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A rise on this test

User
Posted 12 Feb 2019 at 22:49
Indeed
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 15 Feb 2019 at 21:09
Got the letter for my next appointment at the beginning of May, doesn’t seem that long away. To be fair they did suggest 6 months at first and I am now beginning to wonder if that would be better.

Is 6 months pretty common when monitoring rises at this level?

Bri

User
Posted 16 Feb 2019 at 07:01

Bri

I am on six monthly testing, although my onco nurse has arranged a second test a month from the last test to rule out any effects of the treatment I had a few days before the last rise. I will have a telephone consultation with the onco nurse in a week's time and no doubt she will outline what level the PSA has to reach at our hospital before the next step is taken. It is what it is and although it affects long term decisions, I can't do alot about it. I try to live stress free life easier said than done sometimes.

Thanks Chris

User
Posted 16 Feb 2019 at 09:56

Good luck Chris. 

Im tempted to go for 6 months purely and simply to try and detach myself from the reality for longer periods

Bri

User
Posted 31 May 2019 at 16:25
Seeing the oncologist next Tuesday which is 4 months since my last appointment. At that appointment my PSA had risen to 0.12. (<0.01 Mar 18, 0.08 Nov 18)

So I thought I would ring the surgery for the PSA result in readiness for this appointment. Surprisingly it’s still at 0.12. I even asked her to check if that was definitely from the blood test yesterday and she confirmed it was. It’s a bloody strange disease this but I will take no further rise and probably go with a six month test if that is what they suggest on Tuesday

Cheers Bri

User
Posted 31 May 2019 at 16:31

Detachment is good. Reality will always live in the shadows even if things go tits up. Positive result brother 

User
Posted 31 May 2019 at 18:11
Great news - if it holds stable at this level for a few years, that would be perfect.
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 31 May 2019 at 20:44

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
Great news - if it holds stable at this level for a few years, that would be perfect.

It certainly would Lyn

 

User
Posted 31 May 2019 at 21:23

That’s good news Bri. Long may that continue.

Ido4

User
Posted 31 May 2019 at 21:33

Bri

That sounds promising, I get me latest result on Tuesday, not chasing it this time, it will be what it is.

Thanks Chris and Dawn

User
Posted 01 Jun 2019 at 08:53

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Bri

That sounds promising, I get me latest result on Tuesday, not chasing it this time, it will be what it is.

Thanks Chris and Dawn

Fingers crossed it has come down, stayed the same or if it has risen that it is insignificant 

Let is know Chris

Bri 

 

User
Posted 04 Jun 2019 at 17:30
Oncologist appointment today which went as much as expected regarding the PCa. She confirmed that the PSA was 0.12 same as Feb. Agreed next appointment for 6months time.

However I did mention some slight discomfort I had been having in the pelvic area and some inconsistencies with bowel movements. I questioned the possibility of any late effect symptoms from the RT. She told me that because my RT was in 2013 there wouldn’t be any late effects now as they occur within two years of having the RT. I’m not sure about that but did not feel informed enough to challenge her. I thought late effect issues could arise many years after the completion of RT

Oh she also said the next line of intervention would be HT but not until the PSA reaches 10. That’s comes down from 20 as mooted by a previous oncologist

User
Posted 04 Jun 2019 at 19:36
It just shows Bri that wherever you are in the country Oncos have their own ways and techniques based on their own personal case studies. But all actions are still within NICE guidelines I believe. For instance my PSA is now well over 100 post surgery but I haven’t even been offered HT nor Chemo , because all scans show zero and because I constantly refuse the normal next line treatment of RT. I had a 20 minute phone consultation with my GP today who is a cracking bloke and also head of palliative care at a local cancer hospice. He went right through my case and discussed my last two scans in proper detail ( which my Onco hasn’t ) , and he absolutely agreed in my instance that it was the right decision to avoid RT given the scores.

Judging by all the info on this forum yes your next line of defence is HT , and if you’ve had RT I think psa 20 is normal. It could be ages before you reach that. I believe SRT fails in 50% of men but you’ve bought yourself some good time. Even now the tiny recurrence may be localised where the rays missed. I’m no expert but in your shoes I’d let psa rise substantially to say 5 or more then get a PET before agreeing to nasty systemic treatments

User
Posted 05 Jun 2019 at 17:35

Bri

Just had a call from onco nurse PSA 0.11, so no change. Like you I get pelvic discomfort. Next test four months.

Thanks Chris and Dawn

User
Posted 05 Jun 2019 at 18:16
Congrats

Brian’s and Chris

Long may this be a flat or reducing line!

Steve

User
Posted 07 Jun 2019 at 16:49
Just seen GP who has decided to put me on the Bowel Cancer Screening Pathway.

I did the home testing kit in March as I had hit the big 60 and thankfully that was clear.

So fingers crossed there is nothing else that is sinister lurking in the depths of my body

Bri

User
Posted 07 Jun 2019 at 21:37

Bri

Have fun, bit of advice dab don't wipe.

Thanks Chris

User
Posted 26 Nov 2019 at 15:24
Just had latest PSA results almost 6 months since the last. Now at 0.14 so not a significant rise (0.12 in Feb and end of May). So the one bit of comfort is that even though it’s gone in the wrong direction it hasn’t doubled in a year. Not sure whether to see the oncol or not now as they will suggest testing in 6 months which I’m fine with

Oh forgot to say the colonoscopy I had was all clear

Bri

User
Posted 26 Nov 2019 at 15:50

Bri, good news overall I think. PSA rise is very slow and virtually unchanged in 6 months.

Do you still see an oncologist regularly or talk by telephone consult?

All the best,

 

Ido4

User
Posted 26 Nov 2019 at 16:06
Good news Bri ! Get through Xmas and rethink maybe.
 
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