Met with Oncologist

[redbank]

I met with my oncologist yesterday and he stated that he could not find anything wrong with me from blood work and scans. I questioned the new growth in left upper lobe and he stated that because my PSA was still at 0.05 that it wasn’t a problem. I then reminded him of the last time my scan showed a growth on right lower lobe that we did a biopsy and it was found to be metastatic and my PSA was the same at that time. I’m concerned that he might be missing the point and that I should get a second opinion on a biopsy.Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.Thanks in advance.

[MichaelDD]

I have had less then .014 PSA for 2 years. I am metastatic to my lungs. I have never been over 12 PSA. For me the scans are the indicator more than the PSA. If PSA does change then more scans will be needed. I get scans every 3 months. Friday is my day! I have 2 Oncologists, one UCSF and my local. Both have said the same thing.

[redbank in reply to MichaelDD]

Thanks Mike good luck

[maley2711 in reply to MichaelDD]

what scans do you have on such a regular basis? and what type of insurance pays(or doesn't?) for such quarterly scans? Thank you!!

[redbank in reply to maley2711]

It’s usually just a ct chest and abdomen and only once a year

[maley2711 in reply to redbank]

my question was in reply to Michaeldd

[Tall_Allen]

Can't give thoughts because there is nothing in your profile. I have no idea what your situation is.

[redbank in reply to Tall_Allen]

There used to be not sure what happened there short of it stage 4 metastatic to lymph nodes and lung had rp 4years ago invasion on bladder .6 rounds of doxatacle and been on lupron since then.first lung met found 4 months later measured 3 mm biopsy confirmed.

[Tall_Allen in reply to redbank]

Thanks, I think an FDG PET scan can tell you if there is new growth, without a tumor that increases PSA.

[redbank in reply to Tall_Allen]

Had a pet scan in July of this year and it wasn’t there ct showed it on the 8th of this month can it grow that quickly?

[Tall_Allen in reply to redbank]

It wasn't on the PET/CT in July and now it's on a new CT? That's very fast.

[Poowater]

Always get a second opinion to put your mind at rest.

[Cooolone]

PSA alone is not a good prognosticator, let alone in a recurrence setting. And if PSA naive disease is suspect, certainly some additional scanning as noted (TA noted FDG) should be employed...

But having an Oncologist that isn't on the same page as you may be the biggest problem. I don't know why some doctors are reluctant to use all the tools in the bag of tricks to try and root out what's going on...? It's befuddling sometimes. Like what's to lose by doing a scan? Nothing IMO, except maybe some $ of not covered by insurance, but that should be the secondary part of the conversation in regard to whether or not there's benefit to the patient.

In any event good luck & best regards!

[CAMPSOUPS]

Not an expert of course but sound like if you cant convince your dr. to take this seriously (you had a lung tumor previously that was PC positive and did not show a rise in PSA) then I guess you need to do your best to find another dr. or opinion from one.

Create a new post here stating where you live and if anyone has recommendations for a good prostate cancer oncologist in your area?

[j-o-h-n]

Ditto campsoups..... get a new M.O.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 09/15/2021 7:41 PM DST