My husband had RRP 4/14, with <0.1 PSA post until 0.2 PSA 12/15. Even though CT, MRI, etc. didn't show anything in pelvic area, RO said it was BCR 12/15 & ordered IMRT (39) & ADT 2-3/2016. After those treatments PSA <0.1 through 11/18 (last test).
But husband's complaints of pain in right side of chest led PCP to order cardio tests, including stress test, which hubby passed "with flying colors." Pain in chest persists, however, & PCP wants to start with chest x-ray next month. (Next appt with RO scheduled 3/19.)
I am worried about metastasis to lung. Hubby wants to wait until PCP appt. Feb 5 to pursue. I think hubby should get in touch with RO right away. Any advise, thoughts. . .
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Statistically this is more likely mets in ribs than lungs. Has he had bone scan and CT lately? Of course, we hope it’s not even that. Any recent trauma?
Thanks so much for replying. He did have a fall June 17, 2018. A cinder block he was trying to stand on (!!!) gave way, & he fell backwards landing on left elbow & lower arm area. Surgery for the fractured elbow required installation of 2 metal plates & 15 metal screws.
It could be possible, I suppose, that he hurt his ribs, perhaps twisting as he fell. Oddly, though, this pain seems to have appeared only recently. But no, he hasn't had recent CT or other scans.
So, maybe the PCP has the right approach -- start with x-ray & then CT, MRI, if nothing shows?
That was PCP's first thought too, but he reconsidered. Now I am getting worried, because I've seen guys here who had very low/even "undetectable" PSAs who still turned out to have PCa -- in some cases metastasized. Problem is there's no MO involved. Just urologist & radiation oncologist. Next PSA due beg. Mar & then sees RO. We're in the midst of trying to sell our house -- move to retirement in April. Lots of realtors & interested clients have been coming every day since it went up just this weekend! Which is good. But, I'm worried & think hub' should just get to one of these darn docs ASAP!
Thank you, Tall_Allen. Please read my reply to YostConner above. I'm now really getting worried. Can't help it! This darn PCa is just so fickle & can rear it's ugly head willy-nilly. . .
I've learned to take it as it comes. Your worrying will only cause anxiety and serves no useful purpose. I practice mindfulness to keep me focussed on the present moment. A cracked rib is a much more reasonable explanation, and a chest X-ray seems prudent.
Thank you. We'll discuss this calmly tomorrow when we're rested. But Hub' wants to wait until his next scheduled PCP appointment which is Feb 5 or so. I'd rather he see him ASAP & get the x-ray ASAP. That's what I shall insist on for my own peace of mind.
Wait a minute I thought wives were the boss and husbands were the horse. You tell him that he should get his act together or you'll no longer speak to him. Oops, never mind, he may like that. Tell him that I said I will hunt him down and make him listen to my silly humor until he falls off another cinder block. MAKE HIM MOVE NOW!
Non of newer pet scans will tell you anything yet as you are a bit below the psa level that they can typically detect anything It's really hard to sit back and wait, as we all know, but it doesn't look like have a lot of alternatives. Is he scheduled for a ct and bone scan routinely? That may show something if it is a lession that is not making a lot of PSA.
No, he hasn't had a bone scan for a couple of years, as I recall. Will check his on-line med chart. In the meantime, he'll see PCP this week -- not wait til next month. A complication for us is we're selling our house & moving to PA in April, so he'll need to get new docs up there. Also, at this point, with realtors & potential buyers coming in to see the house, everything's very chaotic. We'll definitely start with our PCP. He's been with us nearly 20 years & knows hub's history & PCa exceptionally well.
A fellow traveler that was diagnosed in 2002 and has had the full Monte of everything thrown at it, was a few months ago found to what appeared in scans to be widespread Mets to lungs. Biopsy done and confirmed this. As was PdL 1 positive was placed on Keytruda,,,compassionate use at no charge,,,and has been totally cleared by what new scans now show. I forget if these were c11 acetate or not. I do know that is how Mets weree lungs were detected. Your results may vary.
So terrible! I am sorry! Hub gets x-ray Jan 28 & I'm hoping & praying pain is from old fall or recent strain from heavy lifting. . . We will do what we have to do. . .
Oh, I am so sorry. I read your previous posts -- you've been on an infernal journey. We're going to PCP this afternoon.
Hub says doesn't understand why pain is fairly recent if it were from fall June 2018. Anyway, last bone scan was 3 years ago. So another roller coaster ride begins, I guess. . .
I was DX in 2017 w/ stage 4 w/ lymph involvement ,had RP and was visiting my sister when I wound up in the hosp .they did a CT scan and just caught the lower rt lobe by accident but it showed the lung mets all the while my psa was staying at 0.05 . It's a creeping disease always stay vigilant. At this time I am in complete remission but I know it will come back it's just a matter of when. Find an M.O. and advise them of your concerns .
So very sorry you've had it so rough being dx at that rotten stage. And then. . . "Creeping" is a good way to describe it. I wish it won't come back, or at least not for a long, long time when the treatments will be much better.
for me we just did basics treatment not all of these exotic drugs. i had a bone scan and ct recently and i gained to more mets now they did radiated my lymph nodes, the out come was one got smaller and the other grew abit. have them radiate his lung. or chemo there are options out there.
Thanks for the encouragement, in spite of the good/bad outcome of your last radiation treatment. PCa is a horribly nasty one. It can hide for long time based on what I've learned / researched. Hub will have x-ray of chest & thoracic spine. Next step would be a scans. Good luck to you with your treatment.
Thanks for the Provenge suggestion, Magnus. Happy it worked for you & we'll keep in mind if needed.
We're hoping it's not the PCa -- starting with chest & thoracic spine x-rays. Doc wants to rule out possible injury from fall & stress of heavy lifting in house prep for sale, as well as degenerative disc. Then we'll proceed to full-body bone scan, etc.
My husbands lung Mets have never caused him any pain. Just pain after lobe resection. They showed up in C11 acetate scan but not on regular ct scan. And Provenge did not make his Mets disappear.
That's extremely helpful to know. Thank you so very much, and I wish your husband & you all the best possible outcomes with treatments for this voracious PCa beast.
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