High PSA 680 - Advanced prostate cancer - Being diagnosed with prostate cancer

User

Posted 16 Aug 2018 at 12:47

My dad has just been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer due to a high PSA of 680 and DRE.

He has been referred for a CT scan in order to check where the cancer has spread and I am furiously searching online to understand what happens next.

I guess I am looking for some positive stories or hope that this is not the beginning of the end - my mind is going round in circles thinking the worst.

Is there anyone or posts available who have received a similar diagnosis and continues to live a decent qualify of life?

Dee

User

Posted 16 Aug 2018 at 16:55

I was diagnosed almost 3 years ago, with advanced PC and PSA over 2000. I’ve had various standard treatments and now I am on a clinical trial. None of my treatments has caused me any great problems and I have no pain or other symptoms. My quality of life is excellent! There are many good treatments available for this condition and many new ones on the horizon. I wish your Dad and you the best of luck!

User

Posted 16 Aug 2018 at 23:10

Loads of men on here have had similar diagnosis and carried on living almost normal lives. The highest PSA recorded on here was Trevor with 13,000 and he lived for 5 years, most of it well and active. The highest our uro has ever seen was 160,000. There are some men who are still around 10 - 15 years after a diagnosis with mets.

A lot depends on a) what type of prostate cancer he has and b) where the mets are

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

User

Posted 20 Aug 2018 at 15:48

Thanks for your responses - this forum has gave us hope and positive thoughts through my dad's journey.

We have just returned from another trip to the hospital following on from a CT scan- we have been told we will receive a letter in due course - I am assuming this would be a letter advising us to meet with the uriologist as my dad didn't ask what happens next. We havent received any word about taking a biopsy which I thought is a bit strange.

We are continuing to remain positive with the odd down day here and there when my brain overthinks things. We are hoping that the cancer hasn't spread but it is a case of wait and see.

User

Posted 20 Aug 2018 at 16:33

Dee, if other tests (such as a CT scan) show that it is indeed advanced prostate cancer (ie cancer that's spread outside the prostate), he probably won't have a biopsy.

Chris

User

Posted 20 Aug 2018 at 17:09

Yes, and with such a high PSA they may bypass the urologist and send your dad straight to oncology as he is unlikely to be suitable for surgery. I think the chance of it not having spread will be very small.

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

User

Posted 28 Nov 2018 at 14:07

I wanted to post a quick update ....

Since August, my dad's PSA score has dropped to 28 as at today - he is looking like his old self and after the shock of the diagnosis he is able to live a good life albeit with a catheter.

The cancer has spread to his bones and lymph node but we take comfort that he is eating well and getting on with life.

I was wondering - as his PSA score is reducing does this mean the cancer has reduced or it there still the same amount of cancer still there? It might be a silly question but I envisage it to mean the cancer is reducing.

User

Posted 28 Nov 2018 at 15:15

It means it is less active - being starved, it has no energy to multiply or invade and so the tumours will probably be getting smaller, which in turn will often reduce any symptoms caused by the tumours (e.g. bone pain, problems weeing, etc)

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

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High PSA 680 - Advanced prostate cancer

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