Are my PSA results with Abiraterone (Zytiga) OK?

[konichiwa12]

Since Taking Abiraterone after BCR mentioned previously my PSA results have been:

19th Dec 2019 4.4 First started Abi

2nd Jan 4.87 only 2 weeks in

16th Jan 2.06 - that's more like it!

29th Jan 2.68 - Mmmm?

13th Feb 2.80 - Wrong way surely?

29th Feb 2.95 - Wrong way again?

I have come to Japan to work for 4 weeks so I won't see my consultant for a while. Are these results very bad or what? Feeling nervous!

Rich

[Magnus1964]

Konichiwa,

It is possible the increases are due to inflammation but the steady climb concerns me. If you have not tried it I would go to casodex. It has fewer side effects and is easier to take.

[Grumpyswife]

My husband was having similar ups and downs and recently switched from prednisone to dexamethasone and had a drop last time.

[Tall_Allen]

Your PSA has barely moved in the last couple of months, indicating that abiraterone is holding a lid on things. You can discuss switching from prednisone to dexamethasone - sometimes the switch increases the lifetime of abiraterone.

[konichiwa12 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thank you for stopping my imagination running wild!

[tallguy2]

Did you have the testing to determine if abiraterone would be beneficial in the first place? [Some men are known to not be candidates from the start due to genetics.] If not, you may be a candidate for another second-level anti-androgen, such as Xtandi.

[konichiwa12 in reply to tallguy2]

Sorry but I did not reply correctly to your question. When I was started on Abiraterone I was having 2 weekly home nurse visits to check my PSA, and other things to make sure Abi or Prednisolone weren't having adverse affects.

[konichiwa12]

I didn't have testing but my specialist said he recommended trying Zytiga first as the side effects were usually less than with Xtandi. I'm not having any side effects so that is good.

[jfoesq]

Konichiwa- I was wondering the same thing for me. I re-started Zytiga after being off of it for about 2 yrs and my results are as follows: .08, .10, .12, .13, .13 with the last measurement including a one week lapse of taking the Zytiga. So- I was concerned with the

3-4 consecutive rises, despite them being quite small increases, but my most recent measurement stayed the same (and that was after a 1 week lapse of taking the Zytiga). So- maybe I have leveled off. I guess time will tell when I get my next labs done in 3 weeks.

I appreciate any thoughts not only about whether Zytiga is working or not, but whether I should continue with it (and Lupron) if my PSA continues to increase, and what treatment(s0 I should be considering next. Iguess I could ask for a switch from Prednisone to Dex as a start.

[j-o-h-n]

Feeling nervous? Come on now.....It's like sex (if you can remember). Up and Down, Up and Down, and etc. Relax and enjoy yourself while working in Japan.... I will not mention the CCCCCC VVVVV.....

From Saru San.....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 03/03/2020 7:54 PM EST

[konichiwa12]

Last PSA was 2.73 so a slight drop for the first time in a while. Onco wasn't too worried about this but had hoped it drop to closer to zero. He also confirmed that I would be continuing the ADT treament and not stopping when the 3 years was up in January - not good!

[konichiwa12]

I had my consultation with Onco last week on the phone. I asked about the use of Provenge after so many people have referenced/recommended it on this site. He said it wasn't used in the UK and the systemic treatment I am on is the best current treatment. Any comments? I had genomic profile test result and there were no biomarkers or genetic findings. There were 2 variants of unknown significance (VUS) being APC - Q264R and NF1 - V2596A. I don't know what these are but basically there is no change in treatment after this.

[jfoesq]

My PSA went down minimally with first labs, then went up minimally the next 2-3x. On my most recent labs, my PSA went down again, and that was with labs taken about 4 months after my last Lupron shot, instead of the normal 3 month period, because of corona virus. I too was wondering if my PSA would co tinier rising after those 2-3 minimal increases, but that was not the case, at least for now.