Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Prostate Cancer

Prostate Cancer June , 2010

This letter is from Bob and Ruth of Fargo, North Dakota. We found out about you from our daughter, Bonnie who lives in Manitoba. We have appreciated listening in on your Monday evening conference calls! During a recent phone conversation with Bonnie, you asked her to have me provide you with a brief history of my efforts to deal with prostate cancer so that you could discuss this with us via phone call.
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Until about 2005, my PSA was 4. Because of a higher level in 2008, a biopsy was conducted on 4-21-08 and I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. At that time my PSA was 6.89. The test showed a Gleason score of 7 and Stage T2. A bone scan on 5-6-08 showed no metastic disease; the cancer was contained within the prostate gland. I refused surgery, radiation and chemo. Rather, I opted for watchful waiting. PSA was tested about every 3 months. Here are the results of those tests:
Aug. 11, 2008 ( PSA 9.23),
Dec. 2, 2008 (PSA 16.68),
Mar.11, 2009 (PSA 24),
Nov. 10, 2009 (PSA 92.47),
Jan. 12, 2010 (PSA 140).
April 12, 2010 (PSA 176.3)
ON MARCH 2, 2010, I STARTED ON THE PAW PAW PROGRAM AND CONTINUED THE PERIODIC PSA TESTING WITH MY UROLOGIST. By the time of the April 12 test date showing a PSA of 176.3, both my urologist and primary care physician gave me several more urgent warnings to submit to one of the treatments they recommended, i.e.,radiation, hormone therapy, chemo, etc.

In the interest of gaining some feed back as to whether the Paw Paw Program was having any effect, I looked on the internet and found a diagonstic testing lab with a rating from the Better Business Bureau, named Test Medical Symptoms @ Home. Inc. . Phone 888-595-3139. info@testsysmptpmsathome.com They provided a home test kit for taking a blood sample from your finger and placing it on a special absorbant material. When dry, the sample is mailed to the lab which is under the direction of a medical doctor. The test results were mailed back showing that my PSA is now down to 10! What a dramatic effect, The cost of this service was $40.50 The turn around time for test results was 2 weeks.

In an effort to verify the accuracy of the test, I attempted to have my primary care physician authorize a PSA test at the lab serving his office. He refused, stating that it had been only two and one half months since the last one and it would only be viewed as an abuse of the Medicare Health program. He further stated there was nothing I could do to reduce my score and for me to urgently get over to the urologist and begin one of the main stream medical treatments! It was not even possible for me to pay cash for the further test, So, I told them to "have a nice day" and then went to work on this letter.

With appreciation, Ruth and Bob