I am just coming off a 2-day “PSA-Dread” hangover. What that means is that we went to see DH’s radiation oncologist at Sloan-Kettering (MSK) on Tuesday to see whether his salvage radiation (sRT = radiation after failed surgery) had worked. You know that feeling of anguish that builds up as “D-Day” draws near. Your mind twists itself into pretzels going over the possibilities . . .
What I really think we need is a “Manhattan Project” to conquer the “PSA Monster” so that we can live a relatively anxiety-free life. The Declaration of Independence gives us the right to pursue “happiness,” but isn’t peace of mind just as worthwhile a goal?
Most cancers come with fears of recurrence, but I think it’s particularly noxious with prostate cancer. So I want to repost something I wrote about this subject before DH had a recurrence. Virtually all of it still applies. Then I would like to talk about our experience getting T’s results the other day (separate post). BTW, the doctor said T’s PSA is undetectible.
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I want to share with you my theory about what makes the PSA testing process so wretched.
I think it is because, unlike with some other illnesses, you, the patient, have no CONTROL over the outcome. And the less control you have the more anxious you’ll be. For example, I don’t know of anything reliable that you can do to prevent a recurrence of PC. You could be the most virtuous person and do everything right, but it probably wouldn’t change the outcome. Therefore, you fee