Share your test results (if you'd like)

@northoftheborder

Those are wonderful news : ))) ! Yeayyyyyy !!!
May ADT+ Apalutmide combo work their magic forever < 3 !!! : )))

LONG LIVE THE NORTH !!! < 3 : ))))

@ezupcic

…the wheels of progress roll slowly, regarding standard of care protocols.

The trump card we hold is that many urologists now buy into shared decision making (SDM). If yours doesn’t, I’d find another physician.

20 years ago urological standard of care was to actively treat every man, no matter what their risk class….over treatment ran rampant.

Some of this mentality still exists, depending on the individual urologist.

Even today, it’s estimated that only 60% of men diagnosed with low risk PCa go on AS…this should be 95%+….there is still way too much over treatment of low risk men.

This means you still must be your own advocate and do your own research.

I ask my physician for specific biomarkers that I believe may help shape my decision making ability.

If you have a urologist that understands and practices SDM, you will usually get what you ask for, or possibly something even better…especially if your physician knows about these options based on his experience.

@readandlearn

ADT obviously works great for you (*knock the wood) : ))) and although I am not a doctor I think that your successful 2 year long vaccination from ADT is a great indicator that PC was very lulled in this period. Now you will suppress PC again in its bud and you tolerate ADT without problem - it is win-win situation IMHO *thumbs up

Meant to write "vacation" lol *eye-roll
I do not know what is worse "my spelling" skills or random and almost always wrong "auto-correct" , @: P

@handera, SDM seems like a reasonable approach given the complexity of Prostate cancer. If there is evidence that for example the MPS2 test or the PSE are problematic than one would think the urologist would explain why based on their practice. At this point I'm not sure how much stock to put into metrics like doubling time, density, Pirads scores, PSA scores or the results of any other biomarker test including a blind transrectal biopsy that might only sample 1% of an enlarged prostate but if it's about a patient's overall clinical picture, seems like more information from a variety of sources is a better way to go . Sometimes "SDM" just feels like "you have elevated PSA, lets Biopsy, and if you don't want to just know that you may be living with an undiagnosed cancer".

@ezupcic

When I received my 7.8 PSA result in May 2023, I knew virtually nothing of the metrics you mention.

A mpMRI indicating three PIRADS lesions (3,4&5) elevated concern and I did not even question the need for biopsy…I was scheduled in two weeks.

It was only after receiving my favorable intermediate risk Gleason score that I started my research.

I had to ask for a genomic test. I initially asked for Polaris; but my urologist indicated that if we were to do one he recommended Decipher…that was a much better decision.

I had been leaning towards AS even before receiving my Decipher Score and the Decipher GRID report was even more informative, regarding the lack of aggressiveness in my situation. That metric provided confidence for my AS decision.

At that point, I had no information regarding post biopsy PSA doubling time or follow up mpMRI’s; but 2.5 years later these additional metrics have reinforced the Decipher test information.

It takes time to obtain a significant number of puzzle pieces regarding the status of one’s particular situation.

Every man has a different level of risk tolerance, so only you can decide if/when you have enough puzzle pieces to move confidently forward with whatever plan you and your physician decide will work for you and is acceptable with your doctor.

I had my third bone scan today (45 min wrapped up like a mummy — always fun).

No signs of cancer recurrence. Some former bone damage has healed. There's more non-cancer wear-and-tear around my body, but then, I'm 5 years older than when I had my first bone scan in 2021 and my body's been through a lot since then, including paraplegia, rehab, and nearly 5 years of ADT + ARSI, so it's an ok result all considered.

Congratulations, North!! Five years is an incredible milestone to have reached whence you came. Wishing you continued success and all of the best on your journey to 2031 and beyond.
Bill

@northoftheborder

Wonderful results !!! 👯‍♀️ 🍀 Thanks for sharing : )))

And lol for "mummy fun fact" ha ha, why do they do that ? I had bone scan very long time ago, I was not wrapped in anything , perhaps it was different machine . Who knows ...
Maybe in "olden days" they just let us flop around 😂 in the scan machine ?

All in all , I hope that masala chai tasted extra good that day ; ) ! <3

@northoftheborder
Hi North : ))) ! I wrote the post but it is under "review" ; ), somehow your posts and mine are extra "interesting" per usual lol. Just in the case that it does not appear again - thanks for sharing good news <3 and I am wishing you all future test results to be as "boring" as this one and with zero things to report. 🍀 : )))

PS: How is baby-North doing : )))) ? Any tiny teeth coming in yet lol ? Sitting up I guess and smiling at his grandpa excited to be pocked up ? : )))