One month on South Beach reduced my overall cholesterol 26% to 189. My other numbers, out of whack a few months ago, have fallen into place as well--triglycerides, HDL, LDL, glucose.
However, my white blood cell count remains low at 2.2 (normal range 4-11). My primary care doctor is not concerned. Not sure if I should be. Nothing else looks strange, although absolute neutrophils are slightly low.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Friday, August 1, 2008
Life is good on the Beach
I've lost 15 lbs. now in one month on the South Beach Diet. 30 minutes on the treadmill each day accelerates the disappearance of my belly.
South Beach also is easy on my digestive system--heartburn is very rare, and so is gas and bloating, which has been a continuing problem since radiation.
As I lose weight, I have more energy for the treadmill and for being active, and the more active, the faster I burn fat. It's a nice feedback loop.
Had blood drawn this morning for a total metabolic panel (main concern is cholesterol). Waiting room had a TV blasting, and if you don't think obesity is an epidemic in this country, you don't get out enough. Heavy people seem to be especially concentrated in places like labs, I guess because of the health issues related to weight. The chairs were barely able to hold some of these folks.
I think the country is on the verge of a health emergency from obesity. I can sympathize--a couple of months ago I was at the top end of "overweight" and heading quickly towards "obese" as defined by body mass index.
My first marathon training session will be in 3 weeks. I'm accumulating the gear now, like WrightSock running socks that are supposed to help prevent blisters.
South Beach also is easy on my digestive system--heartburn is very rare, and so is gas and bloating, which has been a continuing problem since radiation.
As I lose weight, I have more energy for the treadmill and for being active, and the more active, the faster I burn fat. It's a nice feedback loop.
Had blood drawn this morning for a total metabolic panel (main concern is cholesterol). Waiting room had a TV blasting, and if you don't think obesity is an epidemic in this country, you don't get out enough. Heavy people seem to be especially concentrated in places like labs, I guess because of the health issues related to weight. The chairs were barely able to hold some of these folks.
I think the country is on the verge of a health emergency from obesity. I can sympathize--a couple of months ago I was at the top end of "overweight" and heading quickly towards "obese" as defined by body mass index.
My first marathon training session will be in 3 weeks. I'm accumulating the gear now, like WrightSock running socks that are supposed to help prevent blisters.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
I admit it's getting better...
...a little better, all the time.
I've lost 12 lbs. on South Beach, and I'm progressing in the 100 Pushup challenge. I've been on the treadmill a little, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to sign up with 1stMarathon, a national network that prepares newbies to run a marathon--in my case, the PF Chang's Rock & Roll Marathon in January.
It's time to get my cholesterol checked. If it's still high, it's probably time for statins. That's not a bad thing--statins seem to help with prostate cancer (if any is left in me--hopefully not) and in preventing dementia.
I've been taking fish oil supplements, 900 mg each night at bedtime. I found that the ones from GNC don't cause any aftertaste or nasty fish burps like I've experienced with other products.
Maybe the exercise, weight loss, and fish oil will have brought down my numbers, but I doubt it will be enough. I've always had high cholesterol.
I've lost 12 lbs. on South Beach, and I'm progressing in the 100 Pushup challenge. I've been on the treadmill a little, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to sign up with 1stMarathon, a national network that prepares newbies to run a marathon--in my case, the PF Chang's Rock & Roll Marathon in January.
It's time to get my cholesterol checked. If it's still high, it's probably time for statins. That's not a bad thing--statins seem to help with prostate cancer (if any is left in me--hopefully not) and in preventing dementia.
I've been taking fish oil supplements, 900 mg each night at bedtime. I found that the ones from GNC don't cause any aftertaste or nasty fish burps like I've experienced with other products.
Maybe the exercise, weight loss, and fish oil will have brought down my numbers, but I doubt it will be enough. I've always had high cholesterol.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Life goes on
I'm on the South Beach Diet now, and my gut is much better for it. I still have some issues post-radiation with the colon being a little over-active. It's very quiet on South Beach, except when I overdo artificial sweeteners like sorbitol (which can affect anyone if they eat enough of it). I lost 8 lbs. in 2 weeks so far on South Beach (a diet that has worked well for me in the past).
Working on the Internet 100 Pushup Challenge, too.
I have to go in before long to get cholesterol results. I have a feeling I'll be on cholesterol-lowering medication before long.
No PSA until November. At that point, if it's still less than 0.1, I'll probably stop posting to the blog and eventually shut it down, as I focus my energies and attention elsewhere and stop obsessing so much about salvage radiation.
Working on the Internet 100 Pushup Challenge, too.
I have to go in before long to get cholesterol results. I have a feeling I'll be on cholesterol-lowering medication before long.
No PSA until November. At that point, if it's still less than 0.1, I'll probably stop posting to the blog and eventually shut it down, as I focus my energies and attention elsewhere and stop obsessing so much about salvage radiation.
Friday, June 13, 2008
An update to "Even Better Odds"
Earlier, I reported on research by Loeb, et al., on the efficacy of salvage radiation (see "Even Better Odds" below).
It turns out their research really didn't turn up improved odds for me like me--pos. margins and/or extracapsular extension.
I read a more detailed abstract of this on the AUA website. (I've also ordered a full text copy of the article for my own use).
On the AUA site (where they make poster sessions available for free) it says (all caps is my emphasis) "In patients with SM+/ECE, SVI, and LN+, the 7-year progression free survival rates WITH OBSERVATION were 62%, 32%, and 7%, respectively. AMONG THOSE WHO FAILED, 56%, 26%, and 0%, respectively, maintained an undetectable PSA for 5 years after salvage radiotherapy."
Okay. This means--using positive margin patients like me as an example--that 62% did not progress in 7 years of observation. Of the men that DID see their PSA rise during observation (like me), 56% seemed to have a good response to salvage radiation, at least out to 5 years.
So I'm back to post-salvage progression-free odds in the neighborhood of 55-60% again, like Stephenson's research indicates.
It turns out their research really didn't turn up improved odds for me like me--pos. margins and/or extracapsular extension.
I read a more detailed abstract of this on the AUA website. (I've also ordered a full text copy of the article for my own use).
On the AUA site (where they make poster sessions available for free) it says (all caps is my emphasis) "In patients with SM+/ECE, SVI, and LN+, the 7-year progression free survival rates WITH OBSERVATION were 62%, 32%, and 7%, respectively. AMONG THOSE WHO FAILED, 56%, 26%, and 0%, respectively, maintained an undetectable PSA for 5 years after salvage radiotherapy."
Okay. This means--using positive margin patients like me as an example--that 62% did not progress in 7 years of observation. Of the men that DID see their PSA rise during observation (like me), 56% seemed to have a good response to salvage radiation, at least out to 5 years.
So I'm back to post-salvage progression-free odds in the neighborhood of 55-60% again, like Stephenson's research indicates.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
The NEW Prostate Cancer Infolink
If you haven't seen this revamped site, drop everything and check it out right now. Tons of good information, and it's watched over and run by medical professionals. My friend John, (aka) az4peaks@newpca.org, is there. John is a real "go-to" guy for information on this disease.
http://prostatecancerinfolink.net
Don't miss out on the social networking aspect of the site. If you want to talk about prostate cancer, it's the place to go.
Look for me (Galileo) there!
http://prostatecancerinfolink.net
Don't miss out on the social networking aspect of the site. If you want to talk about prostate cancer, it's the place to go.
Look for me (Galileo) there!
Survival Benefit
A preliminary, retrospective study shows that salvage radiation may offer a survival benefit in a subgroup of patients. Looking at two groups--those with PSA doubling times greater than or equal to 6 months, and those with doubling times less than 6 months, both groups did better with salvage radiotherapy than without--BUT--those with relatively fast doubling times had a more pronounced benefit.
Ten-year prostate cancer survival was substantially higher for men given salvage radiotherapy alone or with hormonal therapy than for those who received no salvage therapy (86%, 82%, and 62%, respectively, P<0.0001),>
Trock B, et al "Prostate cancer-specific survival in men with biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy: impact of salvage radiotherapy vs. observation" ASCO GU Meeting 2008.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ASCOGU/dh/8357
Ten-year prostate cancer survival was substantially higher for men given salvage radiotherapy alone or with hormonal therapy than for those who received no salvage therapy (86%, 82%, and 62%, respectively, P<0.0001),>
Trock B, et al "Prostate cancer-specific survival in men with biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy: impact of salvage radiotherapy vs. observation" ASCO GU Meeting 2008.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ASCOGU/dh/8357
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