Blood Test this Week

Posted on 10/26/2014 by Andrew Reynolds

The PSA

Prostate specific anxiety
Just a little poke
Just one little vile

My future in a number
Just a little number
Just one

What will it be?
Uncontrollable
Unknowable.

Am I doomed?
or am I freed
from the slow march.

The road travels up
and down
Just over the horizon is
relief or the long slow end.

Options, possibilities and alternatives
Crowd out thoughts of
friends, love and life.

This number, in sequence
Compared to that number
Those numbers, other numbers.

If A plus B
Minus C
Growing fast
or shrinking slow
or sameness without answer.
A number
That brings us to a life
without
PSA

This is another little poem from the book I am writing.  It comes to mind today because this is the week that I had my six month PSA (prostate specific antigen) test.  For those of us treated for prostate cancer this little number means a lot.  A continued low number meaning the cancer is contained.  A high number indicating that treatment has failed.  Well, it’s not that simple but what the number will be is a constant source of anxiety.

The good news is that my PSA test came back with the lowest number I’ve had yet – clear evidence that the radiation treatment worked.  It should be party time here with rockets and balloons.

But a glass of wine with friends is enough as I’ve got life to live, art to create, a book to write, and a wife I love.

Till next week,
Andrew

About Andrew Reynolds

Born in California Did the school thing studying electronics, computers, release engineering and literary criticism. I worked in the high tech world doing software release engineering and am now retired. Then I got prostate cancer. Now I am a blogger and work in my wood shop doing scroll saw work and marquetry.
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10 Responses to Blood Test this Week

  1. PreciousRhymes says:
    10/29/2014 at 2:10 am

    Greetings Andrew! Enjoyed reading ‘The PSA’. It captures the emotions of fear, hope, uncertainty and a reverence for life with simplicity and heart. May light and love always be with you. Also wanted to thank you for stopping by at precious rhymes.

    Like

  2. morristownmemos by Ronnie Hammer says:
    10/27/2014 at 5:24 pm

    Not to sound spooky, but your Karma was positive and upbeat, and as I read your poem I knew that the outcome would be a good one. I’m so happy for you; congratulations.

    Like

  3. YAPCaB says:
    10/27/2014 at 12:57 pm

    Congrats! By this time it should be pretty definitive that you’re cancer free.

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    • Andrew says:
      10/27/2014 at 1:08 pm

      Thanks!
      It’s 2.5 years, so it’s very likely I’ll not see a occurrence. I haven’t crossed the mythical 5 year mark, but still it’s a good sign.

      Like

  4. mikejustrambling says:
    10/27/2014 at 6:55 am

    Congrats . Mine was low too for 3 years. Unfortunately it has been rising for over a year now and has doubled in less than a year. The Dr’s are just scratching their collective heads and have no clue what to do now. I too had over 8 weeks of radiation and surgery. You know I wish you all the best. Not meaning to rain on your parade. just sharing perhaps venting a bit as well.

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    • Andrew says:
      10/27/2014 at 8:38 am

      and your experience is the reason for the poem – it’s all too common for the best of treatments to fail. Here’s hoping the doctors come up with some thing for you.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Ron Lewandowski says:
    10/27/2014 at 6:12 am

    You also have prayers from people that you may never meet. You are an inspiration Andrew—think I’ll go tell my wife I love her.

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