Psma scan

[Mkdb]

Does anyone know where we might be able to do a psma test without being part of a study? All the studies out there require you to have a rising psa.. but if we are on hormones and have metastatic prostade cancer .. and have already done RP, and our psa is non detectable, what r our options for getting the psma scam done? I’ve checked UCSF and UCLA , and both point towards studies which we would not qualify for.. thanks in advance.

[Tall_Allen]

In the US, PSMA PET scans are not FDA approved, so you can only get them in clinical trials. If your PSA is undetectable, there aren't any kinds of scans that will show anything. Why do you think you need one?

[Jdbnord in reply to Tall_Allen]

I think it's wanted for peace of mind but it's just been 8 months since RP

[Tall_Allen in reply to Jdbnord]

I don't think it will give you peace of mind, or at least, it shouldn't. If it is negative (which is the most likely situation) is that because there was really nothing there or because it was insensitive at your PSA. And that "peace of mind" might lull you into a very damaging passivity. If it is positive, what else is there that it can't yet pick up?

[snoraste]

Based on your condition, no chance of doing it in the US. There are several centers in UK, Germany, Netherlands, etc., that you can get it done. The cost is approximately $3000. Given your PSA, unless you have a very rare form of the disease (non-PSA expressing aggressive cells - looks very unlikely), the scan will be non-avid. But it does establish a "baseline" PSMA early in your treatment - for whatever that's worth to you. It's a luxury at this point, not a necessity.

[AdamFaithful]

I have had PSMA Pet scans at both UCLA Health and UCSF (my original scan). Since they are both still using it for clinical trials, they lower the cost quite a bit, and signing up for it is just easy paperwork. UCLA cost about $2,400. Insurance (Anthem Blue Cross) paid for the scan part at UCSF but not for the Gallium Arsenide injection part. I still paid about 2,500 on that one. Well worth it.