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PSA After EBRT Radiation

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Roger2Dodger
Roger2Dodger

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

21 Replies

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  • aksns61
    aksns61 Roger2Dodger

    Posted

    Hi Roger; My radiologist told me my next PSA test would be at least 3 months after the last radiation treatment, simply because it takes a while for the system to recover from the treatment(s).  Im 75, and here in the USA, had ADT + Brachy (Mar 8) + EBRT (28 daily treatments)
    • Roger2Dodger
      Roger2Dodger aksns61

      Posted

      aksns61

      If I had known then, what I know now, I would Have never had 43 radiation treatments . I would stayed on AS.

      My PCA was determined non agressive by Genetic testing. And any one in my age group, and my PCA numbers. Treatment is more harmful than good.

  • aksns61
    aksns61 Roger2Dodger

    Posted

    Just a note about PSA result testing; there seems to be 2 modes of thought; one being to test after 6 - 8 weeks and the other identified by the NCCN guidelines suggest that waiting will avoid the false bounce which happens more than 50% of the time due to remaining irritation of the prostate and the recovery. In the US, the normal wait time is a minimum of 2 months after Brachy.  When I asked the question to my oncologist, their answer was 3 months, Because my ADT does not end until June. Therefore they are waiting until September to take my PSA.
    • Roger2Dodger
      Roger2Dodger aksns61

      Posted

      My PSA will be tested 6 weeks after rad. I don't expect a low reading. The false bounce is exactly the info my Oncologist told me, because the prostate still healing.

    • barney34567
      barney34567 Roger2Dodger

      Posted

      Six weeks is also the Australian standard. After radiation the PSA should commence trending down but will not fall to zero.
    • aksns61
      aksns61 Roger2Dodger

      Posted

      Ive started my 28 radiation treatments, post Brachy. The PSA is currently scheduled for mid September. So far, the treatments are benign, takes about 20 minutes, the dose rate is 48Gy/treatment which is on target with the NCCN guidelines. The lower dose rate should result is faster healing and fewer side effects.
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