Plus ca change. My latest PSA reading is 0.1 yet again. My oncologist says that she has no plans for any further treatment(s) at the moment. If the next reading is no higher I'll be moved on to 4 monthly testing.
In other news, whilst discussing the latest news with my GP I discovered that she had received a letter with detailed results of my CT angiogram at the end of July that I had not. As a consequence of that conversation I am typing this in a ward at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth. I'm expecting a triple or quadruple CABG in a week or so if I'm lucky. I'm told I can change my mind right up to the point when I fall unconscious on the operating table.
I've already had two Covid 19 tests, plus one "scare". A chap in our room with an ominous continuous cough was moved, presumably into a room of his own. The rest of us were "locked down" until his swab test came back negative.
Jim
Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one - Albert Einstein |
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I seem to have unilaterally moved myself on to a 4 monthly PSA rota, in part I suppose due to the CABG op I had last Autumn.
I had yet another set of blood tests earlier this week, only to discover that my PSA has doubled to 0.2 since last October. Not only that but my liver function tests have gone haywire, which I put down to the side effects of the assorted heart meds I've been taking. However my GP thinks that might just possibly have something to do with cancer and so has passed the buck to my oncologist. More from me when I've had that conversation.
On the Covid front I also had my first Oxford/AstraZeneca jab earlier this week. It's all go at the moment!
Jim
Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one - Albert Einstein |
User
Sorry about the PSA soulsurfer; I was really hoping it had stabilised for you.
Re the liver function tests, I assume you were tested for Covid and got the all clear?
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
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User
Thanks Lyn,
I had numerous PCR swabs when I was in hospital for the heart op. All negative!
Nothing since then apart from having my temperature taken if I go somewhere "medical".
I've been strenuously trying to avoid going anywhere else there might be people, and intend to continue in that vein until a month after my second jab at the earliest.
I also have a theory that I had a bout of Covid-19 at Xmas. In 2019 that is!
Jim
Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one - Albert Einstein |
User
It was just my meandering thoughts. When dad had his mystery illness in Feb 2020 that nearly killed him, his liver function tests were sky high and his skin was jaundiced.
I have asked since but his doctors are still saying it definitely wasn't coronavirus. I have my doubts
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
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User
Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one - Albert Einstein |
User
The oncologist reckons my strange liver function results are not prostate related, and suggested doing a scan to the GP. He's booking me in for an ultrasound investigation.
My oncologist is going to give me a call on March 24th.
Personally my money is still on the pills. I Googled "Gamma Glutamyl Transferase" only to discover that:
"GGT elevation has also been occasionally reported following nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (including aspirin)"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma-glutamyltransferase
According to the leaflets both Atorvastatin and Ramipril can behave similarly.
Jim
Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one - Albert Einstein |
User
Sorry Jim - I completely missed this! They have never offered any kind of alternative theory for him being on his death bed and then recovering, and they have never tested him for Covid antibodies. Just one of those situations with no known cause, they told us. All they will say is that Coronavirus wasn't in Leeds at the end of Jan / beginning of Feb 2020. I think it clearly was 🤷
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
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User
Well, my dearly beloved and I were both flat on our backs in bed next to each other in North Cornwall between Xmas and New Year 2019 with the symptoms of Covid-19.
Perhaps it was merely "the flu"? My eldest son is a delivery driver and had a bad case of that a few days before.
Jim
Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one - Albert Einstein |
User
No, it wasn't flu-like at all - at the time, all markers indicated that he was in liver failure and the symptoms and rapid decline were highly indicative of last stage PCa (although fortunately, that turned out not to be the case and he is now as sprightly as ever). A mystery that will never be solved except in my own head where I just know it was Covid.
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
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User
Obviously I wasn't very clear last night Lyn!
I meant that my own symptoms might have been caused by "a bad case of the flu", but in my own head it's far more likely to have been Covid. Perhaps my son delivered a parcel to somebody recently returned from China? Or Italy?
Alternatively one of my neighbours is in the Marines:
https://uk.usembassy.gov/peace-through-sports-at-the-2019-military-world-games/
I didn't have any liver problems that I'm aware of, but in March I had a chest X-ray that discovered "emphysema & COPD". I have never smoked and never worked down a tin mine.
Jim
Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one - Albert Einstein |
User
I've just had another PSA test followed by another telephone conversation with my oncologist. Which reminds me that I haven't yet provided an update on my previous conversation with her. The gist of that was that there was no way she would recommend any further treatment(s) until:
a) I was fully recovered from my CABG op, which takes at least 6 months.
b) Whatever was wrong with my liver was fixed.
I'm finally getting an abdominal ultrasound scan this coming Friday. However I unilaterally decided to stop taking atorvastatin and my assorted medical advisors concurred! As a consequence my liver function tests are all back within the "normal" range apart from gamma-glutamyl transferase, which is now only slightly elevated after being over 5 times the upper limit a couple of months ago. However my cholesterol levels are now back where they were before the op, so my GP suggests trying fibrates instead. However I am wary of another medication "error"!
Bang up to date again, my recent PSA reading is up another notch to 0.3. It seems hormone therapy can have unfortunate side effects for the liver, so that is contra-indicated for the moment. The oncologist is booking me in for another PSMA PET scan, with a view to zapping the little blighter if it can be located This time I only have to travel to Plymouth, rather than UCH like the last time, which is far more convenient. Particularly in these Covid constrained times. Speaking of which I had my 2nd jab earlier today. No noticeable side effects yet!
On the bright side I went bodyboarding again for the first time since my heart op a couple of weekends ago. I explained the circumstances to the lifeguards in advance and they promised to keep an eye on me. Fortunately their services were not required, and I lived to tell the tale.
Expect more from me after my next set of scans!
Jim
Edited by member 12 May 2021 at 10:10
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Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one - Albert Einstein |
User
I've just returned from my abdominal ultrasound scan in Liskeard, where the operator assured me that nothing abnormal had been revealed.
Needless to say I am still waiting for my PSMA PET scan appointment, although I am already booked in for another chat with my oncologist in a months time. The gap between my PSA tests is reducing rather than increasing.
Jim
P.S. I've just had a call from a very nice lady who booked me in for my next PET scan at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth one week from today.
Edited by member 14 May 2021 at 15:06
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Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one - Albert Einstein |
User
I called the oncology nurse at Treliske today, who kindly revealed to me the results of my recent PET-CT scan. It seems it didn't detect anything out of the ordinary. The nurse seemed to think that constitutes really good news. However I'm not really terribly keen on the idea of being zapped at random.
I'm visiting the local GP's surgery on Friday for another round of blood tests. Liver function, cholesterol and PSA at a minimum.
The next discussion with my oncologist is due in a couple of weeks. More news in due course.
Jim
Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one - Albert Einstein |
User
Another 3 months have elapsed, so I turned up at my GP's surgery on Wednesday for a pre-arranged set of blood tests. Lipids, liver and PSA. All but the last one were cancelled due to a nationwide shortage of blood test vials.
My PSA reading turned out to be 0.25, which is less than last time. I guess that counts as good news? My consultant has departed for pastures new, so I have a telephone appointment with the new one booked for the week after next.
Jim
Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one - Albert Einstein |
User
fantastic news on PSA Jim but shocking news on Virals what's going on 😬 good luck for the future gaz
User
Thanks Gaz,
For more on the nationwide vial shortage see for example this from the BBC on August 26th:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58324108
"NHS England has admitted that a shortage of vials used for blood tests will worsen over the next few weeks and will last until mid-September.
It said supplies remain constrained and are forecast "to become even more constrained over the coming weeks".
While the NHS expects the position to improve by the middle of next month, "overall supply is likely to remain challenging for a significant period."
Doctors had been told to stagger some blood tests due to the shortage.
They are warning that patient care will suffer due to delays."
Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one - Albert Einstein |
User
Can't they improvise any more? Not allowed to use test tubes and rubber stoppers like they used to?
User
It seems my previous oncologist has retired rather than "moved to pastures new". It also seems that the new chap doesn't care so much for the personal touch, so I was called by one of his underlings. The new team like to do things "by the book". PSA > 0.2 = SRT. They want to "get cracking ASAP". No hormones. 55 Gy in 20 fractions.
My recent PSMA scan revealed nothing of note. This is allegedly good news because a lack of visible metastases suggests that I am merely suffering from "microscopic" recurrence in the prostate bed. Another scan, as suggested by my previous consultant, is not necessary. However I am still not wild about the idea of being zapped at (apparently) random. I am assured that if I wait until something becomes visible, perhaps when PSA = 0.5, it may well be "too late".
I have negotiated a month to consider my options. Another chat on October 14th preceded by a PSA test. Always assuming that there are some more vials in the GP's cupboard by then.
Jim
Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one - Albert Einstein |
User
Jim
I was in a very similar situation, 0.2 triggered the SRT and it was 0.27 just before I started treatment without HT. I was not overjoyed with the "very educated guess". I was refused a PSMA test. My PSA fell after SRT so but over the last 4 years as crept back up.
Hope it works out for you.
Thanks Chris