Recurrence PC

If the rises are consistent then the next test will be at or above 0.1 - you could wait until it gets to 0.2 which is technically a biochemical recurrence but as you say, you are a young couple and all the research says the sooner you start salvage HT/RT the better the outcome. It might be a bit scary to agree to but the alternative could be that you don't have him long enough to become an old couple.

Edited by member 07 Mar 2018 at 00:14  | Reason: Not specified

I'm in the same boat as your hubby.  Radical prostatectomy in December 2016.  January 2017 PSA 0.014.  June 0.014.  September 0.02  January 2018 0.023.

My PSA is low but is showing an upward trend, or, as my oncologist phrases it, I have persistent PSA.  Histology upgraded me to T3b and Gleason 9.  I'm 47 years old.  So, it's off to radiotherapy for me.

My oncologist wanted a scan to see if it would pick up anything.  Although I accept that it is unlikely to pick anything up, I'm having a PSMA PET scan today.  Incredibly, the NHS agreed to fund this for me.  However, organising it through the NHS has proven to be impossible so I'm off to the private London Clinic today and will pay myself.  Probably a waste of money, but maybe I'll be contributing to medical science.

I don't want radiotherapy and I'm having to have it a lot sooner than I would have hoped.  But I'm reconciled to it.  Just hoping I don't need hormone therapy as well.

Best of luck to your hubby.

Ulsterman

I'm on a similar path to your husband. I had RP July 2015. Since then my PSA has steadily risen from 0.02 to 0.08.At that point my surgeon said that if the next test returned >0.1 we may have to consider radiotherapy. Last month it did indeed go higher at 0.12. He has referred me to Oncologist whom I see next week. The often mentioned opinion that early SRT intervention with such cases has has a better chance of a favourable outcome has encouraged me. I've made a real effort not to allow this damned thing to take over my life and have been able to do so by keeping a focus on positives such as this. Don't forget the specialist nurses from this site can offer so much information and reassurance that members find invaluable. All the best to you and your husband .Take care.

Paul

Not sure that it is worth paying for a PET scan at this point - small consistent rises as you are having are a classic sign of tiny amounts of cancer left behind in the prostate bed. If it was cancer elsewhere you would have been unlikely to get the undetectable post-op result and/or there would have been sharp rises rather than small steady ones.

As for the HT, it will be important that your man and the onco agree this together but you need to be aware that salvage RT is much more successful if it is given with hormones, and that the longer the HT the better the outcome. I do understand why he would be anxious but speaking as someone whose OH gave up the hormones early, I would have been pusher if the research data had been available at the time.

You are assuming the PSA will be on or above 0.1 this time and will presumably be referred to an oncologist after the 21st? Ask whether they intend to do a scan prior to the RT to check where the RT should be targeted. No harm asking.

Edited by member 11 Mar 2018 at 22:29  | Reason: Not specified