish I could help. Thanks for setting me straight, Heather and taking the time to reply to my post. J On September 21, J wrote, in pertinent part: > Surgery was 5 months ago. (on begged money) > She has no financial resources, so there was no followup check to see if [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > surgery and RT. > Something about this doesn't make sense. I suspect that we are not being favored with the whole story. One word: Medicaid. No one dies in the street. Regards, Steve J "A man's most valuable trait is a judicious sense of what not to believe." -- Euripides Actually being poor works quite well when in need of medical assistance. It's the working "poor" that have little help. Take someone who makes $30,000 a year. They actually bring home about $1800 a month, take out $800 for mortgage or $1000 for rent, cover the cost of gas to and from work (OMG!), car payment of $250, put food on the table, pay the electric/heating bills, water and sanitation, and then explain how someone is supposed to pay over $1000 in medical bills. And if you don't have insurance because it is either not offered or too expensive through the employer often the medical community will ask for a percentage up front before treatment. Oh, and don't expect some sliding scale for medical treatment because that will usually cut off at about $18,000 a year gross income. Bev > On September 21, J wrote, in pertinent part: > > Surgery was 5 months ago. (on begged money) [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > "A man's most valuable trait is a judicious sense of what not to believe." > -- Euripides |
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