Wednesday, May 13, 2009

GREAT NEWS HAS TO BE SHARED!

Odel called me from the golf course a few minutes ago - he had just received a call from the doctor's office with the results of his first followup PSA results since receiving Proton Beam Therapy for prostate cancer this past winter. PSA: 1.5!

Odel's highest PSA reading was 9.7, in October of 2008. After 45 Proton Beam treatments, the prognosis is that the first followup PSA reading should be half of what it was prior to treatment. 1.5 is fantastically fabulous! I am teary-eyed with happiness and relief as I type this (while he is out on the golf course no doubt grinning ear to ear).

Odel was diagnosed with prostate cancer 11 months ago, right here in Sacramento. If any of you want to read about the treatment he chose, here is my
long (and illustrated) description of the process from a prior blog post. To read more about Loma Linda University Medical Center (LLUMC), Odel's treatments, and our three month stay in Loma Linda, click on LLUMC under "Find Blog Posts by Topic" on the left side of the blog. We can't say enough good things about the LLUMC experience.

And one last reminder: please, please, all male readers, get a PSA test. Medical experts say to begin testing at age 50, earlier if there is ANY history of prostate cancer in your family. Establish your "baseline" number early, then watch for "doubling", a sudden jump in the number (no matter how high or low). Maybe it is nothing, maybe it is something - monitoring and perhaps a biopsy will tell. Odel's cancer was caught early, so he had his choice of excellent treatment options. Everyone should be so "lucky". :)

Now, back to my previously scheduled program - vacuuming and dusting! I'm floating on air.

16 comments:

  1. Thats great news Laurie we wish Odel and yourself all the best and look forward to crossing paths one day

    Phil & Rose Hale

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  2. I am so happy for Odel and you. Either his golf game is shot for today, or he'll hit a hole-in-one.

    This calls for a celebration!

    gyspy

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  3. Congratulations on the low psa! My husband had prostate cancer for almost 10 years. His psa was 430 at diagnosis. I sure know how important it is to get that number down. Sounds like Odel chose a very good treatment for him. It's working! Yea!

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  4. HURRAY!!!! What great news!!
    lots of hugs,
    donna

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  5. It's always great to hear news like this! Congratulations and all the best!

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  6. Hip, hip, horray for Odel!!! Oh, we are so happy to hear the good news. Betcha there is a bottle of wine for this occasion! Bobbie and Jim

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  7. Congratulations to you both!! We never met, as you left 10 days after my husband started his treatment. So happy to hear about the low PSA. Even though we all leave Loma Linda feeling like a million dollars and full of optimism that everything's going to be fine, getting that reading is a huge relief. Congrats, again.

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  8. what wonderful news for both of you. I know it has been a time of feeling hope,and also hopeless..so have a glass of wine tonight and giggle with joy!!!
    I am a faily recent reader of your blog,enjoy it very much.

    Maryann(drsmom) in Oklahoma

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  9. What great news, congratulations - and continued good health!
    Regards,
    Fred & Jo

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  10. Oh, Laurie, how wonderful! What an amazing world we live in now. Thank you so much for sharing the story, I told my son about Odel's treatment, who told his father who has prostate cancer. maybe now he will follow through. You and Odel not only saved Odel, but probably countless others with your willingness to share the story of Odel's treatment. thank you both again.

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  11. FANTASTIC news!!! Have a wonderful summer!!!
    Cathy

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  12. yay for y'all! that's such great news; I'm sure your shoulders and hearts feel so much lighter :)

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  13. Odell, glad to hear your good news. Glad to catch up with you. We have funded a couple of Kiva loans to the same entrepeneurs.
    Happy trails! (from an oncology social worker)

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  14. It is truly "Happy Trails" time for you guys........Yaaaaaay:))

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  15. I really enjoy reading your blog and your photo's. Congratulations on the great great news...

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