How often for PSA check

[Blair77]

My husband finished chemotherapy frontline in August. PSA went from 1044 to 6. In October it was down to 4. He’s on bickutamide and Lupron and doesn’t have his next PSA scheduled until the end of January. That’s almost a 3 month gap shouldn’t he be getting it checked monthly????

[Hidden]

Depends on how often you want to be stressed out. The gold standard of treatment is every 3 months until his PSA starts rising, then I would insist on a monthly test. If the oncologist refuses, have it checked on your own. Any place that draws blood offers PSA testing. It's only been 4 months since he finished his chemo so chances are pretty darn good that his PSA is still going down. Relax, I started at 850 and it took a year for my PSA to bottom out. (0.07), always had mine check every 3 months. Now let me be clear, I'm not a doctor, I never even cleaned floors in a hospital. Just telling you what I went through. Everything is fine.

Of course what do I know?

[Blair77 in reply to Hidden]

My thoughts exactly on the “ depends on how often you want to be stressed”😝. Thanks for the response. I hope it’s still going down I’m of course worried it’s going up. Ugh cancer.

[Hidden in reply to Blair77]

My wife knew I was worried (as was she) when my cancer BS first hit. Now mind you she is in her mid 60's. One night she tapped me on the shoulder and I turned around to find her waving a pair of her panties in the air asking me if I was ready for action. We both laughed like heck and the stress melted away for days. Be creative. Wait until your two young sons go to sleep and do something crazy. Laughter is the best medicine. You can always depend on me to post dumb stuff that a few members find somewhat humorous.

[Blair77 in reply to Hidden]

👍🏻🤗

[BigRich in reply to Hidden]

My wife liked your comment:" Depends on how often you want to be stressed out." I even got a laugh. I told you before, I like your sense of humor.

Wishing you well.

Rich

[Hidden in reply to BigRich]

And to you BigRich.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

"depends on how often you want to stressed out" That's why it's called PSA: Prostate Stress and Anxiety.

[Hidden]

My not-a-doctor advice would be to go ahead and have it tested in January since we are almost there already. You can make a decision then about testing intervals going forward. My PSA was 0.2 for around 3 months in a row before my doctor said to go every three months. My feeling is that it has to very low and stable to not be testing monthly. Mine is starting to go up again, although very slowly and still low (0.4). Now my doctor is recommending monthly PSA tests again and I agree.

[Tjc1]

3 months is normal for his situation with the psa on the downswing. If it was the other way around it would be sooner like 30 days I'm guessing. I'm on the rise so went from 6 months to three months. Hope this helps you.

Happy New Year

Thomas

[ctarleton]

I've been getting PSAs monthly for 49 months. I was relieved to watch my original PSA go down from 5,006 to 1.0 on basic ADT. I was stressed big time watching it climb again, eventually to 95, as other things were considered and tried. When I later added Xtandi, I was again relieved to watch my PSA go back down pretty quickly to the range of 1.2. Now, I am again stressed with a small rise to 1.7 after a little over a year on Xtandi.

My own experience also included relatively frequent IV infusions of Zometa (zoledronic acid). (If I had not had that, I would have had injections of Xgeva (denosumab).) I also experienced quite a bit of blood/veins work related to the Provenge that I tried. And then there were various imaging tests, such as CT scans with IV contrast, NM Bone Scans with IV Tech-99 imaging agents, and a Ga-68 PSMA PET scan, etc. And, in my case, some additional medical episodes related to my heart and other health conditions that also required still more IV needles, and injections. The main vein on my left arm no longer works well for IVs or tests, and I even got a blood clot in it about 18 months ago.

I can attest that after several years, the sheer numbers of needle "sticks", and injections, and the logistics/hassles of scheduling so many appointments, making so many appointments, and waiting for and getting the results of so many tests and appointments, and also monitoring the after-the-fact tracking/billing of it all through primary and secondary insurance & pharmacy systems .... can Really. Get. Old.

It can get in the way of actually "Living" your life in areas outside of the constant shadow of the disease and the treatments, and everything that comes with them. In hindsight, I would have given more consideration to fewer PSA checks and other medical things during the "down times", when various treatments were obviously working well, and my disease was most likely under relatively stable control. Maintaining such a Balance between conflicting emotions is never easy, though. Neither is decision-making under conditions of uncertainty.

Just some thoughts,

Charles

[j-o-h-n]

I don't check my PSA every 3 months I check it every 90 days.

Good Luck and Good Health for now and for all the coming New Years.

j-o-h-n Sunday 12/31/2017 12:37 AM EST

[Hidden]

Recognizing that me situation was different with regards to PSA testing, I offer the following:

During six month chemo and hormone suppression trial, my PSA and T plus two more pages of marker testing, I was tested every week. On completion of the trail every month for 24 months. Then I went on every three months for the next seven years and now every four months.

As a "guinea pig or "rat", as you will, the objective was to remain with undetectable PSA and T less than five for six years. I was successful. Seven years ago I started testosterone replacement to bring T up to about 500 to 650. Without 4mg of Androgel twice a week, my T is around 50.

I posted this because while atypical testing to most, it was necessary to track results. As far as fear of results, I initially was somewhat concerned, but after the first six months, I have come to expect good results and no longer fret. My medical oncologist did an excellent job explaining what was going on in my body and how it correlated to his lab results.

Besides, what happens if the results go south, I go back on Lupron and try the magic billets that some of ya'll are experiencing stay positive and focused and don't let the bastard grind you down

Illegitimi non carborundum.

Keep kicking the bastard

Gourd Dancer

[Sisira]

I think there is no hard and fast rule. In a more risky pathological conditions I would check my PSA monthly because 3 months period can be long enough for a more aggressive cancer to become really nasty. Otherwise, checking every 3 months would be normal and safe enough.

Happy New Year to you Blair!

Sisira

[EdBar]

I get mine checked monthly along with several other blood tests prescribed by Dr. Myers. I have gotten my PSA tested monthly since my diagnosis in March 2014 using the ultra sensitive test. For me I find it reassuring and I want to know if it ticks up from its undetectable status so I can discuss with my onco and plan the next steps if necessary.

Ed