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PSA jitters 6 weeks after chemo, justified or not?

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User
Posted 13 Oct 2022 at 21:50

Hey everyone,

Has anyone here experienced (or has insight into) fluctuating PSA after 6 cycles of Docataxel chemotherapy?

Since April at DX PSA 61 (confirmed stage 4 Gleason 9), PSA dropped quickly after HT commencement to 4.7, then 0.6…so far so good. Beginning chemo cycle 5 rose to 1.3, cycle 6 PSA dropped to 0.9 and 6 weeks after chemo ended its risen again to 1.3. 

Should I be jittery?

Oncologist wants to test PSA weekly for next month….said not to worry yet but wants to closely monitor.

Thanks for sharing.

Matthew 

 

User
Posted 30 Oct 2022 at 08:13

Hi Matt

No never had an issue with the prostrate while on the saddle,maybe I've been lucky in that respect,don't get me wrong I don't do the tour de France it's an hour every other day on the canels(plenty of them in the backcountry)I used to run before diagnosis but that went out the window so felt I needed to do something,so it's 1 hour with light weights in the garage one day then on the bike the other,hoping to get an electric bike in the next few weeks so I can be out longer and go further,I'd recommend it matt,out in the fresh air and gather your thoughts.

Stay strong everyone πŸ’ͺ keep fighting

PS sorry matt I may have miss-understood your question,no I've never thought about that I was going on a ride on me bike tomorrow morning and have a bloodtest on the afternoon,you've planted a seed in my mind now and I may have second thoughts about it.

Edited by member 30 Oct 2022 at 19:44  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 14 Oct 2022 at 01:15

I have heard Lyn refer to the increase PSA after chemo as the prostate cancer cells "screaming as they die". So you won't get a reliable reading for a few weeks.

Dave

User
Posted 14 Oct 2022 at 02:57

Chemo can make the PSA rise as well as fall during and shortly after - it doesn't seem to have any relevance to whether or not the chemo has been successful until things settle down a bit

Edited by member 14 Oct 2022 at 02:58  | Reason: Not specified

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

User
Posted 19 Oct 2022 at 20:20

Fingers crossed it will drop down soon Matthew 🀞🏼 and that it is just because of the chemo. 

User
Posted 19 Oct 2022 at 20:47

Things will settle down soon  stay calm πŸ‘

User
Posted 19 Oct 2022 at 22:20

Hi

Got my bloodtest result tomorrow 4 weeks since my last one,psa been dropping like a rock,always a nervy moment,easy to say but be positive remember a lot of this mind over matter

Stay strong πŸ’ͺ everyone 

 

User
Posted 29 Oct 2022 at 01:49

Phil 1969 - how’d your latest PSA result go?

My last PSA thankfully dropped from 1.5 to 1.2 last week. Phew. 

User
Posted 29 Oct 2022 at 15:51

Hi Matt

Came in at 0.5,I've not felt my bubbly self over the last few days and today was an effort to get up and go on my bike,had a bit of a cold so that maybe to blame or it could be my kidneys on the the decline again after having my nephrostomy tubes removed nearly 2 weeks ago,I've got a few blood test slips so am going Monday to have a blood test as my next oncology app isn't for another 3 weeks,I hope it's probably nothing but you know in yourself sometimes that something just ain't right.

Stay strong πŸ’ͺ and fight the fight.

User
Posted 07 Apr 2023 at 07:06
That’s great news Matthew, I hope I have a similar outcome after my 20 sessions of RT.

Derek

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User
Posted 14 Oct 2022 at 01:15

I have heard Lyn refer to the increase PSA after chemo as the prostate cancer cells "screaming as they die". So you won't get a reliable reading for a few weeks.

Dave

User
Posted 14 Oct 2022 at 02:57

Chemo can make the PSA rise as well as fall during and shortly after - it doesn't seem to have any relevance to whether or not the chemo has been successful until things settle down a bit

Edited by member 14 Oct 2022 at 02:58  | Reason: Not specified

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

User
Posted 19 Oct 2022 at 18:45

Quick update from me. 

My PSA risen from 1.3 to 1.5 in  the last 6 days. Next test in a week  

Gulp!

User
Posted 19 Oct 2022 at 20:20

Fingers crossed it will drop down soon Matthew 🀞🏼 and that it is just because of the chemo. 

User
Posted 19 Oct 2022 at 20:22

Thanks Elaine, good of you. Fingers crossed  

All the best

User
Posted 19 Oct 2022 at 20:47

Things will settle down soon  stay calm πŸ‘

User
Posted 19 Oct 2022 at 20:48

Thanks mate, I’ll try and remain positive. 

User
Posted 19 Oct 2022 at 22:20

Hi

Got my bloodtest result tomorrow 4 weeks since my last one,psa been dropping like a rock,always a nervy moment,easy to say but be positive remember a lot of this mind over matter

Stay strong πŸ’ͺ everyone 

 

User
Posted 19 Oct 2022 at 22:23

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
My PSA risen from 1.3 to 1.5 in the last 6 days. Next test in a week

 

Has anyone checked you for underlying infection? 

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

User
Posted 20 Oct 2022 at 14:17

Hi Lyn - that’s a good point, I’ll ask my GP to rule out an infection. Thanks πŸ™ 

User
Posted 29 Oct 2022 at 01:49

Phil 1969 - how’d your latest PSA result go?

My last PSA thankfully dropped from 1.5 to 1.2 last week. Phew. 

User
Posted 29 Oct 2022 at 15:51

Hi Matt

Came in at 0.5,I've not felt my bubbly self over the last few days and today was an effort to get up and go on my bike,had a bit of a cold so that maybe to blame or it could be my kidneys on the the decline again after having my nephrostomy tubes removed nearly 2 weeks ago,I've got a few blood test slips so am going Monday to have a blood test as my next oncology app isn't for another 3 weeks,I hope it's probably nothing but you know in yourself sometimes that something just ain't right.

Stay strong πŸ’ͺ and fight the fight.

User
Posted 29 Oct 2022 at 20:37

Crumbs, you’ve a lot going on there Phil. The good news is your PSA is very low. 
When you cycle do you take a break for a period of time before a PSA test so as to not aggravate your prostate ?

Hope your other concerns come to nothing and all’s well. 

Appreciate your example. 

Stay strong and good luck!

User
Posted 30 Oct 2022 at 08:13

Hi Matt

No never had an issue with the prostrate while on the saddle,maybe I've been lucky in that respect,don't get me wrong I don't do the tour de France it's an hour every other day on the canels(plenty of them in the backcountry)I used to run before diagnosis but that went out the window so felt I needed to do something,so it's 1 hour with light weights in the garage one day then on the bike the other,hoping to get an electric bike in the next few weeks so I can be out longer and go further,I'd recommend it matt,out in the fresh air and gather your thoughts.

Stay strong everyone πŸ’ͺ keep fighting

PS sorry matt I may have miss-understood your question,no I've never thought about that I was going on a ride on me bike tomorrow morning and have a bloodtest on the afternoon,you've planted a seed in my mind now and I may have second thoughts about it.

Edited by member 30 Oct 2022 at 19:44  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 07 Apr 2023 at 03:37

Quick update from me following 20 RT sessions that ended in December 22. 

January PSA measured at 0.51, by March it dropped to 0.16 with Testosterone at 0.35.  Pretty pleased with that. 

I am almost 100% fully recovered from the various treatments and feeling positive. 

Awaiting MRI with contrast scan results. 

Hoping that the radiation keeps radiating and the ADT ZOLADEX injections do their job and the PSA drops to a more sustainable undetectable level. 

Hoping everyone is doing well!

 

 

User
Posted 07 Apr 2023 at 07:06
That’s great news Matthew, I hope I have a similar outcome after my 20 sessions of RT.

Derek

User
Posted 07 Apr 2023 at 08:18

Hi Matt

Great to hear your positive news,long may it continue,had my scan last week,4th prostap 3 injection the other day,blood test next week and awaiting x-ray appointment for my next onco appointment on 1st June so a nervy few months to come.

Regards Phil 

User
Posted 07 Apr 2023 at 11:32

Hey Derek and Phil - please keep us all posted with your results and progress. 

Happy Easter 🐣 

 

 

 
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