I realised last night that I had not got the results yet for my first post HIFU PSA test taken on 31st March and needed for a Hospital telephone appointment this morning. So off to GP's surgery first thing but receptionist would not give it to me as my GP had not seen first, due to his being on annual leave. Anyway, receptionist managed to get another Dr to authorise so I had this to hand for the appointment The figure was 0.02 which is the lowest since I was first diagnosed including post RT and post previous HIFU in 2015. So I am very pleased with that as was the Dr who rang me today. The plan is to do 4 monthly PSA tests and another multiparametric MRI in 12 months from the HIFU.
Going back a few years, had I accepted the opinion of UCLH, formed by their interpretation of a Choline Pet scan they gave me, which was that cancer was in an iliac lymph node, I would have been on HT. However, The Royal Marsden and my RT treating Hospital in Heidelberg were not convinced and UCLH were not prepared to give me the 68 Gallium PSMA test on the NHS, so I had it done privately. There was no evidence from this that the aforementioned iliac node was affected, although a very small tumour was seen within my Prostate and this was subsequently confirmed by MRI and Biopsy. So instead of being treated systemically, I was able to have HIFU again and still avoid HT (for at least more time). For me the PSMA scan was a treatment changer and the second HIFU looks to have produced a good result so far and with no side effects, (ED resulting earlier due to RT).
The elation of my good news has been tinged by the recent passing of my best friend. I have referred to him previously on this forum as being diagnosed with PIN for over 10 years, where he had a fluctuating PSA of just under 10 but no treatment. He also had a triple heart by pass in the mid nineteen eighties and still lived to around 86. What took its toll on him was the death of his wife from strokes about two years ago and the death within a few weeks of this of his daughter of around 53 years, who was riddled with cancer. He was a broken and changed man thereafter and lost interest in everything, not helped by isolation at home due to Covid restrictions.
Edited by member 11 Apr 2022 at 17:43
| Reason: Repetition of phrase