Persistent PSA climbing
Posted , 3 users are following.
As you all know, after primary treatment such as radical prostatectomy or RT, the PSA should fall to zero or an "undetectable level".
Mine did not. Mine is officially "persistent" as opposed to "bio chemical failure", which is a rise of the PSA after a documented fall after initial treatment.
I has surgery in 08/16.
Six months after a radical prostatectomy I had SBRT. 3x30 min sessions. Zero side effects. No nausea, no burning, no nothing.
And of all, things, a negative response by my PSA. It escalated!
What has a better chance of controlling the PSA with the minimum cost to my quality of life?
Radiation Therapy such as SBRT?
Radiation Therapy such as EBRT?
Proton therapy?
Clinical trials of new meds?
ADT? (That is "hormone therapy" or as my oncologist calls it "castration"
A combination of some of the above?
Note the more I read about ADT, the more I wonder what risks I take by not following any treatment for a period of time?
Note I am 50.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
0 likes, 9 replies
richard98806 barney34567
Posted
Very intersted in these responses. I had my RP March 2017. First PSA was .15. Dr was suprised, me too. I started asking questions about what next and he said there is some sort of scan (I forgot the name) that should pinpoint where the left behind cells may be, so 'we are not shooting in the dark'. He then said, "let's not get the cart before the horse". Let's retake the PSA in 2 months and see where we stand.
That is where I stand. I researched some material, but to be quite frank I gave up. Mentally I was very prepared going into the surgery but I had this silly notion that other than temporary urinary incontinence and longer ED issues, the cancer would be gone and I would live another 15 years or get hit by a bus or something like that. Anyway I still have another 6 weeks before my follow up PSA and do my best to stay positive trying to avoid that occaisional meltdown.
I am 67.
Hang in there Barney
ayman78787 richard98806
Posted
Richard, just like you, I had my RP in March. PSA on May 20th was 0.03 and my doctor had already told it is not expected to be down to 0 that soon after the op. Checked again 20th of June: <0.01. Doctor is happy but I haven't had the chance to speak to him about it yet.
My point is it doesn't seem to go down to 0 or undetectable that soon after the op... it seems
barney34567 richard98806
Posted
The scan you're referring to is the PSMA PET CT or a similar scan. I had the PSMA scan.
barney34567 ayman78787
Posted
I agree that rarely does it fall to zero.
richard98806 ayman78787
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richard98806 barney34567
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barney34567 richard98806
Posted
your understanding of the literature is correct. I too hear that RT plus ADT works best, but for how long?
Your point on heart issues and stroke is serious. But my question is, what will come first: the cancer returning after RT and ADT or the heart and stroke issues?
richard98806 barney34567
Posted
ayman78787 richard98806
Posted