Spike in PSA
Posted , 5 users are following.
I haven't been here in awhile. Last time I was here I think my PSA was at 4 something and we were doing active monitoring.
In April 2019 I had a biopsy where they didnt find any cancer cells, my Dr explained that it doesn't just go away but it was probably still very small amount. The first biopsy in 2018 they took 12 samples and found cancer cells in a very small part of one of the cores.
I have had 3 PSA checks over the last year and they were all between 3.0 - 3.9 ranges, but suddenly in my last PSA just last week it shot up to 6.1
Beside Saw Palmetto what natural supplements do you guys take?
0 likes, 9 replies
charles61038 BigWillG
Posted
I've heard mixed feelings about the Saw Palmetto. My urologist doesn't think it is worth the money. I think it may help for someone with an enlarged prostate. As for the spike in you PSA and the fact that a previous biopsy showed small amounts of cancer cells would be a concern. I basically had the same experience as you. My PSA numbers rising slowly until they were over 5. That is when my primary care physician sent me to a urologist. He put me on antibiotics for a couple of weeks. The PSA number went down just a bit. He said that I should have a biopsy. That show 2 out of 12 core samples with cancer cells. 2% in one, 10% in the other. It was diagnosed as a slow growing cancer which gave me some time to consider my options. I talked to another oncologist who specialized in prostate cancer. He was very helpful and honest with me. He took the time to go over treatment options and explained the pros and cons of each. Watchful waiting was one option. Wait and see and get checked every few months. I didn't really like the fact that I would be living with cancer cells that may or may not advance and advance at what rate. Also, if the cancer did start to advance, I would be older and I might be dealing with other health issues. I wanted to get it treated and be done with it while I was still younger and in good health. Radiation therapy was discussed - 32 treatments over an 8 week session. He also told me about something called Cyberknife... is concentrated radiation done in 45 minute sessions each, but for one week only. The other option he told me about was something called Brachytherapy - low dose radiation seed implants. This is a one time treatment done as an outpatient. Once and you're done. I read more about this option and decided to go with it. It was about a 30 to 45 minute procedure. About an hour in the recovery room and then I was released to go home. As with all treatments, there are some side effects. With this treatment since the radiation is very low, the chances of radiation burn to the bladder and colon are greatly reduced. There is some burning with urination for a few days, but that goes away soon. Also urgency with urination for a couple of weeks, so I had to keep track of where restrooms were located when I went out. Little by little, everything went back to normal. My urologist told me that after about 4 months would be the half life of the radiation seeds. After 8 months to a year it would be like nothing happened. It has been 3 years since I had that procedure and all works as it should. No incontinence or erectile dysfunction. Something to investigate as you go along this journey.
The best of luck to you.
tom86211 charles61038
Posted
Charles,
I had HD Brachytherapy five years ago. Now I wish I had gone for the removal. Here's why: the radiation gradually killed off my sex life. This takes a few years but no more erections. Also, after 3-5 years one can get radiation cystitis - irritation of the bladder. I now have this and the symptoms are similar to overactive bladder. But, the big problem is that my prostate was still in place, so I have gone through five years of BPH torment. I have had a PAE and in April a bipolar TURP. The past few years have been tough, and all of this has severely disrupted my sleep and quality of life. Of course, had I gone for the RRP I might have had incontinence issues, but for most this gradually resolves. Just another perspective from someone who has been having second thoughts.
Tom
charles61038 tom86211
Posted
Hi Tom, thanks for responding to my post. I'm sorry to hear the problems that you are having. I hope I don't end up with those. My urologist who is also an oncologist is one of the top Brachytherapy doctors in south Texas. He has written several articles and published many on his work with his high success rates. I see him every 6 months for follow up visits. At my last visit in August, he said that I was doing very well. My PSA level was 0.9. It continues to get lower each visit. I will seen him again in February and he said from that point I will probably just make annual visits. So far everything seems fine. The only thing that is different is a reduced amount of semen. I hope things improve with you...
tom86211 charles61038
Posted
Charles,
The doctor who did the my HD Brachytherapy was Subir Nag, and he is the author of the textbook on HD Brachytherapy, so I was in good hands. Sounds like you were also in good hands.
My current PSA is 0.2. After my recent TURP the tissue samples were sent to the lab for analysis and no cancer was found. So, as far as getting rid of the cancer the procedure was successful. But, as I mentioned previously, I continue to have issues because my prostate is still in place and has been obstructing my urine flow for years, now, better.
There is no way around this problem: once the prostate starts growing as we get older the BPH issues and prostate cancer issues can become a huge problem and absolutely ruin one's quality of life. Perhaps you will not go through anything like what I have been going through for the past few years.
Tom
charles61038 tom86211
Posted
Gosh Tom, I sorry you have had to go through so much. Has your doctor put you on the Tamsulosin? (Generic Flowmax). My urologist - Dr. Michael Sarosdy put me on that prior to the Brachytherapy and also Dutasteride (generic Avodart. He told me that it would help after the treatment. I was on both those medications for about 3 months. Then he took me off them with no bad side effects from stopping them. I hate taking meds anyway. So that was a good thing. About a year after the procedure I did have about with prostatitus. He prescribed antibiotics for 2 weeks and that seemed do the trick. I've had bladder infections many years ago, so I know that uncomfortable feeling of having to urinate even when you don't have to. If you haven't been on either of the two meds that I mentined above, ask your doctor if he thinks it would benefit you. The Flomax (Tamsulosin) is supposed to help with urination, and the Avodart (Dutasteride) is supposed to help shrink an enlarged prostate. It's worth asking if you haven't had those. Good luck to you.
Charles
tom86211 charles61038
Posted
Been on Flomax for 8 years. Now, after my TURP, am cutting back and should be off completely next month. The Dutasteride does have side effects, and once you get off of it the prostate starts growing back again. Read up on this drug before taking too much of it.
BigWillG charles61038
Posted
My initial high PSA reading was in the 5's and then it went down to 4's. as stated early I had my first biospy in 2018 and every since them my numbers were in the 3-3.9 range until the other days. Just frustrating.
I did have a colonoscopy and a renal cyst drained a couple of months ago. I wonder if that could affect my PSA numbers any. I am gonna hope in the next 3 months it goes back down.
charles61038 BigWillG
Posted
Your PSA numbers are not bad at all. Since the last biopsy didn't show any cancer cells, that's good. But not every biopsy will find cancer cells. It's kind of a hit and miss situation. I would think the cancer cells that they found the first time are of a non aggressive slow growing type. A urinary tract infection of some sort could be the reason for the elevated PSA numbers. When I was first diagnosed 3 years ago, my PSA number was 5.9. The urologist put me on an antibiotic for 2 weeks. The PSA number went down to 4.9 which I thought was a good thing. He said that wasn't low enough. That is when I had the biopsy that confirmed the cancer cells. He said it was adenocarcinoma which is a slow growing non aggressive type. So I time to consider options. Looks like you have time also. The main thing is to stay on top of it and get checked on schedule.
joshuapryce1987 BigWillG
Posted
I suppose vitamins could help, and perhaps oils. I suppose you could ask a health specialist for more details.