PSA after one month on lupron

[CavScout]

I am 63 with high risk PCa. I was diagnosed with PSA of 30 and Gleason 9 in December. Biopsy and MRI showed all 12 cores malignant with "likelihood of extra-capsular extension". PSMA PET scan showed no mets as of December 15. I began treatment on February 26 with a week of Casodex followed by a Lupron injection on March 4. I started EBRT on April 1st and I'll have a brachyboost on May 8.

I had a follow up with my MO yesterday with new labs I can see that my PSA has gone from 30 to 11.2 in a month. I have only seen the results on my health portal, have not heard from my Dr. yet.

Is 11.2 a concerning PSA after one month on Lupron? It does show a drop but I was expecting to see a number much lower and of course I worry this could indicate activity outside the prostate.

Thanks for any insights you may have.

[Kaliber]

sometimes, a slower decline in PSA ( to nadir ) over a 2-3. Month period can be indicative of an eventual longer success at nadir and overall. IMHO.

❤️❤️❤️

[CavScout in reply to Kaliber]

Thank you Kaliber! ❤️

[pakb in reply to CavScout]

If you look in my profile you'll see my husband's VERY slow drop in PSA over the last, almost 7, years. He currently is at .8 PSA. Took over 5 years to get below 1.

[CavScout in reply to pakb]

Very interesting. And thank you!

[WisdomSeeking]

I don't think PSA drop from 30 to 11.2 in a month is concerning at all. It's too soon, give it time. It took 6 months for my father to find the PSA nadir.

My fathers' PSA:

-------------------------

11/2019: 113.00

02/2020: 1.13

05/2020: 0.23 (nadir)

It's good that you went with EBRT.

[CavScout in reply to WisdomSeeking]

Thank you WisdomSeeking!

Yes, I had almost decided to do RALP + EBRT + ADT at one point but met with a great team at Rutgers Cancer Institute of NJ who I trust to do their best with EBRT and Brachyboost with ADT. I will post a more detailed update to the decision process and how things are progressing. Thanks again for your reply.

[Vangogh1961]

Mine started at 15, it halved every month until it became undetectable at 9 months after chemo and radiation had started.

[Scout4answers]

See my profile for how my PSA reacted, my DX was similar to yours. I did not get brachyboost

We have many good years ahead of us. Sail on...

[Tall_Allen]

It can take a couple of months for the Lupron to have full effect.

[CavScout in reply to Tall_Allen]

WHEW! Good to know. Thank you Tall_Allen.

[NotDFL]

What Allen said...

Orgovyx (pills) causes a faster drop compared to Lupron. But that is water over the dam.

[CavScout in reply to NotDFL]

Many thanks for your reply!

[quietcorner in reply to NotDFL]

- and Orgovyx also "wears off" faster, too. gotta be religious about pooping those pills.

[j-o-h-n in reply to quietcorner]

Pardon my buttinsky..............It's poping not pooping those pills.... (First in, then out)....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[mababa in reply to j-o-h-n]

Actually, popping those pills would be more correct.

[j-o-h-n in reply to mababa]

My Bad.......... for choping off a P............... Bravo - good catch, thanks!!!

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[mababa in reply to j-o-h-n]

Funny, John. I know these drugs we’re all taking can make us a bit grumpy—as evidenced by some of the recent post exchanges, but it’s also making us all faux English majors.

[j-o-h-n in reply to mababa]

mababa, Correct and Funny!!!

English???..... I (we) speak American..I'm still trying to figure out what "woke" "yo yo" "bling bling" and "mababa" (low in Tagalog?) mean....Anyway, too much "yada yada yada"....for me.........

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[Kaliber in reply to j-o-h-n]

Lol

[dadzone43]

"PSA" also stands for Permanent State of Anxiety. Obsessing over it (as we all do) will not help. This shows a great response to the initial treatment. Congratulations!

[85745 in reply to dadzone43]

Anxiety indeed, "PSA" also stands for Permanent State of Anxiety" that's a good one.

[CavScout in reply to 85745]

Definitely! I am much less anxious having read all of these replies 😀

[85745 in reply to CavScout]

We all have our moments with this , staying positive helps always. For me it's prayer and faith .

[dadzone43 in reply to 85745]

then, mission accomplished. We make decisions about treatment and have to lived with those decisions. Happily for me the PSA came down and has stayed down for five years. "Permanent regression" of my PCa? Hope so.

[85745 in reply to dadzone43]

Happy for you as well, keep on

[TheLarch]

My PSA went from 150 down to 2 after two months. I started in late January of this year with a few weeks of Bicalutamide followed by Lupron and then Erleada. I start EBRT next week and I'll recheck my PSA this weekend.

[CavScout in reply to TheLarch]

Thanks! I started with Bicalutimide too. I am at the end of second week of EBRT. Showing up with an empty colon and full bladder is an intricate dance some days but so far all going well. The only side effect thus far is increased urinary urgency. Essentially when I realize I have to pee, I have to pee now. I started Flomax yesterday which my RO thinks will help.

Good luck with your treatments!

[TheLarch in reply to CavScout]

I started and stopped the Flomax (tamsulosin) a couple of times. I found that I had better bladder control without it. Your experience may be different.

[Derf4223]

I suggest you ask your MO about adding an ARSI like enzalutamide or abiraterone

[SteveTheJ]

Relax. You're in this for the rest of your life. Definitely watch the numbers but put away your stopwatch.

[Bigtreeranch]

I talked with my doctor yesterday of this very thing. I wanted a PSA as I have been on the same meds for 5 weeks. He stated that is too early for an accurate PSA and that it would be of little use so to wait for things to settle down. So I am doing that

cheers mate

[CavScout in reply to Bigtreeranch]

Thx!

[Sagewiz]

I dropped my PSA 9 points from 29 to 20 with just diet and supplements prior to medical treatments but it took 6 months for the lupron/zytiga/prednisone to get it to <.01.

[CavScout in reply to Sagewiz]

I would like to hear about your dietary changes. I am not able to go on Zytiga due to hypertension. I am hoping a dietary change may improve the BP and allow me to go on Zytiga as well. In lieu of Zytiga my MO has kept me on Casodex.

[Sagewiz in reply to CavScout]

I take modified Citrus Pectin (Pectasol), Chrolophyll, BCQ (which has curcumin and is a great anti-inflammatory), probiotics in all forms (caps and foods) and a few other supplements.

My diet eliminated sugar and alcohol, minimized carbs, no red meat, no processed foods (sausage, ham, bacon, anything pre-made in a box or package).

I do fresh juiced veggies (no fruit), and try to incorporate as many healthy fresh veggies as possible. Lots of veggies with dark colors: purple yams, carrots of all colors, chard, kale, (dark leafy greens), Sauerkraut, kombucha, yogurt, kefir, kimchee, and other pickled veggies. I also use the Moss Report and the Prostate Cancer Research institute (PCRI.ORG) for information on treatments, nutrition, etc. I drink pomegranate juice and other dark fruit juices (tart cherry, blueberry etc...no high sugar stuff) , lots of water and water with electrolytes. I ordered some masticated berry cups from Finland and make sure I drink one of those daily. (RobertsBerries). Also lots of raw pumpkin seeds and healthy oils like Pumpkin seed, MTC, Olive oil, etc.

There are a lot more details, but this gives you an idea. I am hoping to add exercise if I can get my stamina up to the point where I can be more active. Anything to strengthen the immune system.

[Teacherdude72]

I was 67 when diagnosed as you, G9 aggressive, PSA 20.6 first month on Lupron PSA was 8. After the radiation including HDR it dropped to 0.8.Now I am 76 and on a Cancer meds holiday. Message me please for more

[CavScout in reply to Teacherdude72]

I'll be in touch. Thx!

[j-o-h-n]

youtube.com/watch?v=V_ONyuk...(Not working as expected?)

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[RCR38]

That is a great result as your testosterone will fight back and peak that same month. You should be excited about these results.

[CavScout in reply to RCR38]

OK! Thx a lot RCR38

[robert570]

I've been anywhere from 1.7 to 30 the past 10 years and I'm beginning to believe it's just a number. I go about on how I feel and ignore it. I let the doctors worry about it.

[CavScout in reply to robert570]

👍