PSA - the deal thread

[idiotsdelight]

I’ve always wondered what PSA stood for

According to Google, it means Prostate-specific antigen. Very important for men over 50.
This has been a public service announcement.

Which are notoriously inaccurate. The Prostate is directly correlated to volume of sperm produced by the male human which is the medical professions pretext for obtaining a biopsy hence they "No NOOKY" for at least 5 days prior to the PSA. The Biopsy test in itself is somewhat inaccurate because the number of samples obtained will give you hit or miss results...the Urologist is just sticking a sample needle into your Prostate willy nilly trying to find possible cancer cells. The ONLY really accurate way to get definitive results is thru an MRI.

Having had all of the above, my wife and I (at age 68 next month) have had fun farking with my Urologists head over the last 18 months with widely varying test results due to intra-marital affairs...including a plummeting PSA number by 30% POST biopsy as a result of those activities.

It's ALL about BILLING folks.

This has been a REAL LIFE Personal Experience Announcement.

Going through this as we speak.

How did a MRI help get you definitive results? Define definitive results?

My MRI found something previously unseen (active observation for the past 14 months) a year prior. 5 biopsies taken from that precise area bump my Gleason up to 7 from 6. My bone scan is negative. They think its confined to the capsule.

No 1 part of all this is definitively accurate. It seems to me they use all them to determine their diagnosis. I wouldnt have my prostate removed just because they see something on the image. I'd want a biopsy too. I also messaged my previous Oncologist too for his opinion. Time is ticking.

I'm having labs drawn Friday. A PSA will be part of it. I've never been told to abstain from sex pre biopsy or labs.

Ive never had any symptoms. No urinary discomfort, issues, prostate measured normal, etc. Just routine blood work for my age (54). This is why men die from it. Its treatable cancer. Get your prostate checked.

[LightWingStudios]

As you noted, the MRI will reveal much more than the PSA and/or the biopsy. Did they tell you how big the anomaly was? I had an MRI after all that other crap. It revealed an .8cm mass which is self contained and has not spread out to surrounding tissue. That's ridiculously small according to my Primary Physician...under 15% the size of the Prostate itself. She disagrees with the Oncologist who wants to implant seeds, "radiate" me 5 times a week for two months and go thru all the side effects that entails. I'll be 68 next month and my Gleason post Biopsy was 5 which means I have a less than a 10% chance of Cancer over the next 15 years. I can live with that. I've opted to go for "monitoring" it every 6 months.

[Houblues]

As you noted, the MRI will reveal much more than the PSA and/or the biopsy. Did they tell you how big the anomaly was? I had an MRI after all that other crap. It revealed an .8cm mass which is self contained and has not spread out to surrounding tissue. That's ridiculously small according to my Primary Physician...under 15% the size of the Prostate itself. She disagrees with the Oncologist who wants to implant seeds, "radiate" me 5 times a week for two months and go thru all the side effects that entails. I'll be 68 next month and my Gleason post Biopsy was 5 which means I have a less than a 10% chance of Cancer over the next 15 years. I can live with that. I've opted to go for "monitoring" it every 6 months.

As someone who is just now experiencing the effects of all that (proton radiation, hormone therapy, seeds), I would do the same in your position. At the same time, I wish I had been able to be treated sooner, as it got pretty aggressive while I was watchful waiting and monitoring by biopsy. Whatever you do, you don't want to get into a situation where Lupron (hormone deprivation) is part of the treatment. It is an absolutely horrible drug, both physiologically and psychologically. I should have made a choice as soon as the PCA3 showed positive but I waited another several years.

Here is a reference on how specific and accurate the PCA3 is - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2556484/. In my opinion its criminal if a urologist is not using this in sequence between the PSA and a MRI/biopsy.

[idiotsdelight]

As you noted, the MRI will reveal much more than the PSA and/or the biopsy. Did they tell you how big the anomaly was? I had an MRI after all that other crap. It revealed an .8cm mass which is self contained and has not spread out to surrounding tissue. That's ridiculously small according to my Primary Physician...under 15% the size of the Prostate itself. She disagrees with the Oncologist who wants to implant seeds, "radiate" me 5 times a week for two months and go thru all the side effects that entails. I'll be 68 next month and my Gleason post Biopsy was 5 which means I have a less than a 10% chance of Cancer over the next 15 years. I can live with that. I've opted to go for "monitoring" it every 6 months.

As someone who is just now experiencing the effects of all that (proton radiation, hormone therapy, seeds), I would do the same in your position. At the same time, I wish I had been able to be treated sooner, as it got pretty aggressive while I was watchful waiting and monitoring by biopsy. Whatever you do, you don't want to get into a situation where Lupron (hormone deprivation) is part of the treatment. It is an absolutely horrible drug, both physiologically and psychologically. I should have made a choice as soon as the PCA3 showed positive but I waited another several years.

Here is a reference on how specific and accurate the PCA3 is - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2556484/. In my opinion its criminal if a urologist is not using this in sequence between the PSA and a MRI/biopsy.

They did tell me how big. I'd have to look at my chart to tell the exact size. The fact that it wasnt present 12 months ago and can now be seen on a MRI, and felt via physical exam, and subsequent biopsy bumps me out of active observation into treatment territory. Drs considered that aggressive growth.

If my PSA was still at 5 I'd be content with continued monitoring. I've watched mine climb consistently, which compared to others is still relatively low. The biopsy score is more worrisome and demands treatment.

As Houblues mentions, I heard and have been warned about Lupron. Hormone therapy is something I dont want. Its ragged psychologically and physically. I considered seed implantation and radiation. Too time consuming and, to me, removes previous options. All approaches generally get you the same results if successful.

Not looking forward to this to be honest. I've been dreading it for the last 1.5yrs.

Everyone's situation is different. This is mine.

[ILuvTeles]

Indio by Monoprice Cali DLX Plus Solid Ash Electric

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id= ... Price+Drop

Normal price is $230, currently $184 (20% off), during checkout another 15% off coupon popped up (15OFFNOW), with free shipping! Guitar was $156.39!

[mighty_duck]

Indio by Monoprice Cali DLX Plus Solid Ash Electric

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id= ... Price+Drop

Normal price is $230, currently $184 (20% off), during checkout another 15% off coupon popped up (15OFFNOW), with free shipping! Guitar was $156.39!

Nice find!
The cherry one is giving me pause. I really don't need another guitar!

The Ash Tele is on a similar deal for $136 (using your coupon).
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=610291

[ILuvTeles]

The Ash Tele is on a similar deal for $136 (using your coupon).
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=610291

I cannot resist!

[mighty_duck]

I cannot resist!

It is futile!
Natural or cherry?

[Partscaster]

The Ash Tele is on a similar deal for $136 (using your coupon).
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=610291

I cannot resist!

Yeah Boss. I almost did the same...Congrats to you. That is very tempting. I am involved with a rejuvenation of my SX Taurus-2. Have just put a Squier CV 60's strat neck on it. Waiting on tuners, pg, and new bridge.
However, the new ash-tray bridge w/ wilkinson compensated saddles and no side walls, I'm realizing, may imply a lot of bridge ferrule and screw hole plugging and redrilling. Anywho...its made me also think about selliing the Taurus as is, and buying another ash bodied tele for modding. This Monoprice got my attention. However, I should use the Taurus and do whatever it takes. Its a 1 piece ash body,. I have a new groovy pickguard coming. It has Don Mare Zep-o-live pickups in it. I'll stay on course. But the monoprice looks like a good option.

[nomadh]

Nice looking ash guitars. Not as nice as a prostate treatment but pretty good for a guitar.

[idiotsdelight]

I almost went for the Monoprice 15w amp with that code. I held firm.

The new Grote big semi hollow body on the other hand...

[jtcnj]

Good luck to you fellas having your innards checked out.

that mono tele looked pretty good.

I have mostly decided on a Squier Classsic Vibe 50's but not new at $429 (not in stock anyway)
I held and played a friend's a bit unplugged recently that was about 7lbs with no neck dive.
i will keep an eye out in the glut of used instruments that may appear soon.

[ILuvTeles]

I cannot resist!

It is futile!
Natural or cherry?

natural strat & tele.

Plus earlier in the day I got the IVY ITF-300 for $115 from the Amazon warehouse.

It was a bit of an extreme day! Ya gotta spend money to save money!

[mickey]

Ya gotta spend money to save money!

I had never realized you are female!

[Mossman]

Indio by Monoprice Cali DLX Plus Solid Ash Electric

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id= ... Price+Drop

Normal price is $230, currently $184 (20% off), during checkout another 15% off coupon popped up (15OFFNOW), with free shipping! Guitar was $156.39!

Nice find!
The cherry one is giving me pause. I really don't need another guitar!
image.png

The Ash Tele is on a similar deal for $136 (using your coupon).
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=610291

Better check the weight on those. That's northern Ash, which means: heavy. Someone in the Q&A for the Tele listing said theirs weighed 11.28 lbs. That's too heavy for me. Maybe the Strat will be lighter than the Tele, but it'll still be heavy for a Strat (unless it has a thinner body. The Tele is a full 1.75" thick). I tried to post a question about the weight, but it didn't seem to work.

[bc rich]

Not sure about these ash bodies , but i bought a Cali DLX flame top , now discontinued and it came with a swimming pool pickup route. They did not state what the body wood was but it is average weight most likely basswood . Added an anodized pickguard & Tex mex pickups just because they had been in the draw to long . Great guitar and and now at a great price .

[Mossman]

Not sure about these ash bodies , but i bought a Cali DLX flame top , now discontinued and it came with a swimming pool pickup route. They did not state what the body wood was but it is average weight most likely basswood . Added an anodized pickguard & Tex mex pickups just because they had been in the draw to long . Great guitar and and now at a great price .

That thing looks swank with the gold pickguard!

But I've always been partial to a gold anodized PG on red guitars (CAR in this case):

[idiotsdelight]

The new Grote big semi hollow body on the other hand...

In a groggy opioid post surgery haze I cracked and ordered the Grote. I loaded a pre paid gift card with $100 to get $10 off the price, plus they dropped the price $50.

[Mossman]

Woo-Hoo!!

I hope everything went alright with your surgery.

[jtcnj]

@idiotsdelight Yes, hope your health issue has the best possible positive out come.

Strange these bad customer service decisions are made knowing these tales will likely be shared with others.

I ordered one of those Sweetwater $19. Behringer pedals and have just been letting it ride.
Oddly enough, shortly after reading this thread I checked up on my low priority email accounts and low and behold - it shipped a few days ago and is scheduled for delivery today.

[slowhand84]

These IYV Thinline P90 axes are back in stock at Amazon, they never last long. Given that it's Amazon prime and will arrive Wed (and given that I've been looking for a P90 axe with pretty much these exact specs and this was under $200 shipped), and given the easy return if needed...took a shot at it. Tried to link it but for some reason the link doesn't show up...just search "Ivy ITF-400" on Amazon and it'll pop up.

[BrianSkeezer]

Maybe this link will work.

https://www.amzn.com/dp/B0107BAET8/?col ... _lig_dp_it

[thepezident]

@BrianSkeezer link works

[slowhand84]

Maybe this link will work.

https://www.amzn.com/dp/B0107BAET8/?col ... _lig_dp_it

Yep that’s the one. When I was pasting it into my post, it would show up and then once I hit “submit” it would disappear entirely (but the Youtube video and the rest of the message would remain). Strange.

[RiverDog]

Free MESA/Boogie Triple Rectifier and artist presets for AmpliTube. Available through 5/2/21.

https://www.ikmultimedia.com/news/?id=A ... Phase2MESA