Return of PC after brachytherapy
Posted , 8 users are following.
10 yrs ago my husband had brachytherapy at age 57, since when PSA gradually began to creep up again and last year jumped to 7.5. PET scan & biopsy confirmed aggressive cancer in prostate & SVs (Gleason 9), probably due to cancer cells being missed in brachytherapy.
Prostatectomy & further brachytherapy ruled out by oncologist, who said only option is containment for as long as poss by HT (Prostap). PSA first reduced to 0.4 but now risen to 2.6. In absence of pain and peeing problems, doctor seemed unconcerned, mentioned ‘PSA bounce’ & changed parameters in path lab (whatever they are!). Further review in 3 mths. Obviously not the result we were hoping for. With all the other treatments mentioned on this forum, we don’t know why he said HT was only option.
0 likes, 25 replies
n-mac helen33824
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Best wishes, thoughts, and prayers.
miss_sue helen33824
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Helen
I am so very sorry to hear the Gleason score of 9 . After things like radiation or in his case the bracytherapie it may not be possible to do a prostectomy or radiation. But treatments are all in how one person treats the cancer. I hope you have access to a medical oncologist . Also if you can seek a second opinion .There are stronger drugs like zitiga or Xtandi . I think the prostvac or other immune therapies work better at the start of prostate cancer but ask about them . 💙💙💙
aksns61 helen33824
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jerald1234 helen33824
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Did you ask why salvage prostatectomy is ruled out? You mentioned HT to keep contained, is it contained now or has it metastasized? Where do you live?
Best,
G
aksns61 helen33824
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Hi Again-
Please see this online publication.
Harvard Medical School, harvardprostateknowledge.org has an excellent publication called "Harmone Therapy for Prostate Cancer" and it provides excellent information about using ADT when previous therapies have failed.
Best of Luck
Alan
helen33824
Posted
It was decided at his latest review that my husband continues on 3 monthly injections of Prostap3 (Leuprorelin) until his next review in June. He tried to ask the doctor again about alternatives but she went vague and just said she’d have to ask the oncologist. So far he’s only had the occasional hip pain, which is a side effect of the Prostap, so she wasn’t concerned.
Since then I’ve found another forum where people with increased PSA were given several other options, including more frequent injections, and their testosterone levels were being tested as well, which hasn’t happened yet in my husband’s case. We’ll see what happens in June and maybe put a bit of pressure on if necessary.
n-mac helen33824
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alfred5 helen33824
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Hello. My OH also had brachytherapy aged 57 here in the uk. That was 2 years ago. So far he's doing well. I didn't find out until after he had brachytherapy that there are not many other treatments you can have if the brachy fails. Unless you go privately it's difficult. I hope you find a solution. Have you asked on the other uk prostate cancer forum? (I thinks it's Macmillan) I've found everyone quite helpful on there with a wealth of knowledge. Most are from the U.K. too.
miss_sue helen33824
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Helen you really have to insist on care . The attitude of medical has to change on PC . I live In Canada and the attitude here is not to screen for PC because to many men suffer from mis diagnosis . But it leaves men like my husband Dave to a cancer that was so aggressive and relentless he died at 64 after a diagnosis just 27 months before. I fought tooth and nail to access every treatment I could get for him .I think health care In England is much the same as Canada it's supposed to be free or government sponsored .But when dollars and cents are involved in cancer there defiantly is a cut off line as to what treatments you are going to receive . Here we live in basically a communist idea that you are only alloted what the government decides you should have . Yearly physicals are no more and are now every 3 yrs . I guess they figure cancer will take a 36 month holiday between exams . Be assertive in requesting care ....Damm well demand care Make sure you write down all the questions you want awnser to and go there as well .
helen33824 alfred5
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Thanks Alfred, yes, I looked on it yesterday and apart from HT the only other options mentioned were cryotherapy and HIFU which I’m not sure are available at our hospital. Would probably have to go private. We were hoping for radiotherapy as a back-up if the Prostap failed but there are other types and combinations of HT available so are crossing our fingers that an alternative could work. I've been reading all the forums - you're right, one can certainly learn a lot from them.
Hope it works for your OH. My brother-in-law also had brachytherapy 12 years ago and has been signed off as clear of PC. We've been told 2 out of 3 men are okay afterwards.
helen33824 miss_sue
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So sorry to hear about your husband, Sue. That’s really awful! We’ve read criticism that a lot of treatment and operations are carried out needlessly and the first doctor my hubby saw didn’t believe in PSA tests. However, his father and brother both had PC so he was forewarned and insisted on it, which was just as well as he was also found to have it. His first treatment was under the urologist who was great, both supportive and positive, but the oncology team now seem quite the opposite.
We’re in much the same position as you with our NHS, which is slowly going under, although I have to say we’ve both had excellent treatment up to now through it. Anyway, we’re trying to remain positive and are currently compiling a list of questions for his next review.
We’ve been planning to revisit Canada & do Alaska cruise this year but are expecting travel insurance to be sky-high.
Best wishes.
alfred5 helen33824
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I hope your husband finds something that helps. All the best.
alfred5 helen33824
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helen33824 alfred5
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aksns61 helen33824
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