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Very high PSA Score - psa

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User
Posted 19 Feb 2018 at 22:10

Hi there. Im posting on behalf of my father in law who just last week returned a PSA score of 2510. For obvious reasons he is very worried as when his GP saw these results he told him the cancer was terminal and there isn't much that can be done.  The GP said he thinks its in his bones & lymph nodes. He has been suffering from back pain since before Christmas and has a small lump on his neck.

A bit of background. 3 1/2 years ago my father in law had no symptoms whatsoever but went for a PSA out of curiosity as 3 friends had been diagnosed. His PSA level was around 7. He then had 2 biopsies which showed 2 areas they thought had tumours in. This was done at our local hospital & was then transferred to Chrisites in Manchester where he had brachytherapy (seed therapy) and had a PSA score of 1.9 after this. The consultant told him "the cancer was cured & will never come back".

He continued to go for PSA tests for 18 months afterwards. The last test his PSA had gone up to 3 & the local consultant wanted him to have yet another biopsy but he declined after advice from Christies. Christies told him under no circumastances to have another biopsy as his PSA was still low.

Consequently he hasn't had a PSA retest for 18 months until last week, as he was told 3 was low. Also he was put off going to our local hospital as he felt they would pressure him into having another biopsy.

We are all very shocked & dismayed he now has a PSA reading of 2510, and especially after the comments of the GP.

Having looked at some of the posts on this forum & think there is definitely reason for hope after the bombshell comments of the very negative GP he saw this week.

My father in law & I would be very grateful if anyone could share their experiences with us and offer up any advice to point us in the right direction & help him get the correct & proper treatment.

Many thanks in advance. 

User
Posted 20 Feb 2018 at 09:24

Hello Juanfran and welcome to the site.

Hasn't exactly got the bedside manner that GP has he.!!

If you have been browsing the web you will have already seen that although 2510 is high, and obviously very serious, that doesn't mean there isn't anything to be done. I'm sure those with the relevant knowledge will help in that respect.]

As for seed brachytherapy being a cure, well I hope (insofar as any of our men can ever be classed as actually cured) it does because my husband had this nearly four years ago and we were also looking for "cure", although it is obviously always in the back of the mind that the next PSA will be the one that's raised and causing concern

Just hang on there until one of our experts comes along to advise you.

Best wishes

Sandra

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails
User
Posted 20 Feb 2018 at 16:02

Sorry to hear about your father-in-law. Could I tell you a bit about my experience? I was also diagnosed with a PSA of about 2500 in October 2015, having had no previous history, as a result of urinary symptoms (no pain or other problems). I was put on to androgen deprivation straight away, had 6 rounds of chemotherapy (with no major problems) and last summer I went on to Zytiga. All my scans have showed the disease (which had spread to bones and lymph nodes) is being contained and I continue to lead a normal life. It is possible to control this thing for years, and there are new and better treatments coming along all the time.

Francij4 is right, your father-in-law does need to see an oncologist as soon as possible.

Wishing you all the best of luck!

User
Posted 20 Feb 2018 at 10:55

He needs to see an specialist Oncologist Asap. While it does sound like he has advanced prostate cancer he still has at several treatment options that could give him many years of remission.

All the best

User
Posted 20 Feb 2018 at 23:24

Kim, it would be better if you started your own thread so that we can reply to you without detracting from Juanfran who needs a different kind of help and advice. Just to say though that the general assumption is that if the PSA goes down to undetectable after surgery and then creeps up slowly it is usually a few cancer cells left behind in the prostate bed whereas if it never goes down to undetectable, it often turns out to have already metastacised.

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

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User
Posted 20 Feb 2018 at 09:24

Hello Juanfran and welcome to the site.

Hasn't exactly got the bedside manner that GP has he.!!

If you have been browsing the web you will have already seen that although 2510 is high, and obviously very serious, that doesn't mean there isn't anything to be done. I'm sure those with the relevant knowledge will help in that respect.]

As for seed brachytherapy being a cure, well I hope (insofar as any of our men can ever be classed as actually cured) it does because my husband had this nearly four years ago and we were also looking for "cure", although it is obviously always in the back of the mind that the next PSA will be the one that's raised and causing concern

Just hang on there until one of our experts comes along to advise you.

Best wishes

Sandra

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails
User
Posted 20 Feb 2018 at 10:55

He needs to see an specialist Oncologist Asap. While it does sound like he has advanced prostate cancer he still has at several treatment options that could give him many years of remission.

All the best

User
Posted 20 Feb 2018 at 16:02

Sorry to hear about your father-in-law. Could I tell you a bit about my experience? I was also diagnosed with a PSA of about 2500 in October 2015, having had no previous history, as a result of urinary symptoms (no pain or other problems). I was put on to androgen deprivation straight away, had 6 rounds of chemotherapy (with no major problems) and last summer I went on to Zytiga. All my scans have showed the disease (which had spread to bones and lymph nodes) is being contained and I continue to lead a normal life. It is possible to control this thing for years, and there are new and better treatments coming along all the time.

Francij4 is right, your father-in-law does need to see an oncologist as soon as possible.

Wishing you all the best of luck!

User
Posted 20 Feb 2018 at 20:15

Dear Dark Warrior and indeed all on this site, this site has been such a great help to my wellbeing. The situation my husband is in is clearly much more positive than some of the cases reported on the site but the whole thing is new and very scary and following our follow up appointment today I am coming to terms with potential next steps.  After a radical removal my husband's PSA was .21 which whilst low was expected to be zero.  Following two further blood tests it is now .84, it doubled both times within two month, we don't know yet if he will get salvage radiotherapy as not sure if the cancer has gone anywhere else?  He is now to have a PET scan and then follow up treatment which we are now hoping will be salvage radiotherapy, these waiting times are so distressing and just visiting this forum is calming. The oncologist didn't discuss other options and from what I have read on here there seems like there is much that can be done.  I can't thank all of you enough for your insights.

User
Posted 20 Feb 2018 at 20:53

Hello Kim and welcome to the site

I don't have personal experience of your situation, as I said we went for seed brachytherapy but I'm sur somebody will advise you.

I'm glad you find the site helpful. Yes it is very scary but we help each other by offering support.

You don't mention the ages of your sons. Mine is 47 this year and I nagged him when his dad was diagnosed but I'm not sure if he had a follow up one done. All you can do is advise them.

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails
User
Posted 20 Feb 2018 at 23:24

Kim, it would be better if you started your own thread so that we can reply to you without detracting from Juanfran who needs a different kind of help and advice. Just to say though that the general assumption is that if the PSA goes down to undetectable after surgery and then creeps up slowly it is usually a few cancer cells left behind in the prostate bed whereas if it never goes down to undetectable, it often turns out to have already metastacised.

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

User
Posted 22 Feb 2018 at 09:02

Thank you all very much for your replies. My father in law has an appointment with the oncologist on Monday so I will post the outcome of this early next week.

Some of these posts have given him definite hope that all is not lost, even when his readings have been so high. Its great to be able to get other peoples advice who have already been down this terrible uncertain road.

Thanks to you all again 

User
Posted 28 Feb 2018 at 15:30

Just an update, my father in law has been to the hospital and they have started him on hormone tablets and will have some injections too. He then will have scans next week to see how far the cancer has spread. They said judging by his high PSA of 2510 its likely it has spread. But they assured him that there is excellent treatment available to him even if that is the case, which has made him & his wife much more optimistic & upbeat about the situation. Lets hope his scans next week bring more good news.....

 
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