Trying to educate myself about the PSMA PET scan. Are there 2 different types? The Gallium-68 PSMA PET and a non-Ga68? I have to pay cash and I am getting widely different quotes (not in the US).
Any experience with these after HDR Brachytherapy? I had HDR 4 months ago. Stage 2, G=3+4, etc. With a less than 10% probably of spread. Still not -0- and I want to make sure. I've limited access to quality healthcare. PSA has gone down to 2 from 9.
I would think that my prostate would still "light up" on the scan, and that this may impede the imaging of the glands, etc.? So I may want to wait a bit to get the scan?
Any thoughts are most appreciated. Thank you.
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Bliss2030
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Yes, 2 different types F18 and Ga68. The F18 seems to be better at lower PSA.
I'm afraid the PET scan will tell you nothing. It can take years for all the cancer cells in your prostate to die and get eliminated after radiation. I call them zombie cells - dead, but they don't know it yet. They show up in a PSMA PET even if you are already cured.
The only way to monitor is with annual PSA scans, and even then, bounces are common. After radiation, one must be patient.
Thank you so much for your reply. My research is showing the 2 types as well. But if I am worried about spread outside of the prostate, do we think that the PSMA pick this up even while the scan "lights up" those cells in the prostate? But if the prostate is "lit up" would this impede the detection of spread in the lymph nodes for example? That's what I am concerned about-wasting my money as I have to pay cash, etc. Thanks again!
PSMA PET scans are only worthwhile for finding distant metastases if one is diagnosed with unfavorable risk PCa. PSA should be your only guide at this point.
When you still have your prostate, and had radiation you need to monitor your PSA closely over much longer period of time. Your PSA should drop and cancer cells can take up to two years to die.
You can have bounces in PSA, if PSA rises greater than 2.0 points over your NADAR then see if PSA stays above that level on subsequent PSA tests.
You've got some watching to do.
There are people here who can tell you the costs of PSMA scans at various hospitals in various countries. Mostare very low in cost, the US is extremely expensive.
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