Latest PSA (June 2026): still less than 0.1 on the standard assay. I was a little surprised, but I'll take it!
Lymphoma still very indolent, no treatment yet, nodes overall shrank or stayed the same on the last CT. Platelets are a little low, though (132, where 150 is the lower limit of normal). Oncologist not worried unless they drop below 100.
So I accidentally had another ultra-sensitive PSA test, this time at work (I had a screening done in order to get my Mutual of Omaha cancer policy benefit).
It was 0.08.
To recap, I don't have a prostate, and I have been less than 0.1 since the end of radiation in 2007.
In mid 2020, a test showed 0.02, the first time any number had registered for me. Then just over a year later, 0.05. So that's when I checked in with a prostate specialist. They ran standard tests every 3 months which were all less than 0.1.
So it would seem that it is creeping up, but very, very slowly. I calculated a doubling time of 28 months. That would put me over the 0.1 line within a year, if the trend continues. If.
I'm not going to worry about it for now. If it gets to 0.1 then I'll contact the prostate oncologist again.
I'm still here!
PSA still undetectable on standard assay, follicular lymphoma still nice and quiet, prosthetic heart valve still working fine.
Working out 3 days a week, plus hiking and biking.
I read Peter Attia's book, Outlive, a few months ago, and now I'm trying to reduce my visceral fat (the fat around your organs) which is especially dangerous. Waist circumference is tied to insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, and early death. Even though my BMI is almost normal (25.5), my waist circumference is way too high. In case you're wondering, waist circumference is not the same as your pants waist size.
https://www.webmd.com/diet/calculating-your-waist-circumference
Getting started early with salvage radiation improves the odds of success, yet another study shows. In this study, an important PSA cutpoint was shown to be 0.25 ng/ml:
"In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Derya Tilki, MD, and colleagues identified a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level cutpoint, above which initiation of salvage radiation therapy after radical prostatectomy was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality in patients with prostate cancer." Source: The ASCO Post, March 7, 2023. https://ascopost.com/news/march-2023/psa-level-at-time-of-salvage-radiation-therapy-after-radical-prostatectomy-and-risk-of-all-cause-mortality/
In my case, because my urologist wasn't watching me like a hawk, and because Christmas and New Year's hit at the time I was trying to make appointments, I started SRT much later than 0.25. I was fortunate that it still worked, and apparently cured my cancer.
Just had a PSA done--still less than 0.10. I had been frantic a couple of years ago when I had two ultrasensitive tests done just over a year apart. The first one showed .02, and was the first PSA that was "detectable" since salvage radiation did its job in 2007. Then in 2021 I had another ultrasensitive test. It was 0.05, or more than double. I went to a prostate cancer oncologist, who reassured me that it was probably nothing. He said he didn't order ultrasensitive tests for people like me (post-surgery, post-radiation). So we've gone with the regular assay.
Lymphoma, treatment for lymphoma, or more likely, my heart, is the real threat to making it as long as my parents have. Both parents are alive and well, in the 80s and 90s. My grandmother is over 105!
Anyway, that's it for now.
Contempt and defiance.
Sometimes I think of myself (or you, if you're facing cancer) in the shoes of the armored Exeter, representing Henry V, when the messenger of the Dauphin, prince of France, asks what message Henry sends his enemy.
Exeter : "Scorn and defiance, slight regard, contempt."
I've got my quarterly blood tests coming up soon for lymphoma. I'm not expecting any surprises--feeling fine in that regard. But if there is any reason for concern, I'm in good hands and not overly anxious.
Eventually, most follicular lymphoma patients need treatment (immunotherapy plus chemotherapy), but its best not to get treated any sooner than necessary. I'm hoping it's a long time.
The CT scan showed that some of my affected lymph nodes had increase in size, but very little (like 1 mm). The others were the same size as a year ago.
So, no treatment! Blood tests every 3 months, and a CT again in August 2023.
No news on my PSA--I assume it's still less than 0.1. I'll check again next year.
Heart palpitations (premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs) are still a nuisance. That may be my next intervention.
That's all for now--stay cool!
