Was Chemo "Successful"?

[spencoid2]

I just had my first PSA test after waiting to allow the results to mean something, after 10 rounds of doxytaxel. I was supposed to wait three months but for convenience pushed it by a week.

I was hoping for a close to 0 PSA but that is not the case. I see my oncologist in a little more than a week but am anxious to get opinions as to what the latest PSA means.

PSA was slowly going down during chemo however after the almost three months it has gone up not drastically but the doubling rate is 7 to 8 months depending on which calculator I use.

Went from 7.15 to 9.2 in one week less than three months. Also my testosterone is virtually undetectable due to castration. So it looks like the rise is due at least in part to castrate resistant PC cells.

This rise is not enough to have me really freaked out but since I am also not feeling great I am concerned and wondering if I will need a different treatment soon.

[Rbourn]

I would try to get a CT scan with contrast and bone scan just to have a baseline since your PSA is rising albeit a small amount.

[spencoid2 in reply to Rbourn]

i had one recently about 3 months ago or maybe a little more. it showed pretty much the same as the one before other than one bone lesion having increased by maybe 30%

[Peeffervescence]

I guess I would suggest what I’ve seen other people suggest, although I’m by no means an expert. That would be to get a PSMA PET scan.

[spencoid2 in reply to Peeffervescence]

if my onco thinks that pluvicta might be a good next step i will certainly have one.