Talking Frankly about Living with Advanced Cancer

Yes that might explain the wide gap in PSA results between the two Labs. But I probably won't get another Lab result until a week before my next appointment in May and Dr. Dunshee will have to send me another Requisition. In the mean time I'll just have to take it one day at a time.

Thank you very much for the article on hot flashes. I had to laugh at the part "Estrogen is the primary hormone used to reduce hot flashes." Funny, but I don't think I qualify. Since getting the injection of Eligard last Tuesday I've really only experienced one minor what might be called a hot flash. I can only go by what I used to experience after the Lupron injection in April. I took the first tablet of Bicalutamide 50 mg at bedtime last night. I seem to remember him prescribing that to help with the hot flashes. Please forgive me if I sound too inquisitive but you mentioned you were on Chemo. I showed Dr. Dunshee a printout I copied from the Internet that Chemo may cause Peripheral Nephropathy with which I was diagnosed with four years ago. I did not have diabetes! After my heart attack on Feb. 10, 2010, (back when I still trusted the medical profession) a pill pushing Cardiologist named Brenda Peart prescribed a statin called Crestor for 8 years without ever proving to me that I had high cholesterol. It does effect my sleep at least where my left foot is concerned.

@dutchman09 Oh my, that sure might explain the differing lab numbers, then, doesn't it!? Well, we at least have that info to work with, and using a more reputable lab that your new dr suggests may show what the closer-to-truth values are, don't you think?

At the end here I linked an article from Mayo Clinic about hot flashes. Yes, it is geared towards women, but the treatments and suggestions are universal. I have long followed the idea of keeping cool water around, limiting alcohol [easy these days since I am on chemo!] and stress [not as easy these day since I am on chemo!] I also did black cohosh, keeping my body temp regulated [layers of clothes as needed], it all has become part of my routine so much i don't even think about it anymore.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352795
What sounds like a workable plan for you?
Ginger

After reading your entry I got to thinking about the different Lab results and found out the first one in November was from Lab Corp in Phoenix. The second one was from a private Urologist (that I found on the Internet) who used an obscure Lab in Linden, N.J. which had a terrible two star rating. I happen to know the area since I used to drive tankers out of Linden which has a huge gasoline tank farm next to the N.J. Turnpike. After reading some of their reviews I'm positive that's where the discrepancy came from. That Urologist's reviews were also dismal but that's my own fault!

What kind of herbal supplements work against hot flashes? On Tuesday the doctor prescribed Bicalutamide 50mg tablets which are supposedly in the mail. I took that for two years to lower my PSA till they stopped working.

Thank you very much, John, for the informative links. They might help me sort things out!

@dutchman09 Very glad to hear your satisfaction with the appointment! Something I was thinking about, regarding the radically different lab results. I know that different labs and reporting machines, can skew results. That is, in my monthly labwork, depending on which lab processes it, the resulting values can vary, sometimes significantly. Or, perhaps a machine needs recalibration?

Good luck on the hormone therapy for hot flashes. It will be interesting to see how it all works for you! I have dealt with them for decades. Wear layers, drink cool water. Some people take herbal supplements.
Ginger

I believe the visit was worth it. He did address two of my concerns, namely Chemo and Radiation and forwarded a prescription supposedly to help with hot flashes. How do you women put up with that thing? I've yet to figure out the two radically different PSA values especially since I have them both on paper! My next step will be to wait until the May appointment to see if this Hormone Therapy really works and what the next step(s) might be. I do feel much more at ease than I did driving to his office on Tuesday morning not knowing what to expect and never having met him in that office.

@dutchman09 I see the post you created telling us about your visit, with the addition of some injections and medication. Well, I had to smile at his response to your question about the two radically different values for the PSA test!

How do you feel today? Was it worth the visit? Do you feel your concerns were addressed?
Ginger

Hi Gingerw: They won't let me make the same post twice because I already posted yesterday's 'challenge' to @colleenyoung. Is there a way you can reference her to see what transpired at the Urologist's office?

I am very glad yesterday is over! I didn't really expect much to come from this doctor meeting but after all was said and done it worked out for the best. He read my print out on the effects of Chemo on Peripheral Nephropathy and my thoughts on radiation and then finally suggested (after a simulated 'strip search' while dictating to his Scribe) Hormonal Therapy in the form of an injection of Eligard, leuprolide acetate, every three months with a prescription of Bicalutamide to help with the hot flashes. He also did lab work to measure my Testosterone which to the best of my knowledge had never been performed on me. So in three months I will walk in his office with fingers crossed to see what has developed. I did ask him why in November my PSA was 7.6 and in January was 2.83 and his only response was "One of them was a lie"! Knowing the circumstances I can guess which one.

I only had a few months free and when I was to begin radiation they found lesions in the liver..so no radiation. I tried a clinical trial for my rare genotype but that too failed after a couple of months. Now on Onivyde chemo combo and will find out next week if things are stable. I know what you say about anxiety for the future and like you try to find as much joy in the present. As my Oncologist told last week, "LIVE Brenda, live, don't put off enjoyment, however you define that. We all put off things, enjoy life now." Let's keep each other in a positive attitude. I would like to continue to hear about your status,