? Shingrix vaccine source of PSA bump.

[FlyJ]

At age 66 Robotic RP and pelvic lymph node dissection July 2019. Gleason 9 (4+5) T3a N0MO with 2 ECE no SV involvement. Margins negative. PSA <.1 for 9 mos, then .1 for 30 mos. PSA jumped to .21 on 12/3/21. no change @ .21 Feb 22 . Then fell to .18 3/28/22 and .15 on 5/18/22.

Inretrospect, I had my first shingrix vaccine a week or two prior to my psa rise in December of 12/21. I am exercising, on primarily plant based diet, and taking various supplements. No significant changes in these. 7/22/22 my repeat psa was .17 up from .15 on 5/18/21. I had my second shingrix vaccine 10 days prior.

I can find one reported case of PSA rise in a patient on AS who had a case of shingles. I can find nothing about the vaccine causing a PSA bump. Is there anyone with experience or knowledge about the shingrix vaccine causing a bump in PSA readings? Thanks for any feedback.

[Tall_Allen]

How do you suppose anything could possibly cause PSA with no prostate, unless there's prostate cancer?

[FlyJ in reply to Tall_Allen]

I understand your reply. My question is what/why my PSA jumped after being unchanged for 30 mos. and then saw a drift downward for 4 mos. and then an upward bump again. Both bumps coming with a shingrix vaccine given within 2 wks. of the psa draw. Is there any causation? Patrick posted case report with shingles ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/305... four years ago. I have found no similar reports with shingles or the shingrix vaccine.

[Tall_Allen in reply to FlyJ]

No doubt the amped up immune system killed a few PCa cells, and their PSA was picked up in your serum.

[dhccpa in reply to Tall_Allen]

Great. Maybe all these COVID and flu vaccines will kill a few PCa cells as well.

[tango65]

Your PSA has remained stable at 0.2 since last December if you round the numbes to 1 decimal, the way they do in many clinical trials.

Regardles of this, your PSA got to 0.2 which indicates BCR. You could consult with a RO about salvage radiation to the PBed plus whole pelvis radiation and ADT.

[FlyJ in reply to tango65]

Thanks tango65. I met with my R.O. in early June and discussed my situation and results of Spport trial. "On paper", I should be moving ahead with Rx. I decided to hold tight as long as PSA was dropping. This favorable trend seems to have come to an end, but IF the original bump of the psa to .21 was "due to" the vaccine then "on paper" perhaps I have not had BCR. I hate to delay my only "curative door" but don't want to do unnecessary treatment either.

[tango65 in reply to FlyJ]

I understand. I was also very reluctant to have salvage radiotherapy. Now, I realize that any possible side effects of the radiotherapy is nothing when compared with having metastatic PC. Your PSA has been 0.2 for a while, I believe since last December.

[Justfor_]

Probably nothing to do with the vaccine. I had such a rapidly rising PSA from 0.08 to 0.15, than down to 0.12 and from there monotonously to 0.17 where I started Casodex. It has been also spotted by others that there is a bumpy range around 0.15 - 0.18.

[FlyJ in reply to Justfor_]

Thanks Justfor. I remember reading those post of that "bumpy zone" for some.

[London441]

Anything is possible, but the odds of a recurrence after RP alone with your pathology in this time frame is unfortunately pretty high as you know.

I’ve had both shingles and the vaccine and I can assure you that you want no part of shingles.

Whole pelvic radiation and ADT as Tango65 suggests is probably a wiser choice than looking to the vaccine as a cause but certainly watching it for a while to see if your guess may be correct is an option.

The problem is I doubt you’ll find much data on your shingrix theory, while the likelihood of recurrence of 4+5 Gleason after RP with no additional treatment is relatively common. Tango also nails it when he says risking his disease getting out of control to avoid additional treatment was not worth it to him. I concur. Your ‘curative door’ as you put it is likely closing while you ponder this unlikely scenario.

[FlyJ in reply to London441]

Yes this is an ideal time for me to begin Salvage radiation. I know that starting at a lower PSA level does bring better probability of success- especially with high risk features: Gleason 9 and high decipher score. The treatment discussed with my RO would be prostate bed and pelvic node Rx along with 4-6 mos of ADT.

[FlyJ]

Interesting. Can you share what was your bump and if it came down and it what time frame.Probably most men get the Shingrix closer to age 50 (before most diagnosed with PCa) so I don't imagine their is a lot of data out there. I could find nothing on the Shingrix website.

[SteveTheJ]

I had the shingrix vaccine after I started ADT, no PSA increase.

[Hidden]

Here’s a thought… does anyone know the ingredients of either the covid vaccine or shingles vaccine… TA, help us out here please!

[FlyJ]

Thanks for the reply smurtaw. I find this situation fascinating. I wish we could get someone to investigate this further.

[FlyJ in reply to FlyJ]

Looking some more and found that the covid 19 infection could elevated psa in men with BPH which returned to baseline after the infection. Also Florida doctor reported temporary bump in PSA with the covid vaccine. cbs12.com/news/local/palm-b... interesting that the Provenge vaccine typically does not lower PSA. I could not see studies that showed a temporary bump either.

[Justfor_]

My personal experience is that the Covid vaccine doesn't increase PSA. I take PSA tests on a monthly basis so the 3 rounds of the Covid vaccine I have had were, on average, not distant to the subsequent test by more than 15 days. Did not notice any unusual readings. On the contrary the peak of the bumpy zone was observed 3+ months after the 2nd round and the 3rd round was within the down trending "correction" period.

[FlyJ in reply to Justfor_]

Thanks for letting me know your experience.

[TJGuy]

My PSA had been increasing by 0.1 per month for many months several years ago. I then received the first dose of the two dose shingles vacine and my PSA began jumping by 0.2.

I questioned my Mayo doctors office if the shingles vacine could be the cause and should I skip the second injection.

They may had no idea but said no it wouldn't affect it, get the second shot.

I then was scanned, went on ADT and had radiation, so no further tracking on PSA.

[FlyJ in reply to TJGuy]

Thanks for letting me know TJGuy. After looking long and hard and getting some feedback. I think I can say that the Shingrix vaccine probably has no beneficial or harmful affects to PCa.

[Drago101]

Prior to getting Chickenpox my PSA level was .07. I had a prosectomy about 6 yrs ago. Mar of this year I was diagnosed with Chickenpox. I took the PSA test about the same time and levels elevated to 1.89. Took test again in Apr and then Jun. Resutls were .18 and then .15

I took a vaccine for Shingles back in Jun after my PSA test and my results this week is at .19

There has to be a connection where these viruses affect PSA levels.

I found an article from a Dr stating a study showed that this virus can elevate PSA level's.