PSA results after radiation.
Posted , 8 users are following.
Hello. I am one of these health anxiety people, so I apologise in advance. My biopsy last year showed G7 (3+4) Intermediate Favourable and I had 60 gy in 20 fractions in January. My PSA was 7.4 July '18 and dropped to 3.1 early June this year. My consultant said it could have been higher than 7.4 by the time rt started. I shall have another test in September. My question is whether it will continue to drop from the 3.1 this time. Of course, nobody knows and we are all different etc, but generally, does it usually keep going down with each test from some of your own results? I know it can take up to two years to reach its nadir (?) and I have heard of the 'bounce' thing. I try not to worry and take it as it comes etc, but I have had a scare from bowel cancer. Thankfully I've passed 5 years from that so now have to put up with this new one! Sorry again, I just wondered what to expect. Thanks.
0 likes, 26 replies
tom86211 TheToad
Posted
I had two HD Brachytherapy radiation treatments in Sept of 2014. My PSA at the time was 4.6. Over the next couple of years it dropped to 0.1, now 0.2 - basically zero. This level has been holding for several years. Recently I had a TURP and the tissue samples were sent to the lab, and results came back saying no cancer cells detected.
Give this some time. You should be getting a PSA test every three months, and eventually every six months.
My best,
Tom
alfred5 tom86211
Posted
Tom...does your psa result always stay at 0.2? my husband had brachy 5 years ago psa gradually dropped to 0.02 after 2 years, where it stayed, but last reading was 0.07 not sure whether is does vary or whether it is on the rise, psa test due again sept.
tom86211 alfred5
Posted
My PSA was 0.1 for several years then in the past year 0.2, however, my prostate was growing and creating retention issues. My urologist says 0.2 is well within the variability of the test. The fact that no cancer was detected in the tissue from my recent TURP is also encouraging.
alfred5 tom86211
Posted
thanks for that Tom. Maybe it is normal to raise a little then, next test in a few weeks. we will find out for sure.
thomas14197 TheToad
Posted
hi i had radiotherapy 21 months ago first psa was 0.051 aftre rt three months later went to 0.2 three months later 0.4 three months later 0.3 1 now go back every six months fingers crossed hope this helps
TheToad thomas14197
Posted
Thanks. What was your psa before rt?
thomas14197 TheToad
Posted
7.3 before rt
TheToad thomas14197
Posted
About the same as me and it fell to 3.1 four months later. Consultant was ok with that, so hopefully it will go down again when it is tested in two weeks. I have to be patient! He also said to have annual DRE's but my Dr. said not much point as the prostate would be 'mush.' Consultant also said 6 monthly psa tests, but Dr. said three. All a bit confusing.
alfred5 TheToad
Posted
husband has psa every 6 months never had DRE
alfred5 TheToad
Posted
my husband's was 3.7 then after brachy it went down over 2 years to the lowest of 0.01 (brachy done in jan 2015) this march it was 0.07
barney34567 TheToad
Posted
As some have written, everyone is different and initially you'd need a 3mthly PSA test which can go to 6 mthly over time.
If RT is successful and the PCa has not spread then the PSA should drop over time and stay down. If the PSA begins to rise then it is evidence that the PCa was not killed off entirely or it was mostly killed off, but enough of it has caused it to come back.
TheToad
Posted
It did drop from 3.1 to 2.9 after 3 months. Not much of a drop, but specialist said it was normal and wait 6 months this time. Three months was too soon. I don't have HT, in fact I have testosterone injections to bring it up to normal, as they treat people with normal levels anyway. Somebody wrote that because of this, the drop was not as much as people would have on HT and the rt could have killed of a lot of the cancer and now it should run its course over the months. He discharged me again and asked my Dr. to continue the care for this 'poor man!' Sympathy I suppose, as he knows my anxiety about my health.
TheToad
Posted
It's gone down again by .2 to 2.7 Dr is ok with that and I shall see him on Thursday for routine check. And a chat of course. At least it has trended down again!
TheToad
Posted
No more tests until September. I've been told that the gland does shrink and there would probably be scar tissue after rt. My prostate was felt by another Dr while checking for haemarrhoid (sp) bleeding and he said it was quite small. So, something has happened as it was quite large with a small nodule, which wasn't there this time! Good. Here's hoping for another psa drop in about 6 weeks. Trying not to worry ...
TheToad
Posted
The September one was 1.5 and of course I was delighted with that. Now of course the next one is getting closer, so here's hoping for close to 1 or even lower. Two years now since rt. Thanks all. Keep safe!