PSA, Albumin and Eleonora’s Falcons

My latest PSA test shows a marginal increase over the previous 0.88, but still well within the ‘worry limit’ of 4. I took a test for albumin at the same time. Apparently this is a significant marker for one’s state of illness and it was just below norm on an earlier sample. This time it had lifted a bit to show improvement (and, no, you can’t give it a boost by eating the whites of eggs - if only it were that simple!)

So, all in all, encouraging. Just the irritating side effects of Casodex - a hormonal pharmaceutical controlling the PSA - to contend with. Tender breast area and some loss of muscle mass, which as a normally skinny 6’3” person, I can ill afford. Overall, though, feeling good and still able to rise and shine at first light each day for my Qi Gong session.


Pondering all of this, I am being entertained by feeding time aerobatics of the falcons (falco eleonorae), which nest on the neighbouring islet of Telendos before flying off to winter on islands in the Indian Ocean. These superbly aerodynamic birds soar and swoop as they pursue freshly hatched flying ants and other insects floating up on the summer thermals. They glide onto the prey, slam on the air brakes, snatch with their talons and reach down for the morsel with their beaks. All in one dazzling manoeuvre.

This is a good place to live. . .

tags: psa  albumin  prostate  cancer  casodex  eleonoras falcons