My husbands recent diagnosis of advanced prostate cancer

Thanks Chris. It’s difficult to know how long to give it to see if it will level off. Rob’s surgeon originally said 0.3 for a PSMA pet scan but after this test he’s said it would be good to start discussions on the pro’s and cons of radiotherapy and when. It could maybe be with it being a fairly significant rise in just 6 weeks.

Hi Elaine,
How long to wait to see if it levels off is a good question.   From what I've read if your psa rises fairly quickly after surgery it's better not to wait too long.  On the other hand reaching a point where a PSMA scan is useful is also regarded as better.  My hospital said it would be 0.5 before they'd put me in for a scan.  Although the nurse said  some patients have private scans before then.

From what I've read and watched on video a case like your OH should be reading about intense treatment; RT, with HT and chemo in parallel for quite a while.   I noticed your onco said pros and cons of RT, for me the cons will be what I have to tolerate and not a reason to avoid.  When the time comes we'll see.

I've found this is a hilly track.  My psa shot up then went down and then crept up taking a year to pass its previous peak so you can't be certain from individual readings.  So good luck, I wish I was at Christies as they have all the gear and reputation although Preston is pretty good except it hasn't a psma scanner so uses Liverpool's.

Latest PSA 0.115 😥 quite a significant rise in just 6 weeks. Is there any hope that this isn’t cancer 🤷🏻‍♀️ I obviously don’t think so but  worth an ask! I’m assuming with the quick doubling time and increased momentum this is likely to be mets rather than prostate bed left over cells?

We have a local appointment this week and then London next week with surgeon so will see what opinions and information we get then.

Really not what we wanted but just need to re group and get some plans in place, hopefully that will help.

Hope everyone is doing ok 👍 

Thanks Gaz. It’s 3 consecutive rises now and the latest was a bit of a leap….I could kick myself for booking an afternoon blood test though when I never usually do. Will see what happens the next couple of weeks anyway and next PSA I’ll book 5 weeks from now. 

Hope all going well with you x

Elaine, I was hoping my sudden rise could be an oddity but unfortunately or fortunately we have found the reason.

I took two years for my PSA to go from 0.03 to 0.15, my salvage RT reduced the PSA but not completely. It looks like I had cancer cells in the prostate bed and already outside of the prostate bed. 

There has been alot of advice about getting a PSMA scan before SRT but also articles that suggest in certain circumstances SRT before 0.25 can be beneficial.

Hope you get some answers with your next appointments.

Thanks Chris 

An early scan would be great to rule out distant spread, you should then have the option for salvage RT asap.

Heart out to you both Elaine.. Fingers crossed that you have answers and strategy as soon as.

Jamie

His lastest 3 PSA results were 0.029, 0.044 and now 0.115.  These have all been every 6 weeks so the latest one seems to have jumped quite a bit more.  

Hopefully we can get scans sooner rather than later and find out what is going on.  Will see what happens but like you say we did give it the best shot and still wouldn’t change our choices.  And certainly not defeated we’ll crack on and hopefully get him sorted 👍 x

Thanks Ivan.

We always knew it was a long shot to stay in remission for any significant time, but he’s had a good 18 months of hope and positivity which he would never have had had he not gone for the op….so no regrets just onwards and upwards 👍 It’ll be all the waiting again that will drive me mad 🤦🏻‍♀️😥 

Hope all still really good with you x