Beware the Undetectable

[Mkeman]

For the past 2 plus years my PSA has been undetectable. I have been on Zytiga, Eligard and prednisone. I was told not to worry...things were at a standstill. Next week I start chemo and radiation to fight small cell lung cancer that snuck up on me while basking in the undetectable. Insist on a full body scan once a year or so. Being told you have cancer once is tough. Being told twice is really hard.

[Hidden]

That is one hell of a jolt....😫

[LearnAll]

Sorry to hear. Is it metastasis of prostate cancer to lungs OR a brand new Cancer of lung itself ?

[Hidden]

This has to be a hard one to internalize. Small comfort, but you have a lot of brothers here that support you. Hang tough.

[tallguy2]

Thank you for sharing your experience. Sorry to hear this.

[Escudilla]

Well, crap. Damn cancer!

[tom67inMA]

Wow, that's tough. It's a difficult tradeoff though, as scans usually involve radiation which can also cause cancer.

If you makes you feel any better, I only had a week to assimilate my prostate cancer diagnosis before finding out I also had bladder cancer.

[jfoesq]

That’s a tough one for sure. Hang in there brother. Wishing you the best.

[Danielgreer]

Really sorry to hear about the bad news when you were doing so well with the PC therapy. Keep fighting! We’ll keep supporting you!

[Tall_Allen]

That sucks. A friend discovered his primary lung cancer as an incidental finding when he had his CT for prostate cancer. Fortunately, it hadn't yet metastasized and it wasn't SCLC.He was very lucky to have found it so early. He ablated it with 3 zaps of SBRT. I hope they are able to at least slow yours down.

[Mkeman in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks. Found mine when I had a CT scan for a hernia. They claim they can cure it with a tough regimen of radiation and chemo.

[Tall_Allen in reply to Mkeman]

Have you had an FDG PET/CT scan?

[Mkeman in reply to Tall_Allen]

Yep. Just had a call from pulmonologist saying I also have a condition called Intertestial Fibrosis. If I had died three years ago I could have avoided all this. But I would have missed some really good times.

[cajeffrey in reply to Mkeman]

Hi Mkeman

I totally agree with your intro " Beware the undetectable!"

My husband (age 71, dx feb 2017 mets to distant lymph nodes, radiation, eligard. ) Undetectable since June 2017. Today he had a CT scan as a result of a two month old dry cough, crackles in lungs, wheezing and an xray that showed some interstitial markings (fibrosis). Whenever we mention the possibility of lung cancer, all doctors say that it is VERY unlikely. (Even though we point out that his Father and brother both died of lung cancer in their sixties.) I always want to answer with "its not probable, but is it possible?" And if the answer is YES, lets rule it out. It has taken forever to get the ct scan, after being offered a diagnosis of asthma, given broncho dilators etc. etc. So FRUSTRATING.

Were you offered any treatment for the fibrosis?

So sorry to hear about the double diagnosis.

To Tall_Allen

Does the FDG/Pet CT require a PSA of at least 2? I've been wanting my husband to get one, but here in Canada, they say there is no point when PSA undetectable.

Thank s everyone for your input and support.

Catherine

(I will update when we get the CT results)

[Mkeman in reply to cajeffrey]

I had asked for body scan last spring but was denied due to PSA being undetectable. I am seeing Fibrosis doc next week.cancer doc said radiation can make it worse.

[scarlino]

I have same thing. It is really a tough diagnosis. They are recognizing that this may be more of an occurrence than first thought, which should spur some more activity on ways to handle it. Mine was caused by morphing to it, not from lung. A few folks on here are dealing with it so you are not alone, just stay upbeat and know we all pull for each other.

[dockam]

Oh d*mn! So sorry to hear of a 2nd Ca Dx. My best to you

[jimreilly]

Hang in there, and good luck. I was diagnosed with both kidney and prostate cancer (two different cancers) at the same time some years ago, fortunately both of them early enough so that I'm still here and pretty healthy. I wish you the same result!

[j-o-h-n]

Hello Mkeman.... I've posted this many many times.... I have a lung melanoma (+ Pca) and it's being treated with Keytruda, and it's working.... Ask your docs...

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 12/13/2019 8:23 PM EST

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

Glad you doing well. Learned today that the main chemo drug ...Carboplatin... is also used for Pca...double dip!!! Also learned that radiation for small cell lung cancer is twice a day for 15 days, a change from once a day for six weeks. Also, ten radiation doses to the head at the end of treatment is pretty standard since small cell often winds up in the brain.

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

You're right... I just had a visit with my lung oncologist yesterday.... Lung and Brain... all clear.

Let's pray Carboplatin, chemo works and as a double whammy for you.... (Keytruda is immunotherapy).

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 12/13/2019 8:47 PM EST

[nycrunner]

Hi

Chemo and its side effects scare the living daylights out of me.

I have been using a PEMF device for the last 5 months.

Early days but I do feel that it is helping.

Lung nodules are unchanged and stable.

It may be an option.

Have a look at the YouTube video of a TED address by Bill Doyle.

Good Luck

Dave

[BigM62]

Mkeman, how are you doing?