Thursday, December 14, 2017

PSA BASELINE FOR 2018 - 0. 36






I had just done my biannual check up in IKN on 12 December 2017. It is very comforting to get great results from the review.

PSA – 0.362
B/P – 146 /81
Pulse rate - 71
Weight – 69.8
Oxygen level -97 %

Yes, my PSA is rising slowly as expected, rising about 0.2 per year. It will be necessary to intervene with treatments when our PSA reaches 4.0. Hopefully for me it will be some years away. My new PSA baseline for 2018 will be pegged at 0.36.

I am happy to note that my weight has remained constant at 70kg. That is good despite of a bigger waist line. My Oxygen level in my blood is 97%. Excellent for my age at 73 years old.

My present form of exercise is daily bird photography which needs me to carry quite a heavy load of the camera, lenses and other necessities. I walkabout and climb tracks to search for the birds. This is a very good form of therapy. Patience and non stress activities at the end of the day.

My annual general medical review also showed that my main organs are good. No problems with my livers, kidneys and heart.
 I am as good as can be for now, notwithstanding having to cope with diabetes.
Take care all.


Allen Lai

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Metabolism and Bioavailibility






Eating well and moderately has been the mantra for cancer patients. But nobody talks about metabolism and bioavailability. Especially the latter. I have been asked many times what food is good for this cancer and that cancer? And there are tons of marketing of good foods for cancers. Some even “cures” cancer. The quality of food has changed the food-scape somewhat. There are adulterated and fake food scams to entice the uninformed.

I have no answer to these fierce marketing of food. I have since begun to go back to basics and that is metabolism and bioavailability. That is the whole reason why cancer is an individualized disease. No two person has the same levels of metabolism and bioavailibility. Then again age compounds to the problem. Metabolism slows down with age.

My personal food regime comprised animal protein rich food, thermo-genetic food, Omega 3 fats, berries, yogurt, oils and resistant starched foods. Protein rich foods increases thermogenic burn by at least 30%. As I am also diabetic, I opt for resistant starched food mainly also to control my blood sugar. The many properties of resistant starched food include improved metabolism, pre-biotic effects and reduces fat storage. Below are some prepared resistant starched food :

Green, unripe bananas.
Uncooked, rolled oats.
Potatoes that have been cooked then cooled.
Rice that has been cooked then cooled.
White beans that have been cooked then cooled.
Lentils that have been cooked then cooled.

Eating well makes the difference to enhance metabolism and bioavailability.

Take care.

Allen Lai




Prostrate Cancer Treatment Regimens






Below is the link to treatment regimens by Cancer Therapy Advisor. These treatments are the recommended gold standards for participation in clinical trials. Good to read up and be able to discuss with your Oncologist on whats next.

Do note that secondary hormone treatments are also an option for patients with castration- resistant PCa.

http://www.cancertherapyadvisor.com/prostate-cancer/prostate-cancer-treatment-regimens/article/218186/?DCMP=OTC-cta_regasset



Take care

Allen Lai





Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Further therapies




As our line of defenses in treatments fail, PCa advances into a new state of growth. This is generally known as advanced PCa. Advanced PCa is known to be in any one of these state:
Metastatic, asymptomatic, hormone-refractory prostate cancer.
Metastatic castrate-resistant (mCRPC).
Androgen-independent (AI) prostate cancer.
Our Oncologist will have to determine the state of our advanced PCa in order to prescribe the next line of defense. Drugs and protocols for advanced PCa are actively on-going. Immunotherapy leads in this area of treatment.
Cancer patients need to know that Radiotherapy can be done after Prostatectomy, but Prostatectomy cannot be done after Radiotherapy. How ever Hormone Therapy is the standard treatment protocol after either treatment fails.
The following FDA approved drugs may be prescribed in addition to hormone therapy:
Abiraterone (Zytiga) and prednisone.
Enzalutamide (Xtandi).
Radium-223 (Xofigo) for men with cancer that has spread to the bone.
Docetaxel (Docefrez, Taxotere) and prednisone.
Sipuleucel-T (Provenge) for men who have few or no symptoms from the cancer
Cabazitaxel (Jevtana) and prednisone for men with prostate cancer that has worsened while receiving docetaxel.
Mitoxantrone (Novantrone) plus prednisone.
Bicalutamide (Casodex), flutamide (Eulexin), nilutamide (Nilandron), which are all types of anti-androgens.
Ketoconazole (Nizoral, Xolegel).
Low-dose corticosteroids.

Take care

Allen Lai