We are really happy to report that his PSA clocked in at 0.08!!

It was 0.05 in September and 0.02 before that on HT.  OK, there is a
rise, but compared to the summer of 2004, it is nothing.  Had it been a
lot more, he would have gone back on HT for a short time.

We are thrilled silly and our wonderful Dr. Loblaw is as well.  It seems
that Alan Meyer in his "off the wall" musing was more right than he
realized.  For a synopsis of Ron's story, see my post of Feb. 18th,
subject is "results of 6th months of HT" and Alan's answer of the 20th.

http://snipurl.com/1dgcg - found the thread on Google.

It is all about his bizarre PSA "soar" from 13 to 24 in 3 months and
ensuing HT.  And his decision to come off it due to bad SE's.

I was really apprehensive before this test because he had been off HT
for a year and didn't want a repeat of the crazy soaring of 2004.  I
think I will be able to relax now.

To make it understandable, Ron had two HDR (high dose radiation)
procedures in the summer of 2003 and then 25 EBRT.  It was exactly a
year later when the **** hit the fan.  Or to be more precise, when we
found out.

Anyway.....there is another man that was in this HDR study and he
clocked in at 19 and then dropped to 0.02.  Dr. Loblaw (and his team)
are baffled, but he thinks it is a huge 'HDR bump' and is going to be
writing a paper on Ron and Mr. X for the medical journals.

He wanted me to put this saga out on the group so that people know that
there is a lot of hope and new things coming down the pipe that are
quite exciting.  Way more than a mere 5 years ago.  Dr. Loblaw is an
amazing young (40ish) research radiation oncologist and someone sure was
looking out for us when we were referred to him!!!

Now I will try very hard to look at this from a more positive approach
rather than waiting once again for the other shoe to drop.  I have had
quite enough of depression!!  So we are taking off in June with our
daughter and heading for Portugal this time.  She will be our 'sherpa
and tour guide'.....lol.

Whew......what a relief!!  I worry more than he does, he says.

Cheers....Heather (and Ron)