Well, I am doing well. As well as can be. My PSA reading on 14 August 2020 is 1.646. Yes increasing but lately slow and steady by 0.15 average every 6 months.  Although my PSADT is 10 months, I expect to reach the critical benchmark of 2.0 by end 2021. To which I'll need to investigate whether my PCa has metastasised to other areas. But I am delighted to have scanned my bones and did a PET scan late last year. Both negative. Take care and stay safe. The coronavirus pandemic is more scary. Col Allen

Status as at 09 March 2020

Oh dear It is clearly a year had passed by since my last post. Time flies does it not? Especially when one is busy with other things in life. Yes I deliberately did not want to think about PCa and it was the best advice given to me by my Oncologist. He had said 'Do not worry too much about your PSA reading, It is our job to monitor your case. You just enjoy yourself with whatever your passions lead you to. Your prognosis is as good as can be. You have been a modal patient" So with that I started to do birding, out reach programmes, volunteering and nature stuff. I started to really enjoy myself again. Yes my PSA readings have been increasing slowly and steadily.  But who cares anyway, my other symptoms and medical checkups are not telling me to worry. The next milestone PSA level for survivors who had radiation treatment is 2. Yes I am nearing that level that needs some scanning to recheck my body works. I had a bone scan and CT scan late last year 2019. Both scans wee clean. There was no metastasis.
Below is my latest PSA Reading on 9 March 2020.

A pleasant delight

My three monthly scheduled review on 08 March 2019 was a pleasant delight. My PSA dropped 0.002 points. My PSA reading was 0.915. A small dip but very significant as the last rise was 0.333 points hitting 0.917 points. A frightening and unusual rise which I had prayed that the rise was due to inflammation in my right leg due to a fall.
Other body metrics were normal except for a 2kg increase in weight largely due to over eating during the Chinese New Year 2019 festive season.

Weight = 72.2 kg
BP = 118/72
Oxygen level = 95%
DRE = Negative

A sharp rise in three months. PSA now at 0.917

My regular quarterly PSA checks in IKN on 12 December 2018 was 0.917 a rise of 0.333. It is however a small concern as it is the highest rise in 3 months. One reason I feel strongly is that PSA does rise somewhat with inflammation. I had a bad fall on 26 October 2018 which was about 6 weeks before my checkup. Could this be the cause for the surge? I pray it is so and hope that my PSA level will fall back a bit during my next review in March 2019.

Other biodata remains stable:

BP - 128/80

Pulse 87

Weight - 70.6 kg

Oxygen - 96%

Dip in PSA reading

I am most happy and pleasantly surprised that my PSA reading dipped on 12 September 2018. My PSA was 0.01 points down since 12 June 2018. A small dip down, but a big significant dip nevertheless. My PSA has been rising steadily by about 0.2 point per annum since January 2016. Rising all the time until now. My Oncologist also did a DRE test said that there were no abnormality.

All my body metrics had remained fairly constant save for a gain of about 1.5 kg in weight, and potting a beer belly.

Take care all.

Allen Lai

Set Yourself Free

If you feel entrapped in any misfortunes, like having cancer, if you are unable to cope then read Reon's Schutte's inspirational book "Set yourself free - with Reon's 10 principles to breakout from your personal prison" It is well written and easy to read. The messages and inspirations given by Reon are real and empowering. He went through hell so to speak and survived to share his experiences. Reno's 10 principles starts with the power of choice. This principle itself is worth the read. The book also include tools and exercises to start your venture into a new and confident you.

Take care.

Allen Lai

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

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

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