Rog T's Cancer Blog - What the Doctor tells you Vs what you actually hear!

 So in the last episode of this sorry saga, I detailed how the anticipation of test results was possibly the worst aspect of your cancer Journey. I wrote that under the assumption that I'd have another encouraging result from my forthcoming PSA test. On Thursday I received this message.

Dear Mr Tichborne,

Your PSA has risen to 0.04 from 0.01. Please let us know if you have any symptoms of concern though it looks from your letters that you will be having follow up with your private urologist.

Best wishes

***** Medical Practice

I was a tad shocked to see this. It was not what I was expecting and most certainly not what I wanted to hear.  I contacted my consultant, who replied

Mr Tichborne

Yes, we are due to discuss this next Monday, but your PSA remains well within the acceptable range of 0-0.2 ng/ml.

Best wishes

So where I'd been expecting a brisk two minutes, I realised it would be more nuanced (shall we say). On Monday, with a mild sense of dread, I joined the call ( consults are done on line these days for such follow ups). And so it transpired. Professor Eden explained that there a number of reasons that such a result can occur, and a recurrance of the cancer is not the most likely. However, it is a change and recommed that we increase the frequency of my follow up PSA tests from eveyr 6 months to every three months and chat again in June. He explained the more likely scenarios in some detail. Briefly some vessels can regenerate or partially regenerate, leading to a non cancer related PSA increase. But of course, it could also be cancer. It is at a very early stage if it is and whatever happens, there is no reason to panic.

Rather annoyingly, it coincided with one of my three non drinking days of the week. Of course Professer Eden is right. There is no reason to be concerned right now. It is afifth of the level where it is an issue. But.....

This journey has gone on for me since November 2011. I had hoped that surgery would have addressed the issue. Maybe it has, but I am now back in the swirling whirlpool of uncertainty. PSA tests every threee months, after a rise, means more anxiety. I will approach the next test, knowing that it has sharply increased, albeit to nowhere near a level of concern. I had been in a good frame of mind and now I am not. Much as I'd love to get off this particular carousel, it is not an option. I just have to wait and see. It occurred to me that Professor Eden's message of "don't panic" dropped the word "don't" as me brain processed it. There is absolutely nothing I can do except wait. In May, I'll have my next test. I can't say I'm looking forward to it. But.......

There is one aspect that, although it doesn't really make me feel full of joy right now, is worth noting. Just suppose that the worst case scenario is occurring. I know about it and it can be dealt with relatively early. Should that happen, I am sure it will not be pleasant, but I will still be in a better position than I would have been, if I'd not been diagnosed in 2011 and had the two rounds of treatment I've had.

So to sum up, I've been re-assurred by one of the best prostate cancer surgeons on the planet that there is nothing to worry about right now. Since then, all I have done is worried

If you're a bloke of a certain age and you haven't get yourself tested, especially if you are in a high risk category.

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