Hi All.

Alan just came back from Dr. Fred.

They reviewed his blood test from last week.

His B-12 was 1001 (and he stopped taking my Methyl B-12 last month because "It's not doing anything for me". I can only imagine what my level will be when I go for my blood tests).

His triglicerides are 251 (down from 332 from 3 months ago). His cholesterol is 228, up from 196 from 3 months ago. Dr. Fred told Alan that his cholesterol is going up because he has not been to the gym in over 3 months.Alan could not exercise because of the foot ulcer. Tomorrow he goes back to his gym (but not on any treamills or foot stuff). Just weights I guess.

His total Protein is 9.0 (Dr. Fred says this is because he is on IVIG).

Now here is where I get fidgety. His PSA readings.

in 2003, it was 0.89
8/23/06, it was 2.51
11/08/06, it was 2.41
2/21/07 it was 2.69
5/30/07 it was 2.94
8/23/07 it is 3.38.

Dr. Fred said "when you come back in November, if it goes over 4.0, I'll send you to a urologist"

I read on the internet that men over 50, well their PSA can be elevated. He is not in any danger zone, I know this. He is also 60. Could this be the reason that it's been steadily increasing.

Is there anything he can do or take to get it down?? He has no trouble urinating whatsoever and he does not get up all night long and pee (like my cousin who takes pills for his prostate). I never questioned him what these pills are.

Can the IVIG have anything to do with the increased PSA levels.

I don't want to start being a worry wart here.

Dr. Fred told Alan, "not to worry, we are watching this".

Thanks if anyone can answer my questions.

Hi Melody:

There is a lot of good clear information about prostate problems on the Internet.

Shirley H.

Yeah, I know. I'm just being a wife!!! lol

I also was trying to find out if IVIG can affect PSA readings. There is no information on that anywhere. At least Dr. Fred told Alan that his protein number was a result of the IVIG.

Mel

Has Alan had that test where you pee in big jug for i forget how long,you
keep it in fridge,until the amount of time is up..Sorry have concussion
and a beautifull black eye,hard to see...So if i haven't explained this right
everybody feel free to jump in..Oh no pee burning,maybe cranberry jucie
in bottle during,his gym class???? Sue ouch that hurt...

Sue:

Who said anything about pee burning, ouch, or anything??? Oh have a concussion and a black eye?? You poor thing.

He has no problems at all. I was just questioning the fact that his PSA numbers keeping getting a bit higher and higher.

He pees perfectly fine, (and no, they never made him pee in any cup and keep it in the fridge). He is not up all night peeing.

I was just wondering why a man's PSA reading can go from 0.89 (in 2003) to 3.38 in 2007????

Maybe it's because he is now in his 60's?? I looked it up on the internet and it says that PSA levels can be elevated after a man turns 50. I guess we've been lucky for 10 years??? lol

Melody

This is another place where the lizajane charts can come in handy. I have read that it is the rate of change of PSA that istelling, not the absolute numbers. All men's psa goes up over the years, it's just that if the rate of going up changes, doctors get alert.

So if you chart them, assuming that the first test, which you just called 2003, was in feb, it would look like this:

8/03.............8/06.............2/07.............5/07.........................8/07
0.89........... 2.51............. 2.69.............2.9............................3. 38

.....................60%.............34%......... 37%......................... 60%

From 2003 to 2006, they went up at an average of 43%/year. Then for the next 14 months, at 34%, the next three at 37, the next 3 at 60. But in general, the test is just done once year, so if you take out the early 2007 numbers, and assume we are working with all numbers in August, then, from 2003-2006 the avg was 60%, from 2006 - 2007, it was up 35%.

8/2003'...................... 8/23/2006.......................... 8/23/2007
0.89............................ 2.51.....................................3.38
......................................60%......... ..........................35%
So if you just look at it by year, the rate of increase is not changing upwards.

Anybody else want to take this on? I am really terrible at math, and can easily have made major errors in thinking and calculating here.

Anybody think the rate of change idea is wrong? I don't know where I read that or how long ago.

Which reminds me, why am I doing this rather than going to sleep? I dont' know nearly enough about the subject.

I just know the lizajane charts.

ok, g'night folks.

--in the recent research, the doctor is well within the clinical guidelines by currently engaging in "watchful waiting" until the PSA goes above 4.

Considering that almost anything that irritates the prostate in men can cause the PSA to rise--and that Alan has certainly had issues with autoimmune inflammation--if the numbers continue to rise at the rate they are now, it would probably be worth it for him to have an ultrasound of the area.

Analyses like this one are pretty typical of what I've found:

http://www.urologystein.com/psa.shtml

There are some dissenting viewpoints like this one (but even most of these find levels below 10 to be only "moderately elevated"):

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/f.../Detection/PSA

As Liza Jane notes, the rate of increase--termed the "velocity"--is important, though apparently more predictive in those with already diagnosed prostate cancer.

Another possibility (you can mention) here is have Alan's free PSA measured along with the total PSA--elevated free PSA compared to total PSA (the ratio is often reported) is more likely indicative of a benign conditions such as prostatitis or benign enlargement.

Wow, now I'm learning all stuff about Prostate.

I wonder what I'll be learning about in 5 years. That is, by the grace of the Lord, that we'll both be here in 5 years.

I wonder, does a man (as he ages), have to EVER and ALWAYS have prostate problems?

Can it ever be that as a man ages, (maybe his genes play a part, or good habits, I don't know), but has it ever happened that a man lived to the ripe old age of let's say 85 or so and has NOTHING wrong with him??

My uncle is now 90. At 89 he started to have prostate problems. Actually his health went downhill after he collapsed at the job he had until he was 86. He worked on oil trucks. That's right... Oil Trucks. Until he was 86.

He saved his money, but he wanted to work. So he worked until he was 86. When he could no longer work, he fell apart and everything happened to him.

So is this a "man gets older, and he has to have prostate problems", or can some guys just grow old and just get older?

Just a curious question, my dear Glenntaj. lol

Mel

Good Go Glenn!

((((((((((shiney sue)))))))))))

My gosh, that was shocking to read! What has happened to you?

I sure hope you are resting easy and beginning to heal!

(((((((((((shiney sue))))))))))))