Another pleasant outcome

 I did my PSA test in HUKM on 26 July 2021. Result 2.80. HUKM multidisciplinary team deliberated my case and decided that I could do Active Surveillance as the PSA rise is slow. My next review is scheduled on 4 Feb 2022. Six months surveillance. No joy going to any hospital in the midst of the pandemic. Thank you HUKM. 

Col Allen

Great prognosis post BCR

 

Hi all. Got a pleasant surprise during my PSA review in IKN on 8 July 2021. My PSA dropped to 2.70 from 3.07. Great relief. Now waiting for my next course of action from HUKM for BCR. Possible for more active surveillance. Great relief. 

Col Allen

The new beginning post BCR

 21 JUNE 2021. I am thankful to God for a good PSMA scan prognosis. No metastasis. The GA68 uptakes were only seen over the prostate gland. The Urologist also confirmed all clear with a DRE test. The Urologist informed me that he will bring up my case for the usual multidisciplinary meeting. Now waiting for the next round of treatment. The Urologist gave me two options to start HT or to do active surveillance. We shall decide during my next visit to HUKM. 

Col Allen Lai

Prostate Cancer Society Malaysia Announcement

 Abiraterone acetate.

PCSM is negotiating with Cipla who is manufacturing generic abiraterone for a special price to members from rm3000 to rm1500 per bottle of 120tabs of 250mg. This abiraterone is approved by KKM and is legally imported. And I believe may be claimable under medical insurance. 

We understand the current modus operandi of self importing abiraterone is cheaper, but it is not a long term solution to make legal abiraterone affordable  to all prostate cancer survivors. 

The deal is conditional that we buy 15 to 30 bottles per month.

We need all abiraterone users to support us to make this deal a success, as we will nego with Cipla for other cancer drugs to be made affordable too in near future.

https://www.cipla.com/home

Col Allen Lai

24 June 2021

Prostate Cancer Foundation latest published Patient Guide

 Hi all, This document has very up-todate material on Prostate Cancer Treatments. A must read if you are following treatments as at 2021. It is the best patient guide today.

Click this link to get your free copy. 

https://www.pcf.org/guide/prostate-cancer-patient-guide/

Col Allen

Scannings and Blood Profile Tests Promotion

PCSM endeavours to seek partnerships with our many Corporate Support Group members. The NCSM & PCSM Partnership Programme offers the above promotions exclusively for PCSM members in 2021.

 

PCSM Donation Drive

 PCSM is self funded and does not enjoy grants from the Government and charitable organisations. Do donate to support our many activities nation wide. Thank you for your generosity. 

Prostate Cancer Society Malaysia (PCSM)

 

I was in Hospital HUKM late last year waiting to see my Urologist when I chanced upon to meet up with my old friend Mr Wong Kuan Sing. Mr KS Wong and I were early members of the PCSM. I recalled the early years of PCSM circa 2010 under our past President Mr Das. PCSM was then a small organisation catering to PCA survivors in the Klang Valley only. I fondly remembered our bimonthly meetings in NCSM and Subang Medical Hospital and had many fun gatherings and activities. I also recalled we teamed up in the UMMC Exercise Support Group with the lovely Candy Girls. Great and sporting ladies under the Breast Cancer Support Group in NCSM. The Exercise Support Group was facilitated by Professor Nahar from the UM Faculty of Sport Science. We did gym workouts and danced Zumba in upbeat tunes like "We shall rock you". 

Mr KS Wong is now the incumbent President of  PCSM which had grown in strength to have registered regional centres covering the whole of Malaysia. Under the capable leadership of Mr KS Wong and his Committee Members, PSCM organises scheduled meetings and talks in all the regional centres. The Covid 19 Pandemic has stopped all physical meetings,  making PCSM to adopt digital presence by having Whatsapps chatgroups, Facebook Webinars, and Zoom meetings. PCSM organises frequent talks by Urologists and Oncologists for its members in Zoom.

Mr Peter Wong is the incumbent President of Exercise Support Group

Col Allen Lai leads the Research Support Group and IT Support Group

Several key hospitals in the Klang Valley are in the Corporate Support Group

A Community Forum is under construction to serve PSCM members better

My PSA Graph and Chart as at April 2021

 

2020 The Covid 19 Pandemic Year

 2020 the Covid 19 pandemic brought the whole world to its knees. Every thing were halted and locked down. Most hospitals in the country were remodelled to be Covid 19 centres causing massive disruptions in scheduled hospital check ups and visits.

I was also effected by the frequent movement orders in place and strict compliance to MOH health requisites and SOPs. I requested to delay my scheduled PSA check ups and monitoring to 6 months as my PSA baseline for the year was 1.5. Had a check up in August 2020 and recorded the PSA level rising slowly to 1.65.  All was good until my PSA rose sharply in 2021 surpassing the BCR marker level of 2.0 for RT treatments. Time for a PSMA scan for metastasis.  Col Allen

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