After Many A Month, the Oncologist Returns

Picasso , Les Demoiselles D'Avignon 1907

It had been around nine months since my last Lupron injection.  On the whole, I had been feeling great  Eating well, exercising, watching my weight etc.  But it was time for me to get both a current PSA and testosterone test before meeting my oncologist.  I had been anxious for all those months, knowing I’d have to get two more tests.  So anxious that when the results arrived, I didn’t look at them.  I just wanted to be at peace until I heard from her so I didn’t look at them.  It was difficult to deal with so when the Zoom appointment arrived, high anxiety had already preceded it.  Prior to the Zoom I garnered enough courage to look at the results: PSA 4.3, testosterone above normal limits.  Needless to say, I was relieved, but wanted to hear what the oncologist might say, which went something like this:  

Physical Exam:

Gen: AOx3, NAD, pleasant, appropriate affect

HEENT: NCAT, CN 2-12 intact grossly

Resp: unlabored, no cough

IMPRESSION: s/p prostate EBRT + stADT, testosterone now normalized, new baseline PSA ~4

PLAN:

-Continue PSA surveillance. Repeat PSA lab in 4 months with follow up after

-Continue Cialis per Urology for LUTS

In lay terms, I was currently cancer free and nothing more needed to be done until the next PSA in four months with one caveat: I was forbidden to use any kind of testosterone enhancement.  No problem.  Needless to say, I couldn’t have been happier were I playing wide receiver for Philadelphia Eagles.  All that to say, if you have dependable and loving partners, you can weather even the worst of cancer’s storms.