[joelberman]

Another story. mid 50's, reasonably active and healthy, start to develop BHP (slow stream). Urologist does a PSA test even though I had one a few months before. Long story short, prostate cancer. Had robotic surgery, all good.

67, been following a congenital heart murmur for years. Cholesterol at 130. Noticed my running and biking dropping performance dropping off, so think time for a heart valve replacement. Routine pre-op catheterization shows coronary artery blockage. Have bypass and valve replacement, doing great. But 130 was too much cholesterol for me apparently. On statins and down to 95! I am now 68, no prostate, artificial heart valve, bypassed coronary artery, but feel great and am still active.

Glad the heart surgery took place after I started medicare though. Say want you want about government ineptitude administering anything, but medicare works.

[brianwawok]

On the other hand, you may have had the exact same blockage happen if you WERE taking statins. The research around people with "low" cholesterol is (to the best of my knowledge) very lacking.