to scan or not to scan

[Ben2]

Gleason 8, 50 %, 2014. Ten months adjuvant and neoadjuvant Lupron, 48 sessions IGRT. PSA after treatment was 0.1 and remained at that level. DREs negative. Is it time for PSMA scan or do I wait for PSA increase ?

[Justfor_]

If your PSA has been stable for more than 9-12 months backwards as of today, there is no need to scan. You will hear, from almost everybody, that at this low range of PSA the detection rate is lower than 50% This is partly true, as the PSA rate of rise plays an equal if not more important role. Off the top of my head, a Heidelberg paper I have as a guide, at a PSA count like yours - but with a very sort doubling time- may reach a detection rate of plus 60%. If you are for a long term stable, you may score, again off the top of my head, minus 40%.

[Ben2 in reply to Justfor_]

Thanks for the information-I'll check paper.

[Tall_Allen]

Why are you interested in a PET scan at all? Your PSA is excellent! There is no need for further diagnostic information unless your PSA goes up to 2.1 (which is called biochemical recurrence).

[tango65]

If your PSA is stable at the nadir you do not need any scan. Since you have a prostate the PSA has to increase at least 2.0 above the nadir to start worrying about.

[jfoesq in reply to tango65]

Tango- does having one’s Prostate removed change that equation, as mine was removed 8+ years ago and I rarely get scanned theses days because PSA is very low and stable.?

[tango65 in reply to jfoesq]

No, meanwhile your psa is low and stable.

[jfoesq in reply to tango65]

Thx-that's what I thought.

[tango65 in reply to jfoesq]

Best of luck on the journey!!. Hopefully you'll never need a new scan.

[Hidden]

Outside of initial markers scans -nuclear bone scans and soft tissue CT scans have you had?

GD

[Ben2 in reply to Hidden]

Just those.

[cancerking]

Scans are of no use with a PSA below 0.2