Free PSMA PET/CT at Los Angeles VA for all veterans

[Tall_Allen]

It is the DCFPyL PET/CT, which is even better than the Ga-68-PSMA-11 PET/CT. Open and free to all veterans at any stage. They only ask that your referring physician fills out the form above. The purpose of the trial is to determine whether the PSMA PET makes a difference in treatment decisions:

clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show...

[Hidden]

If I wasn't paranoid about getting on a plane and flying cross country, I would definitely go. Where can I find a copy of the paperwork my VA MO would need to fill out? Thanks.

[Tall_Allen in reply to Hidden]

NIH is still running their free trial, last I checked. Check to see what their waiting list is like.

clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show...

[StayingOptimistic in reply to Tall_Allen]

I went to the one at NIH. the whole experience was great.

[RayF in reply to StayingOptimistic]

My son is a post-doc there, started in Jan. Still on furlough, but has been helping a tiny start-up in Gaithersburg getting a Corona-19 antibody test in the works.

[RayF in reply to Tall_Allen]

I looked into that, and was ready to sign up, but the contact person told me that I would have to stop ADT for one or two months, (I cannot remember which since it was a phone conversation). At the time I was not willing to do that. That was June 2019, I had been on ADT for 6 months, and PSA was dropping. I was disappointed since NIH is close.

[fluffyfur in reply to Tall_Allen]

Unfortunately the NIH clinical trial is on hold due to COVID and they are temporarily not performing any scans. They have advised anyone wishing to do the trial to check back but not to delay treatment while waiting for a potential scan.

[GeorgeGlass in reply to fluffyfur]

Interesting because the LA VA is doing scans. Maybe the NIH started up again.

[Hope59]

Thank you so much for posting this information for vets: access to this scan and free!

[jimbay]

Thanks so much, could you remind me what PSMA PET/CT is best used for? Does it have use in determining BCR after prostatectomy?

[Tall_Allen in reply to jimbay]

Yes- they are trying to determine which treatment decisions are changed by having it. So if you have a BCR, for example, it may help you decide to have (1) no treatment if it detects distant metastases, or (2) treat pelvic lymph nodes if there are metastases only there, or (3) treat the prostate bed only if there are metastases only there.

[jimbay in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks! One more question, you think they'll give it even if there is no evendence at this point of BCR (very low PCA)? Thus getting an even further confirmation that things are good?

[Tall_Allen in reply to jimbay]

I doubt it. The purpose is to see if it changes the treatment plan. What is the point if there is no treatment decision?

[jimbay in reply to Tall_Allen]

I agree and it looks like they wont take someone in my circumstances. I but I could argue if the current treatment decision was do nothing, and they found something, then it would have an effect.

[Tall_Allen in reply to jimbay]

One can make up all sorts of improbable scenarios. People who suffer from Munchausen's Syndrome find all sorts of improbable things to test - odds are that sometimes they will be right.

[jimbay in reply to Tall_Allen]

I LOVE that I'm doing so well that someone thinks my odds of BCR are so low that worring about it puts me in a category of mental illness like Munchausen's Syndrome. I'm excited to think that this is the most likly scenario.

[Schwah]

Why do you say it’s better TA? You are usually very careful not to write any conclusions without applicable studies. Dr Czernin who runs the UCLA program disagrees with that and I see no study that shows that.

Either way I assume that nothing has changed that would allow me to pay for their scan since Last time I checked, my lack of prior prostatectomy or radiation make me not fit their protocol.

Schwah

[Tall_Allen in reply to Schwah]

It is better because the data so far show it is better:

pcnrv.blogspot.com/2016/12/...

There are good reasons for this that the clinical data bear out.

[Schwah in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thx. Do you have their scheduling number. I’m going to try again to get in. Thx

Schwah

[Tall_Allen in reply to Schwah]

I only have the contact info on the clinical trial info.

[MateoBeach in reply to Schwah]

Please pass on to me the contact info for scheduling when you find it please.

[Schwah in reply to MateoBeach]

The only one I have done is Ucla. Your doctor need to send them a prescription and then they will contact you to schedule. The cost is about $2800.

Schwah

[MateoBeach in reply to Schwah]

Thanks Schwah, I had that one 7 months ago. This one, free for veterans, is more sensitive. The contact person is Alex Alas 310.478.3711 x41399.

[Tall_Allen in reply to MateoBeach]

Not a good idea to post phone numbers or private emails publicly.

[MateoBeach in reply to Tall_Allen]

Noted. Thx

[GreenStreet in reply to Tall_Allen]

Allen is it better at lower PSA for lymph nodes than combinex MRI at Nimwegen? Thanks

GreenStreet

[Tall_Allen in reply to GreenStreet]

No, the ombidex is more sensitive.

[GreenStreet in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks for info. Appreciated

[JPnSD]

Thank you...not a veteran...but passed info on to the San Diego Informed PC Support Group. Much appreciated.

[garyi]

Thanks, Allen. I wonder if the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, would participate or contribute to the same study.

[Tall_Allen in reply to garyi]

It's not exactly the same study- the primary endpoints are different, but you're right that they both use the same PET indicator (DCFPyL).

[StayingOptimistic]

Thanks for posting, TA. We DO appreciate your help. I left the other site and came here since you Left.

[Grumpyswife]

We have been waiting to get into NCI but nothing so far due to Covid19 taking all the resources.

[VN6465]

Can you take this scan if previous IMRT and on Lupron?

[Tall_Allen in reply to VN6465]

IMRT is OK. There may be no point if your PSA is very low, since there is no treatment plan.

[VN6465 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Had very aggressive PCa bbut was not successful in getting the PSMA scam at UCF prior to treatment

[Tall_Allen in reply to VN6465]

UCSF is working with UCLA on this study - try them again.

[MateoBeach]

Thanks T_A. I’m on it as I’m on hold from going to Australia for 177Lu-PSMA with Veyonda (compassionate use outside of LuPIN trial.) This may let me see if it is still worthwhile to pursue. Semper Fi.

[AlanLawrenson in reply to MateoBeach]

As an aside, Veyonda is the subject of a FDA IND application as an antiviral against COVID 19. Are you likely to be treated at St Vincent's in Sydney?

[j-o-h-n]

Well finally getting a detail that I would happy to volunteer for... not like the ones where they volunteered me.....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 05/15/2020 7:25 PM DST

[mperloe]

Columbia is running a PyL study with liquid biopsy. PSA must be over 2.0. I plan to travel for the UCLA Ga68 PSMA trial for those intermediate or above to identify oligometastasis.

[Tall_Allen in reply to mperloe]

But you've already had treatment, right? Have they told you they will accept you?

[mperloe in reply to Tall_Allen]

I have been approved at UCLA, The Columbia study requires a PSA >2ng/dl.

[Tall_Allen in reply to mperloe]

Great! Let us know how it goes.

[Fuzzman77]

I am not a vet but have plenty of family members that are. Nice that this is being offered to those that have or are serving now. Better diagnostics one would think lead to better results.