Hello,
I posted on here in February 2015, when my dad was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, and received so many helpful replies. Dad was diagnosed with aggressive Prostate Cancer - no symptoms, PSA 11, Gleason 4 + 5. He was scanned and told that the cancer had spread locally but not metastasized (as far as they could see).
He was immediately put on Hormone Therapy (sorry, not sure of the name of it) and then received radiotherapy, which finished at the end of 2015. He stayed on the HT for 3 years, as is standard. His PSA came down to <0.1, as expected and all was good. At his first PSA test after coming off the treatment in October last year, it had risen to 1, then at the end of May it rose to 3.2. The doctor was slightly concerned so asked him to have another test in 3 months' time. He thought the doctors were going to contact him to arrange the PSA test but didn't hear so I got him to chase it up and he finally had the test on Monday. The following day the GP called to say his PSA has now gone up to 9 and he has referred him back to the oncologist.
I know this isn't a good sign as it has gone up so quickly and the cancer was aggressive. We are waiting for the appointment to come through but in the meantime, I was just looking for some reassurance really that there are more treatment options available for him to extend his life? Will he be able to have HT again as it seemed to be effective last time, although I know it lose effectiveness after a certain amount of time?
Some more info - he is 80 and has had a lot of health problems since his diagnosis. He was diagnosed with heart failure 3 years ago caused by AF and mitral heart valve regurgitation, although they have now stabilised him and have signed him off for now and can't believe how well he looks. He was diagnosed with anal cancer earlier this year also and they were unable to give him the usual RT due to him having had it before so the surgeon has attempted to remove all of it - he goes for 3 monthly check ups at the moment to check it hasn't come back. He did have an MRI scan too, which again showed the cancer hadn't metastasized. He also has had several non-melanoma skin cancers removed.
I just feel so sorry for him as he is such a fit 80 year old (apart from the above! ha ha!) We lost my mum in 2013 and he was heartbroken but threw himself into his running - he still runs/walks 5k ever week and did a 10k a few weeks ago, albeit slower than he used to! He doesn't have any symptoms at the moment.
Thanks, feel better just for typing that all out!