Worried about rising PSA after chemo

User

Posted 10 Sep 2025 at 16:27

Hi, I’m a newbie here and worried. My hubby (Gleason 9) had 10 rounds Docetaxel chemo finishing in June. His PSA never reduced lower than 6.5 and in 2 months has risen again to 27. The consultant doesn’t know why. Hubby’s had CT and bone scans which showed evidence of lesions in bones, particularly femur but is awaiting further CT and bone scans to see if any other mets, and whether PC has spread to spine.

The same thing happened last year but they eventually found mets in lymph nodes and scapular which the consultant said were responsible.

Having looked at other posts on various forums, I’m rather disappointed that they only keep giving him CT scans and not PET scans, which seem to show far more detail. I’m worried that the scans are missing something crucial. There is a PET scanner at our hospital but I understand they’re expensive and perhaps the local budget won’t cover it.

User

Posted 10 Sep 2025 at 22:13

Unfortunately I was in the position as your other half around this time last year,I received 10 rounds of Docetaxel think my lowest PSA was around 9,but only a few months after finishing the course it began to rise roughly doubling every months.

In over 3 years I've only had 1 psma pet scan,your right they are expensive,I'm having 1 in few werks time to see if im eligible to take part in a trial.

Please read my bio for more info and I hope it helps and good luck on your journey.

Regards Phil

User

Posted 11 Sep 2025 at 06:47

Hello Bookworm76,

PSMA Pet Scan's are most appropriate in early Stage 4 PCa. The rationale being the scan's ability to identify tiny/small mets, which are more difficult to locate and stage. The procedure, if subsidised, places quite a financial burden on the health system. In my own country, Australia, PBS guidelines impose a lifetime limit of two per patient at the subsidised rate. That aside, your husband already has local and distant mets of both nodal and bony variety. His Taxene treatment is systemic, and other treatments offered would be likewise, due to the scatter of his lesions. But having said that, should the treatment focus turn toward palliation, identifying a small painful lesion to treat with radio therapy, is entirely appropriate.

User

Posted 11 Sep 2025 at 18:26

Hi Phil, you’ve certainly been through the mill more than my husband has, as he's had no kidney problems so far. He saw the consultant today and it looks like Cabazitaxel is the next step after yet another bone scan. Meanwhile they’re upping his steroid dose to try to get the PSA down again. It didn’t work last year though so we’ll see.

Wishing you all the best for your eligibility for the trial.

User

Posted 12 Sep 2025 at 08:07

Thanks bookworm

Cabizitaxel should keep the other halfs condition stable if not put it in reverse its a well proven treatment.

All the best phil

User

Posted 12 Sep 2025 at 19:39

Hi jfd and thanks for the information. I’ve seen from a mainly US forum I belong to that these scans can cost up to $20,000 there so no wonder they’re very sparing with them. The NHS is in enough financial trouble as it is. The only one my husband has had was two years ago, which showed that the cancer had started to spread. Fortunately it also showed two tiny tumours in his left lung which were able to be removed early and easily.

Still, they seem to be getting all the details they need from the CT and bone scans for the next step.

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