My husband finished his 5 radiation treatments to the spine ( T9) and the rib two weeks ago. He goes to have his PSA drawn today. Then we wait. The lump on his back is more giant and the pain has increased tremendously—the Dr. did prescribe pain meds but the pain is unbearable starting around 5 PM. The plan is to have undetectable PSA and then check bi-weekly with no other meds. I guess my question is will this pain go away? Will the tumor go away? We did notice a lump on his neck and we told the Dr he again says we will wait for PSA results.
Also, do the doctors have any idea how the radiation worked? Can they see the tumor during each treatment? It just seems they are basing everything on PSA. When clearly these are lumps and pain. I just hate seeing him suffer when we are just waiting for a month to see if and when PSA rises. I get they don't want to start anything if they don't have too but clearly, there are still tumors and with his aggressive cancer and Gleason score of 9, I wish they would be more aggressive. But I'm not the doctor. so I guess we wait.....
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Granica4818
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Several points. First, relying totally on PSA tests is not smart. There are cancers that spread without a corresponding lift in PSA. Second, you mention doctor but I think your hubby needs to have a medical oncologist. Particularly one that specializes in prostate cancer. Finally, PCa tumours can be very difficult to detect. Scans are very important. X-rays are largely useless. CT scans and even MRIs can see the tumour only when it reaches a certain size. Your husband needs a PET scan right away. Is he on any ADT drugs? If so which one(s) and is radiation the only treatment he is receiving?
Hi Thank you for your response. He does have a MO and a RO . He has a spine tumor that was found by CT scan. He has never had a pet scan. And he is not on any meds at all. I feel like he should be on something but they are waiting until PSA. Which I feel could be spreading by then in my mind. Do I question the MO ? I would like to hope he knows whats best. I see many different treatments for everyone. Its jujst scary to think that maybe we should be doing something that could help.
My husband hasn’t had a PET scan either… MO said my husbands cancer was so widespread that the CT scans and bone scans were all he needs now and useful to compare old to new. We get new ones end of this month to see how things look. Doctor wants his PSA to go below 1…. hoping the last chemo treatment does that. I really hope your husbands pain subsides soon and his test results come back good. Sending you ((HUGS)). I truly understand how difficult it is to watch your husband in terrible pain and not be able to do anything to help. I’ll be looking into palliative care if his pain returns.
He has a low PSA variant which makes diagnosis using PSA difficult. I suspect FDG PET/CT may be more useful than a PSMA PET/CT. Not sure why there are lumps on his skin- that is unusual with PCa. Strongly recommend biopsy of a tumor for cell histology, IHC, and genomics. It may suggest therapies and clinical trials.
Here is a wish-list of IHC stains (they may have to send it out). Discuss with his oncologist:
Similar to my own case, but worse. I have had dozens of back ymph node "swellings" which I have eliminated over the years with a combination of ADT , high lycopene intake, and heat. The most serious one was several years ago in my spine between shoulder blades. It is now either asleep or gone, I do not know. However, my advice would be to apply heat therapy to his swellings. It has worked for me.
106 degrees F kills all cancer cells.
Also, relying on doctors tends to have the problem that the cancer works 24/7, while seeing a doctor r prescribed treatment sometimes occurs months apart, and while personal care can be daily.
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