I had RALP surgery 3 years ago. PSA 5.2 before surgery. Gleason 8 DUCTAL adenocarcinoma. with 2 mm focal margin and Gleason 3+4 acinar adenocarcinoma. Pathology pT2. For 3 years my PSA has been below 0.02 ng/ml. For 3 weeks now my urethra has been bothering me. Burning and off and on dull groin pain. Slight lower back pain comes and goes. Not a UTI and no blood in urine. My new Urologist thinks it’s urethra inflammation and told me to come back in 6 weeks if it’s still there and he’ll scope me. He knows I had prostate cancer but I’m not sure he realizes my cancer was ductal.
It has made me start wondering how do I know I haven’t had a recurrence? It is my understanding that ductal does not always produce PSA and it’s not always a good indicator of recurrence. Should I request a CAT scan with contrast and a bone scan to make sure I don’t have a recurrence? If so how often should I have it done going forward?
Written by
leach234
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
If IDC-p (Intraductal) is regarded as an adverse feature, lending to increased possibility for agressive presentation of your PCa. But that doesn't mean it will happen. And it is a cellular characteristic and nothing to do with the urethra if my memory serves me correctly.
When we have cancer and treat, I do believe the heightened sensitivity creates undue anxiety that every twitch we have, leads some of our minds down dark paths!
Standard monitoring post treatment for recurrence is blood testing for PSA rise. Post treatment the PSA doubling time is most important to predict the agressiveness or possibility of metastatic disease. It's important to keep vigilant on this, testing and watching.
That said, without a PSA increase, have you considered other causes like kidney stones? In this, as noted, some scans may be useful and less invasive. Especially if it's intermittent.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Introduction and how to take a short cut to maPc and a very rare Prostate Cancer 
Wife of Newly Diagnosed Husband - PSMA questions 
