Elevated PSA
Posted , 12 users are following.
I am a 75 years old. My PSA last year was 4.03 this year it has elevated to 5.83. This has me stressed and worried. My urologist has recommend I have a biopsy. I have been reading and go ogling about prostate cancer and biopsies. The more I read and learn,the more confused I get. I am 50- to get a biopsy and 50 not to get one. Taking my life span in consideration I could die of something else if I did have the cancer. This is what I have been finding out through my research. I am presently taking Flomax to help my frequent urination. I Have also learned that they are risks involved with the biopsy. I am going nuts thinking about my elevated PSA result. Any advice coming my way, would be appreciated.
2 likes, 114 replies
stewarta Roger2Dodger
Posted
I thought I needed a PAE, and had the MRI as part of the pre-op procedure. The MRI showed a bladder stone to be the culprit behind waterworks problems. Once removed, I was as good as new -- except for one thing. The MRI identified a suspicious area in one lobe that presented as a possible PCa. The aforementioned biopsy showed it was indeed PCa with a Gleason (4+4) 8. After a good deal of research into Radical Prostectamy, Proton Beam Therapy, Photon Beam Therapy plus Brachytherapy, I settled on a Robot-Assisted Prostatectomy.
The procedure was carried out last Thursday afternoon. I was up walking on Friday, and home midday Saturday. I have a catheter and bag for 14 days, and then begin the slow recovery of pelvic muscles to overcome incontinence.
Pathology showed the PCa to be more aggressive than first thought (Gleason 9) and that sampling of the lymph nodes indicated an all clear. That is we acted early and it was still contained in the prostate. The moral here is don't sit about worrying, act early.
Roger2Dodger stewarta
Posted
Roger2Dodger stewarta
Posted
You mentioned Proton Beam Therapy, Photon Beam Therapy . I have researched Brachythearpy. You indicated you researched these treatments. In a thread earlier. I would like to know more about them. I just want to know about treatments if a doctor mentions them to me as possible treatments
Roger
charles61038 Roger2Dodger
Posted
Check out this website. It has lots of good information about treatment options and success rates. I found this very helpful and my urologist recommended it for information.
http://www.pctrf.org/video-library/
stewarta Roger2Dodger
Posted
It is used where children have brain tumours, as well as PCa, because there is little or no irradiation of tissue/organs surrounding the target area. The South Korean Government funded a Proton Beam Therapy Centre in their Natioan Cancer Centre for example. It is well-established as a therapy in the USA and in European centres like Swizerland and Prague.
I found that the closest centre to Australia was in South Korea, but the cost is some AUD53,000 excluding 8 weeks accommodation and airfares. However, I had a very aggressive PCa (Gleason 8 from biopsy, which was 9 from subsequent pathology tests.
charles61038 Roger2Dodger
Posted
Charles
Roger2Dodger charles61038
Posted
Roger
charles61038 Roger2Dodger
Posted
The good thing about this procedure is that you are completely anesthetised and not aware of anything. The entire procedure was roughly one hour. When I came out of the anesthesia, I felt sort of the same sensation as when I had the biopsy. Not really terrible pain, but not comfortable. And they want you to pee a couple of times before you are released. And those first couple I felt a burning feeling. I guess that is expected after that procedure. After the first few times of urinating, that intense burning feeling subsided. I went home shortly after coming out of the anesthesia. I took ibuprofen when I got home at the advice of my urologist. Unless your doctor gives you something stronger - but the ibuprofen seemed to work adequately. I kept taking it for the first few days after the procedure. And I take it on the days that I think I need to. In answer to your question, I didn't feel like there were any seeds there... which was a concern before I committed to having the procedure done. Depending on each individual condition, I read there are usually between 50 and 130 seeds implanted. They implanted 96 into me. For the first few days, I had to urinate frequently. The radiation (from any radiation treatment) causes some fatigue, but not constantly. I had to limit physical activity for a while. But like my urologist and radiation doctor told me, listen to your body and when it tells you to rest - do so. They told me that the side effects would get less and less as time goes on. I am going into week 7 and the down days are getting fewer and fewer. It is just hard for me to do little because I am used to doing more activity. I am in the middle of some house renovations and for the past week I've been going full speed. Today, however I feel that I have over done it. So I am taking a day off... and catching up on emails and some paperwork. I do a newsletter for a car club that I belong to, so today is a good day for working on that.
Let me know how your meeting with the doctor goes... and what he recommends for you.
Charles
Roger2Dodger charles61038
Posted
My good friend I appreciate your support and advice. I will keep you informed.
Roger
Roger2Dodger charles61038
Posted
One question I forgot to ask. Did you have nausea during your treatment. Nausea and vomiting is a high concern with me. I had extreme experience with this taking antibiotics for diverticulitis. Very difficult for me to take antibiotics. Having nausea for a long period of time is something I cannot deal with.
Roger
charles61038 Roger2Dodger
Posted
Good luck - and let me know what happens with your doctor visit.
Charles
Roger2Dodger charles61038
Posted
Roger
Roger2Dodger charles61038
Posted
Just got back from urologist visit. He is going to Perform a Prolarist test from the pathology report to find out how aggressive the cancer is. Also sending me for a MRI to see if the cancer is contained in the prostate. If I get good results, he wants me to go on the wait and see. Actually active survillanc, taking my age in consideration. When u get time Google that test and let me mnow what you think?
BTW- Both core samples 3+3 =6 and 4+3= 7. Only had 10% in the core samples.
Roger
charles61038 Roger2Dodger
Posted
Roger2Dodger charles61038
Posted
I just signed a consent form for Prolaris testing. Each individual is different, they genectic test your pathology results. It is entirely different from the gleason score. My urologist wants to make sure I can go on active survailance before sending me to a cancer doctor. i cannot get the MRI until May 18, because of the biopsy. The MRI will determine if the cancer is still within the prostate. I think all of this is good, it will give me a second opinion and it does give me some sense of hope that my cancer is not as agressive as indicated in the gleason score. I will let you know the results of the prolaris test as soon as I get it back.
Roger