Is my husbands cancer back

S

Is this reading actually 0.1 or is it a less than 0.1. I am at a hospital that tests to two decimal points, many only do the test to one decimal point, in which case the less than symbol is quite significant.

Thanks Chris

Dear Barry

thank you for your reply. I do tend to panic I’ve always been a worrier and it’s so hard because I feel really helpless as there’s nothing that I can do to help the situation.

i don’t know how I could cope with waiting for six months so the nurse eventually gave in and agreed to a three month test.

then I felt guilty for being a nuisance and making a fuss. Thanks for your advice

0.1 is detectable but the official threshold for biochemical recurrence is 0.2 or three successive rises above 0.1 so your husband isn’t yet at the point where the NHS would say “yes, it’s back and so more treatment is needed.” As hard as it is, you will need to wait for the next PSA readings in 3 and then perhaps 6 months - assuming it goes up each time, you should be referred to an oncologist to discuss next steps. Having the tests earlier than 3 months won’t bring you to an oncology referral any earlier - they will still wait for the successive rises or 0.2. There is some good news though: because his PSA went undetectable and then started rising, this is a strong indicator that there are just some active cancer cells left behind in the prostate bed, which can be mopped up with some radiotherapy and hormones. If the cancer had spread elsewhere (like his bones) his PSA wouldn’t have been undetectable for the last 12 months.

Edited by member 21 Aug 2019 at 19:02  | Reason: Not specified

My husband’s PSA was undetectable for a while but then began to rise. He didn’t really want to believe he needed more treatment so waited 2 years until the PSA was over 0.15 before he accepted the inevitable RT/HT. Since then, he has had 7 years of undetectable or only just detectable PSA. In fact, a couple of years ago his PSA went up to 0.11 and we thought we had another recurrence but happily, it went back to undetectable without any intervention.

Oh Lyn

Thank  you so much for sharing your story with me. You have been through a terrible time it must have been awful to see the level rising like that.

you have really helped me to get things in perspective and I feel I can actually breath easier.

i can’t tell you how much you have helped. I am so glad your husband is doing well and wish you both all the best. God bless

Hi

since our visit to the nurse and the news of the PSA rise to 0.1 we received a copy of the letter that she sent to our GP. It said my husbands cancer was T3a Gleason score of 4+3 = 7 with clear margins and Nx. In other words the cancer was advanced and had come out of the prostate and the lymph nodes were not checked. I am so worried and we were never told these facts. When we saw the surgeon and were initially told that prostate cancer was present, we were told it was T2 and contained within the capsule with a Gleason score of 3+4 = 7. We were unaware that things had been so different after surgery. And as it was advanced why on earth haven’t they bothered to check the lymph nodes. I am now so worried that things are worse than we were aware and I don’t know who to speak to for advice. I really don’t have confidence in the medical team at all now, they will see hundreds if not thousands of men like my husband in their careers but I only have one husband our son only has one father. I’m really scared and just feel sick and I’m trying to be laid back for my husbands sake but here I am at silly o’clock and haven’t slept for a week.

Oh John

you are a wee diamond. I am so grateful to you for your kind reply. 

So sorry that your having to go through this as well and you are so positive e and upbeat you make me feel ashamed for being such a woos.

I can’t thank you enough for your advice and I will take it and try to look on things with more positivity.

Bless you

Thank you very much for your reply.  That’s good advice I’ll wrote a few questions down and      make sure that I pay attention to everything that say.

thank you 

Bri

hi

Clear margins. Good news.  Mine was T3a. Worry is negative energy as I'm sure we all know.

Look at PSA regular testing  as a positive . It's a new chapter in your lives.  

 I've unsure why lymph were not sampled ? Perhaps others will post.  

At 1 Dec place, as others have posted 0.2 is likely to be the threshold value.   ie whether it's an advantage or not you will not see miniscule fluctuations.

 If you look at numerous profiles. ie those having surgery . ie no prostate. you can see expected values should recurrence happen. 

Edited by member 27 Aug 2019 at 23:06  | Reason: Not specified

Hi Robgsr

thank you for your reply, l agree worry is just a waste of time and I am trying hard to just put my concerns to the back of my mind.

As you say at least clear margins are a positive and I am trying to get a grip of myself. Unfortunately I’ve always been a glass half empty kind of person that worries incessantly.

I can’t tell you how much it’s helped, hearing  from you and the other kind people on here, that have taken the time and trouble to read my moan and offered support and advice.

Thanks  so much I really appreciate it.