I hope it's a typo

User

Posted 19 May 2017 at 14:13

Just got a copy of the letter that the oncologist has sent to my GP.

He reports that my last PSA was 0.2. Er I think it was 0.02 mate or at least I am hoping it was. I think a phone call is now in order for clarification.

He has also discharged me from his care back to the GP possibly a little early but I am ok with that. However, he tells the GP to refer back if:

PSA exceeds normal limits if doubling time is less than two years ( i best make an appt with GP to explain what normal limits are for someone in my situation)

PSA >20 if doubling time is more than two years. Er my PSA won't reach that level without seeing an oncologist

He's also put me back on 6 monthly tests for the next two years

Can't beat consistency

Bri

User

Posted 19 May 2017 at 17:44

Oh dear. It must be a typo otherwise surely he wouldn't be signing you off :-/

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 19 May 2017 at 19:01

Bri

In my web travels of late I'm sure NICE have refferal guidelines.

Ray

User

Posted 19 May 2017 at 22:31

Cheers both.

Bri

User

Posted 20 May 2017 at 22:45

Brian
In considering IHT after 2 years at .05 my oncologist said HT should be restarted if psa was 10 or above.
Is this an example of oncos plucking numbers out of the air or are there some real guidelines somewhere?

Paul

User

Posted 21 May 2017 at 01:14

Some consultants seem to have fairly fixed PSA levels for resuming HT whilst others consider the history/rate of rise and response/ of the individual to treatment(s) and his type of cancer and if it is thought it can be further treated specifically rather than systemically. So the starting point for resumption may vary, even in the case of an individual. After RT I was told variously if my PSA reached 4 and 10, (depending on consultant), further treatment involving HT would be advised. I then had HIFU at 1.99 and it was suggested I also started HT at that time but I decided against it which was also the recommendation of a different hospital. More than 18 months on and following more PSA's and scans, my consultant said I had done well NOT to start the HT. However, if my PSA doubles from the latest figure of 0.66 I should resume HT I am told, so yet another figure!

Barry

User

Posted 29 May 2017 at 22:45

From my recent experience I'm inclined to think that it was not a typo. A few months ago I saw my oncologist who told me that after 3 years on ADT and my psa having reached the dizzy heights of 0.12 that as it was on a slow but steady increase I would have to stay on the Zoladex for good. On my next visit less than 6 months later I was told I could stop and was put in the hands of the specialist nurse. My understanding is that the criteria for an undetectable level has been changed. The two decimal place result is now considered to be unreliably sensitive, and now a result of less than 0.1 is deemed to be undetectable.

So happy days I hope, I am waiting a little anxiously to see how the ADT withdrawal pans out after 40 months of hormone therapy.

All the best Nigel

User

Posted 30 May 2017 at 00:09

Hi Nigel, our hospital is saying the same but does feel that over 0.1 the readings are more reliable than at less than 0.1

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

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