How often are scans done

[Muffin2019]

Going next week for my 6 month scan since last December when the psa was 15.5, since doing arbitrone with prednisone and xgeva and lupron, the psa is now at .7. If the psa drops why would they do a CT scan when the last one showed no disease progression. The last bone scan showed some activity on the left side of L5, the bone scan I can see to check that but why the CT scan when the last two showed no disease progression ? This time I am refusing the oral contrast as per Dr blessing but will do the IV contrast. The oral contrast did a number on my bladder that caused me to use pertection as I did not make it through the whole scan and peeing every 15 minutes for a couple of hours.

[SPEEDYX]

I can relate ....They like to confirm all numbers with scans to actually see what is going on good and bad and they can compare scans to previous ones to get total picture of your disease status.

[Hidden]

I would at a minimum question the need for scans at this point, especially if there are no other symptoms such as pain.

My PSA on Zytiga is still undetectable and my doctor told me the chances of progression at this time are very low. A PSA of .7 is really not much different. Of course I would want to keep an eye on that and also be watching the Alkaline Phosphatase to make sure neither are rising.

Not advising you, but I wouldn't do it at this time unless there is a reason that makes sense.

[Muffin2019 in reply to Hidden]

I think he wants to check on the one vertabre that had some activity to see if it healed, if the PSA stays under 1 then I am going to ask about when the next scan is going to happen, the insurance is paying for it.

[Tall_Allen]

Bone scan and CT are always done together. The bone scan alone doesn't give a clear enough image. It makes sense to monitor the L5 lesion that didn't disappear with your hormone therapy.

[SPEEDYX in reply to Tall_Allen]

How long could it take for hormone treatment to work on reducing or eliminating a lesion.

[Tall_Allen in reply to SPEEDYX]

It varies- usually you see a response in a couple of months

[SPEEDYX in reply to Tall_Allen]

In my case it has been 28 months and each 6 month scan shows improvement.

[Muffin2019 in reply to SPEEDYX]

Great news.

[Muffin2019 in reply to Tall_Allen]

I agree, the one lesion came last fall and showed on the last scan in December 2020 but I would agree with you on watching to see if it heals.

[SPEEDYX in reply to Muffin2019]

Sounds like a good plan

[SPEEDYX in reply to Muffin2019]

I was extremely patient with my treatment and my new MO at the time was too and it paid off!!!

[Hidden in reply to SPEEDYX]

What did you win?

[SPEEDYX in reply to Hidden]

Original MO was going to stop Zytiga...felt it wasnt working PSA up slight then he left at that time and new MO said let's give it more time and 3 months later PSA started to come down

[Hidden in reply to SPEEDYX]

Excellent win...I'm trying to fill in in j-o-h-n's absence...clearly I have to get better.

[SPEEDYX in reply to Hidden]

I did that once it is a tough job!!!

[SPEEDYX in reply to Hidden]

His humor is greek to me!!!

[Hidden in reply to SPEEDYX]

Its Greek to everyone except the chinese...for them it perplexing.

[SPEEDYX in reply to Hidden]

😄...so true even his take out order is always wrong!!!

[Hidden in reply to SPEEDYX]

I him told many times there's no #69 but he keeps ordering it

[SPEEDYX in reply to Hidden]

That's spot on...now your cooking!!!

[Hidden in reply to SPEEDYX]

It's a #71...it comes with 2 chopsticks

[SPEEDYX in reply to Hidden]

😂....four in his case he doesn't know how to pull them apart!!!!

[monte1111 in reply to Hidden]

Two scoops cookies and cream?

[monte1111 in reply to Hidden]

Trying to fill j-o-h-n's shoes? Where do I begin? Size 13, once owned by John Wayne Gacy. Google e-bay. No bids yet. Or did you mean fill his shoes with shaving cream? Always funny. You may need several cans.

[Muffin2019 in reply to Tall_Allen]

I was trying casodex when it appeared , it was a flop arbitrone is working so much better, does this heal lesions over time since it was only one and no pain.

[Boywonder56 in reply to Muffin2019]

Your not paying attention we've shifted to thursday night at the improv....heres j.o.h.n.n.y.....