I wrote a lengthy post about my second cancer you can read about here:
healthunlocked.com/advanced...
This post is only addressing my Testosterone levels and PSA
5/1 I skipped my Lupron injection.
8/30 - mayo my PSA was undetectable and but scan showed some lesions. My testosterone ad risen from <7 to 11.
Results from the scan (only related to PCA) were:
1) Additional focus of choline uptake in the sternum near the sternomanubrial joint is more prominent on prior exam and is also worrisome for metastasis. (SUV max is 1.6 on this lesion.)
2. A right internal mammary lymph node has increased in size with low level choline uptake in aupper mediastinal lymph node is newly choline avid. While these may be reactive, given the priordisease in the chest, findings are worrisome for metastasis.
9/2 Lupron shot and testosterone was 8.5
10/28 - Oncologist visit again. Regarding PCA - I tell him my body feels different as I'm not having hot flashes anymore, voice is lowering again, hair thinning again. I wondered out loud if I got a a bad batch of Lupron. He didn't think so but no way to know so he orders another testosterone test and PSA. He also orders Erleada as he thinks I may be castrate resistant but not certain.
10/28 lab results - PSA remains undetectable. Testosterone is back <7. Free Testosterone noted as "low".
Erleada arrives and I took my first two doses 11/10 and 11/11. OK so here's where my question comes in. It "appears to me" that the Lupron did its job and suppressed my testosterone once again based on the 10/28 lab results.
So do I really need the Erleada?
I will of course ask my Oncologist again at the end of the month. I'm also going to ask why the jump past Zytiga, which I thought would be the next progression? Erleada has some harsh side effects, appears to me harsher than Darolutamide or Enzalutamide.
I plan to follow my oncologist orders until I meet at the end of November. That will give me close to a month on the Erleada/Lupron combo and I am getting another C11 Choline Pet in week 1 of December so I'm interested to see if there is an effect on the lymph nodes and sternum. Also will be getting a PSMA but that will come later toward year end.
Hope this wasn't too long of a read but I wanted to parse out the other cancer and focus on PCA here.
Thoughts? Jokes? Insults? As always, I appreciate input.