If the PSA is now "undetectable" but there are new mets... what is going on? My guy started taxatere treatment yesterday, Friday December 14th due to this new diagnosis... Has been on lupron since August 10th, and has now "stopped zytiga" due to the new treatment. Please give me some good news!!! I am so worried... MO has not given any info except to start chemo ASAP!!!
Not all metastases put out very much PSA. In fact, neuroendocrine prostate cancer, for example, puts out none. Before he starts on taxotere, it is prudent to check for chromogranin A, neuron-specific enolase, and synaptophysin with a blood test. If those are elevated, adding carboplatin to his chemo cocktail may be beneficial. There are other rare kinds of prostate cancer (e.g., ductal, squamous cell, sarcoma, etc.) that also put out little PSA but may be responsive to chemo. It is a good idea to biopsy one of those recent metastases for an immunohistological analysis to determine whether he has any of the many rare types.
Yes. Sometimes even ordinary acinar adenocarcinoma puts out little PSA. If that was a recent new met, you have more assurance that docetaxel may be beneficial.
His first scan was in August. No mets in liver at that time. Scan a few weeks ago showed sign of mets in liver and the pelvis lymphnodes have grown. He had to have stents put in between kidneys and bladder as one of the kidneys was inflammed. Would this kind of cancer growth show no increase in PSA? This is all so frightening!!!
His PSA at the end of July was 56. One week later, it was 95. He was diagnosed with advanced stage PC on August 10th. Mets to bones and lymphnodes and small spots to lung... So, he has shown signs of high psa...
Hi Connie. Your ‘guy’ is not alone; my husband’s PCa has been this way for over a year, and he will likely be starting taxotere & carboplatin in Jan. As Tall_Allen mentioned, we recently had those tests done to rule out any mutation, and we are awaiting one last bone biopsy test result to confirm his “cocktail”. I would encourage you to ask the MO about the additional blood work.
Because he also has new mets with an undetectable PSA, which means his PCa is both out of remission and castrate resistant. So it’s time to pull out the big guns.
I had PSMA scan last year which showed 5 avid lesions in my liver. After 9 cycles of docetaxal I had another scan and no avid lesions were identified. So yes, chemo can definitely help liver mets.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.