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Retroperitoneal lymph nodes

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User
Posted 08 Feb 2025 at 21:12

Hi
Sadly we lost my 72 year old Dad to metastatic lung cancer in November.

His CT scan results when he was first diagnosed showed enlarged retroperitoneal lymph nodes.

Could this mean he also had prostate cancer or metastatic prostate cancer when he died? 
he was diagnosed with ASAP on biopsy and Pirads 3 in 2019. His PSA in March last year was high but they re-tested shortly after and it was ok for his age.

So I guess I’m asking what the chances are Dad had prostate cancer undiagnosed? 

 

 

 

Edited by member 08 Feb 2025 at 23:01  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 08 Feb 2025 at 21:48

Sorry on the loss of your father. No way to ever know now, but those nodes would be uncommon with Prostate cancer.

User
Posted 08 Feb 2025 at 21:57

He still  could have had prostate cancer undiagnosed though, but not necessarily advanced. It seems he was once monitored and the PIRADS 3 could be suspicious but without a biopsy one will never know. As I previously said those nodes are not the primary nodes where prostate would metastasize too first.

User
Posted 08 Feb 2025 at 23:15

Stargazing, sorry to hear about the loss of your father,please accept my sincere condolences.

I have recently been told I have metastatic cancer in my retroperitoneal lymph node. They have detected prostate cancer in numerous lymph nodes. 

It is often said that many men die with prostate cancer rather than from it, so there is a possibility that he had some level of prostate cancer. A fluctuating PSA is often associated with prostate infection rather than cancer. I am guessing that you are wondering if he did have prostate cancer, did that affect his outcome. Apologies if my assumption is wrong.

Added

CT scans did not pick up my first lymph node involvement but a PSMA scan did.

Thanks Chris

Edited by member 08 Feb 2025 at 23:18  | Reason: Added comment due to posts crossing

User
Posted 09 Feb 2025 at 00:40

Stargazing , sorry I don't know how the lymphs nodes would appear on a CT scan . With a PSMA scan they cancer shows up in a different colour but I don't know how the lymph node looks. 

I had diagnosis in 2013 ,surgery 2014 ,salvage RT 2017. My lymph node involvement was not picked up until 2022. The cancer in lymph nodes seen in December 2024 were not seen in the June 2024 PSMA scan.

There are so many variations in how our disease develops no two men will be the same. In hindsight I probably had the start of prostate cancer 12 years before diagnosis.

Thanks Chris

 

Edited by member 09 Feb 2025 at 07:53  | Reason: Not specified

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User
Posted 08 Feb 2025 at 21:48

Sorry on the loss of your father. No way to ever know now, but those nodes would be uncommon with Prostate cancer.

User
Posted 08 Feb 2025 at 21:57

He still  could have had prostate cancer undiagnosed though, but not necessarily advanced. It seems he was once monitored and the PIRADS 3 could be suspicious but without a biopsy one will never know. As I previously said those nodes are not the primary nodes where prostate would metastasize too first.

User
Posted 08 Feb 2025 at 23:05

Thank you.

 

I edited to say he had a biopsy in 2019 with an ASAP result (suspicious but not definitely cancer). Not sure if this changes your view at all?

I would imagine there would have been other pelvic node involvement shown on the scan if the retroperitoneal ones were enlarged because of prostate cancer?

Is it also true that CT scans aren’t accurate for diagnosing prostate cancer? The report could only say he had an enlarged prostate which he had for years.

 

 

User
Posted 08 Feb 2025 at 23:15

Stargazing, sorry to hear about the loss of your father,please accept my sincere condolences.

I have recently been told I have metastatic cancer in my retroperitoneal lymph node. They have detected prostate cancer in numerous lymph nodes. 

It is often said that many men die with prostate cancer rather than from it, so there is a possibility that he had some level of prostate cancer. A fluctuating PSA is often associated with prostate infection rather than cancer. I am guessing that you are wondering if he did have prostate cancer, did that affect his outcome. Apologies if my assumption is wrong.

Added

CT scans did not pick up my first lymph node involvement but a PSMA scan did.

Thanks Chris

Edited by member 08 Feb 2025 at 23:18  | Reason: Added comment due to posts crossing

User
Posted 08 Feb 2025 at 23:45

Thanks Chris

 

Am I right in thinking there would be other enlarged lymph nodes in the Pelvis as well? I mean shown on my Dad’s CT?

Did you have pelvic nodes involvement? 

Edited by member 09 Feb 2025 at 00:14  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 09 Feb 2025 at 00:40

Stargazing , sorry I don't know how the lymphs nodes would appear on a CT scan . With a PSMA scan they cancer shows up in a different colour but I don't know how the lymph node looks. 

I had diagnosis in 2013 ,surgery 2014 ,salvage RT 2017. My lymph node involvement was not picked up until 2022. The cancer in lymph nodes seen in December 2024 were not seen in the June 2024 PSMA scan.

There are so many variations in how our disease develops no two men will be the same. In hindsight I probably had the start of prostate cancer 12 years before diagnosis.

Thanks Chris

 

Edited by member 09 Feb 2025 at 07:53  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 09 Feb 2025 at 10:26

Thanks Chris

 

was the first lymph node they saw cancer in a retroperitoneal?

  

User
Posted 09 Feb 2025 at 12:45

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Thanks Chris

 

was the first lymph node they saw cancer in a retroperitoneal?

  

Stargazing, the first node was an iliac lymph node. My understanding is that the cancer does not always start at the nearest lymph node and progress to the next one in order, it can miss some nodes. I am not medically trained. I will answer as many questions you ask, if I know the answer and we are here to support you.

I sense you feel his care was not as good as it should have been. Remember to look after yourself.

Thanks Chris

User
Posted 09 Feb 2025 at 16:46

The reason for asking is more selfish as I worry about the prostate family history in my family and my breast cancer risk x

 

I guess it’s just as likely his retro peritoneal nodes could have been enlarged due to the lung cancer tho.

Im a mess. Sorry x

User
Posted 09 Feb 2025 at 20:33

Although a family history of breast cancer can raise your risk of the disease most people diagnosed with breast cancer do not have a family history, in other words most women diagnosed with breast cancer do not have a close family member who has experienced the disease. 

User
Posted 09 Feb 2025 at 21:44

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

The reason for asking is more selfish as I worry about the prostate family history in my family and my breast cancer risk x

 

I guess it’s just as likely his retro peritoneal nodes could have been enlarged due to the lung cancer tho.

Im a mess. Sorry x

Stargazing, no need for apologies , and nothing wrong with looking out for your family. Why not give the prostate cancer nurses a call, the number is at the top of the page. They may be able to help with your questions.

Thanks chris

 
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