Specific clinics for g68 scan?

[bean1008]

If you’ve had a gallium68 scan would you mind sharing the specific clinic or hospital? I know I can go to UCLA but I’m willing to travel to Australia, Germany, England, Singapore, etc as the cost would be a wash it seems. Any help with where you had yours would be appreciated...need to schedule my first one in the next couple of months. I am not interested in playing this ridiculous game of trying to get in a trial in the US just because the FDA lags behind the rest of the world. Thanks!

[tango65]

Where do you live?

[ctarleton]

This search results link might give you some leads for prostate-related Ga 68 PSMA scans in clinical trial locations at USA and international locations. Happy Hunting.

clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/resu...

Charles

[bean1008 in reply to ctarleton]

Yes, know that website. Thanks.

[MoleyMoo]

GenesisCare Windsor

genesiscare.com/uk/treatmen...

[bean1008 in reply to MoleyMoo]

Thanks Moley! Windsor would be super convenient to Heathrow. Do you remember the cost or was it subsidized by National Health?

[MoleyMoo in reply to bean1008]

PSMA PET/CT £2500 which appears to be standard as cost of gallium high

Not subsidised and I think everyone charges similar amount -

[bean1008 in reply to MoleyMoo]

Thanks Moley!

[bean1008]

I live in Seattle. I know I can try and wait for a trial in the US but I’m not willing to do that. I’ve been burned once by UCSF already. I will pay out of pocket and will travel anywhere for the scan. UCLA us always an option buT I hear you can get one in Australia for $400US.

[konichiwa12]

I had one 2 weeks ago at the Harley Street Clinic in London, England.

[bean1008 in reply to konichiwa12]

Konichiwa, konichiwa12!

[juvety]

Hi, in Spain there are 2 clinics. I think that I will have a g68 psma in Malaga (fguma.es/unidad-imagen-mole... but in CUN cun.es/en/ also use g68 psma.

[bean1008 in reply to juvety]

Gracias, juvety!

[fco1969 in reply to juvety]

Hi Juvety. Can you please explain what is the difference between a g68 psma and a PET / RM? 3 months ago I had one in Barcelona and I understood that this test and this

center are now pioneers in detecting cell phone with low PSA. Mr put radiotracer. I think

that F 18 Hill.

cetir.com/especialidades/pe...

Thank you

[juvety in reply to fco1969]

Hi fco1969 !!,

PET / CT is the combination of a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and CT (Computerized Tomography)

In summary, PET plus a radioactive component, Colina or PSMA, is the emission responsible for finding cancer cells, but without CT doctors would only see

a black plate with dots. And the CT is the part of the process that places these dots in the body, like an "x-ray." This way they can see the cancer and its location in the body.

In recent years some hospitals are investigating positioning the PET with an RMI magnetic resonance, I am not a doctor, but they say it has some advantages, such as more precise location and less emission

of radiation because not needing CT.

At this time CETIR has the PET / MRI but does not have PSMA only COLINA, which loses the advantage of PSMA in PET, but each case is different and each technology has its advantages depending on which part of the body you want to analyze, if it's only from the prostate, if it's in the bones if it's in the node, you can do better with one technology or another.

In my case, and in my opinion and because of the study I have been doing, and I'm not a doctor, I think that for my situation the best thing is PET/MRI with PSMA.

I hope you have good luck and health for many many years

BR

[fco1969 in reply to juvety]

OK thank you very much. Now I have it clear.

PSMA is a radiotracer like HILL.

With more or less sensitivity but the same.

In Spain, I think the radiotracer is not used

PSMA for some reason of certification. I listen

A lot outside Spain PSMA, but not here inside.

I had a PET / RMI with F18 Hill.

I will try to find out why he is not in Spain

THANKS

[depotdoug]

Mine 1st was in at IU Neuroscience Research Center IU School of Medicine Indianapolis,IN. My present IU Urologist got me in for 68Ga - PSMA-11 PET Scan in 2 weeks notice. That was 08/01. Yes that is a Clinical Research trial in the largest IU School of Medicine facility in the Midwest.

Yes they have openings. Of course my cost w/ Medicare insurance was only $350.

Not bad and fast and furious. I mean. Scheduling worked.

Why not ask about 68Ga-PSMA Scan location?

[depotdoug in reply to depotdoug]

Mine was at: Goodman Hall, Indiana Institute for Biomedical Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

[bean1008 in reply to depotdoug]

Thanks Doug!

[Hidden]

"18F-PSMA-1007 was reported favorable for primary tumors and local relapse due to low clearance via the urinary tract (1.2% ID over 2 h). In contrast urinary excretion of 18F-DCFPyL, 68Ga-PSMA-11 and 68Ga-PSMA-617 is remarkable higher (>10% ID over 2h)"

jnm.snmjournals.org/content... (2017)

68Ga-PSMA-ligands are older and more widely used, but the newer 18F-PSMA-1007 ligand has two distinct advantages:

1) Longer half-time, so application timing is more relaxed.

2) It is excreted through the liver and not through urine. This leads to better imaging visibility around the urethra, a frequent spot of recurrence, (of course, reduced visibility within the liver, a less frequent recurrence spot).

Sensitivity wise are equally ranked, although I sense an opinion bias towards the 68Ga.

PS: Do not confuse 18F-PSMA-1007 with fluciclovine F-18 PET/CT (Axumin) which demonstrates inferior sensitivity.

"– Initial results favourable. Likely better than choline, but probably not as accurate as PSMA ligands in biochemical recurrence – Potential role in local recurrence as less physiological urinary activity compared with Ga-68 PSMA"

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

[bean1008 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, justfor! Yes, I think I was confusing the two when I saw it mentioned! You've helped send me back for more research!

[Armywifedublin]

MSK in New York just did my husbands!!!

[bean1008]

Thanks so much! I hear great things about them...I'm in Seattle so have been hesitant to start thinking about secondary treatment with MSK but I know it'd be a great choice.

[Philly13]

The below link gives a state by state location of institutions that can do the GA 68 PET/CT scan along with links for making appointments.

carcinoid.org/2017/04/06/ga...

[Philly13 in reply to Philly13]

Not links but telephone numbers.

[bean1008 in reply to Philly13]

Thanks Philly!

[Woodlocker]

Loma Linda Ca

[bean1008 in reply to Woodlocker]

Thanks Wood!

[snoraste]

I did 3 scans in 3 different locations: London, Munich and UCLA. The costs are very similar (around $2800-$3000). I hear Australia and South Africa are cheaper, if traveling long distance is ok.

I can’t tell if you’re eligible for any trials based on what I read here. If not, you’re on your own financially. You would need your medical records forwarded to any location you’re planning on doing this. Perhaps your clinic at Seattle has a connection to a center they can recommend.

[bean1008 in reply to snoraste]

UCLA was the recommendation for me. But when I heard it was much cheaper in Australia I thought what the heck? I have the time and the air miles. Yep, eligible for a trial. First one never responded to me… Second one did but then never heard back. Third was ready to book me then in mere hours closed their trial. So I’m 0-3. 😢

[j-o-h-n]

bean can we COUNT on you to furnish us with more information about yourself? We know you're in Seattle, but what's your age, psa and gleason scores, treatments, Doctor's name(s)? All info is voluntary but it helps us help you and helps us too. Thank you.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Monday 11/25/2019 8:52 PM EST

[bean1008 in reply to j-o-h-n]

Thanks John! Diagnosed in 10/17 with a psa of 10.4 and 12 of 13 cores positive. RP in 12/17...escaped the capsule and three of 15 lymph nodes involved. Gleason 9. Post surgery psa went from an encouraging .009 to .28 two months ago. Another test scheduled in early Jan then likely off somewhere for a PSMA when I hit close to a .4

Oncologist is Dr Robert Meier at Swedish in Seattle...only SBRT clinic in the area and that sounds like a good option should that be the eventual plan. But I’m open and all ears and eyes...learning new things all the time and encouraged by the options out there.

[Hidden in reply to bean1008]

After the data that you have quoted, I estimate your PSA doubling time to be ~5 months.

I also made a guess about your age being 65yrs.

Entering these data to an excel derived from a Heidelberg paper, I get these probabilities:

PSMA test detection estimate now at 0.3 PSA -> 62%

Waiting for it to go to 0.4 -> 64%

My take: I wouldn't wait until January for the next PSA test.

[bean1008 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks justfor! I’m actually 62 and my doubling rate is a wee bit over six months. Initially it had been three months so has trended slower...but I know that can change.

UCLA sent me some data on PSA and G68:

PSA:

Below 0.2, positivity rate is around 30%

0.2-0.5 positivity rate is around 40-50%

0.5-1.0 positivity rate is around 50-85%

>1.0 positivity rate is around 85%

I don’t like the waiting but it seems that it would be beneficial to get closer to a .5 if going by their numbers. First week of January will be three months since my last test (.28 on Oct 7th). I do know I need to stay proactive on this. UCLA is scheduling four weeks out.

[Hidden in reply to bean1008]

Read this:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/284...

The people in Heidelberg are 2-3 years longer into this, compared to their counterparts in California. I am not German by the way (smiling face here).

[j-o-h-n in reply to bean1008]

Thank you for your quick and detailed reply. You may want to copy and paste your reply on your home page for members to view instead of having to repeat it when asked for it.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 11/26/2019 1:51 PM EST

[MMK-XFuture]

Had my G68 PET/CT scan in the Philippines at Cardinal Santos Hospital. Cost was about US $2K with senior citizen discount. Airline ticket may cost you anywhere from $600 - $3500 depending on the carrier, travel season and ticket class.

Let me know if you need more detailed info.

[j-o-h-n in reply to MMK-XFuture]

Are you in the Philippines?

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 11/26/2019 5:07 PM EST

[MMK-XFuture in reply to j-o-h-n]

Born and raised. Am amazed myself at how progressive the country is with regards to healthcare. Got the habit of comparing what my doctors said vs. what's said on this forum and they're right on.

Thanks to all the knowledgeable folks here, you know who you are!

[j-o-h-n in reply to MMK-XFuture]

Besides yourself we have another member in the Pines.... you two may wish to get together. If you wish I can contact him and ask if you two should meet. BTW I met them (he and his wife) there since my wife is Pinay and we were there for my sister-in-law's birthday.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 11/27/2019 4:40 PM EST

[MMK-XFuture in reply to j-o-h-n]

Sure, that would be nice.

[j-o-h-n in reply to MMK-XFuture]

OK sige na............

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 11/28/2019 4:08 PM EST

[bean1008 in reply to MMK-XFuture]

Thanks MMK! Hope to visit the Philippines one day when all this is under control! El Nido and Palawan are on my bucket list!

[MMK-XFuture in reply to bean1008]

Catching up on my travels before I kick the bucket! Have yet to see El Nido! See you there, I'll be the one with the cane.