PSA After EBRT Radiation
Posted , 7 users are following.
I finished 43 fractions of EBRT radiation on March, 31 2017 . I am due to for a visit to my urologist April 15, 2017 for a PSA reading.
Question: Would not the first PSA reading be meaningless, except in establishing a baseline for furure readings? The different types of radiation therapy don’t kill all of the cells in the prostate gland, so they’re not expected to cause the PSA to drop to an undetectable level. The remaining normal prostate cells will still make some PSA.
Although one would think the PSA reading would certainly be lower than the PSA prior to radiation. I am wondering if my Urologist should wait awhile longer to test my PSA.
Just a wondering mind who wonders too much.
Roger
0 likes, 21 replies
RichardKen Roger2Dodger
Posted
It does seem a bit premature. I had a PSA test three months after RF treatment was finished. Good luck
Cheers Richard
patrick1952 Roger2Dodger
Posted
Roger2Dodger patrick1952
Posted
et0hman Roger2Dodger
Posted
Roger2Dodger et0hman
Posted
I am thinking now a psa reading would be no value at all for me just 2 weeks after treatments. Are you doing hormone therapy? Seems to me that would be significant for psa readings. Every cancer for each of us is different. So my question might depend on each individual case.
Thanks for the reply.
Roger
et0hman Roger2Dodger
Posted
Even 6 weeks out from my last rad treatment, my prostate still has spasms that sometimes makes me stop what I was doing for a few minutes as it slowly shrinks and becomes scar tissue.
Roger2Dodger et0hman
Posted
Roger2Dodger
Posted
My biggest concerns now is extremely fatigue and shortness of breath. Time will heal and get back to some normal being.
Very interesting your prostate has spasms, and you can feel it shrink.
I debated and mulled over stayimg on AS. Knowing what I know now, I would have.
et0hman Roger2Dodger
Posted
My PSA numbers went from 2 (base at age 45), to 5 at 50, to 9 at 56. Just before biopsy was at 11.04.
The radiologist looked at my MRI/CAT scans over 10 yrs + the one done after my markers were placed. No spread.
I am the senstive type, I could feel the xrays at almost all my treatments. My prostate started spasming after the second week. I have also been on Flowmax to help dialate both the urethea and my blood vessels in the area. It helps with the peeing glass feeling.
I didn't get on ADT, as I work in the high tech/computer field and need all of my mental/memory/comprehension working. My employer was just down the road from my treatment center, so I worked till about 3:30 then went to treatment. I didn't need to take time off.
barney34567 Roger2Dodger
Posted
In Australia the protocol is a PSA test 6 weeks post radiation therapy.
The point of which is to see if the PSA has fallen, even by a little bit.
If so, then the radiation seems to have worked and later PSA tests will show even better results. If it has not fallen, the question is if the right area was treated.
Roger2Dodger barney34567
Posted
That is exactly when my Oncologist has me scheduled to come back fro a visit and a PSA (6weeks). The Urologist is the one that has me scheduled 2 weeks after my treatments.
As usual barney, your replies makes good sense. Thanks
Roger
barney34567 Roger2Dodger
Posted
Thank you for the compliment. Of course I wish I knew nothing about PCa because I wish I didn't have PCa.
At least my reading on the topic (in addition to my experience) is paying off by way of adding value to this site.
Good luck for the upcoming test.
geoff90305 Roger2Dodger
Posted
Hi Roger, Any PSA test is useful. Now you have completed your treatment, and the while the prostate no doubt is still a very unhappy chappie, the PSA shows what is happening in there. It is very common for the PSA to fall and then 'bounce' back up for a period of several months, then subside. Also, depends on if they were treating the entire prostate or just the area where the lesion was.
I am sure Roger you have researched EBRT and resultant PSA action. I just read a Nov 16, 2016 medscape article called External beam radiation therapy in prostate cancer, where they report on the various types of EBRT and the resultant collateral damage that can be caused and the typical PSA path and meanings.
Geoff
Roger2Dodger geoff90305
Posted
Geoff, yep did my research lol.
Getting a PSA reading now, can set a "control" marker for future monitoring for future testing. That never occurred to me.
The pattern of the drop in PSA after radiation therapy is also different from after surgery. PSA levels after radiation tend to drop slowly, and might not reach their lowest level until 2 years or more....after treatment.
One thing for sure, I am done with treatments. Collateral damage Is for real.
I will be diligent in monitoring the success or failure of my treatment. But, this old boy had had enough.
A friend indeed you are geoff!
Roger
geoff90305 Roger2Dodger
Posted
Geoff