Just had My Monthly Injection of Firm... - Advanced Prostate...

Advanced Prostate Cancer

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Just had My Monthly Injection of Firmagon Monthly Labs PSA is Up <0.06 to 0.09

Shorehousejam profile image
22 Replies

That’s pretty modest. I’m assuming I will wait till next month to see if it goes down.

Kind of stressed with this new diverticulitis and blood bowel thing AND Moving.

Got results of psa after I saw My Medical Oncologist so haven’t discussed modest jump.

Even with bleeding from rectum the gastroenterologist and my Medical Oncologist feel it is from the sudden onset of diverticulitis based on multiple CT Scans

Endoscopy & Colonoscopy scheduled

I go for a Monthly Injection of Firmagon, daily Zytiga and Prednisone.

My Monthly Labs PSA is Up <0.06 to 0.09 in one month

Dx 06/2022 PSA 942.40

T3b-T4,

Stage 4

Grade 5

Oligomestatic

3 lytic lesions mostly resolved

Gleason 8/9 ductal 4 +5 = 9

Radical Prostatectomy w/ 8 lymph node removal

Mass on prostate bed, bladder wall, microscopic bladder neck and with positive margins

Heavy Mutation Burden

BRCA negative but with BLM mutation

So what usually happens next?

I asked for a psma scan Mo feels it’s not needed which is good. For Him,

I wholeheartedly disagree.

Prognostic Tools were invented for Exactly this Reason.

perhaos why things are Notoriously missed,

Inconclusive means to investigate with every possible mechanism.

Now, that my psa jumped I am bummed, alittle nervous due to my mutations.

What usually happens when there is a jump is psa? Wait and See…

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Shorehousejam profile image
Shorehousejam
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22 Replies

What will you see on a PSMA with 0.09 PSA. Not enough to express PSMA if any.

I now know why my MO utterly refuses to order a Ultra sensitive PSA.

Ive been <0.1 since I started Lupron and Zytiga, well a month after. Thats 14 monthly PSA scans showing the definition of undetectable.

My OCD would be burning in overdrive watching the numbers float around 0.0XX or 0.0X

When it hits 0.2, then Ill run to my MO.

All Im saying is you have other problems.

BTW, these multiple CTs, were those that preceded RT?

I had 33 CTs ahead of 33 fractions of RT. Im worried.

Shorehousejam profile image
Shorehousejam in reply to

Good for You! <0.1I only got down to <0.06 which is Not a super sensitive test, however sure sounds your PSA test is.

Unless, I’m missing something

The PSMA Pet is sensitive at 0.02 how ever saw Medical Oncologist today and He said it’s not needed, he feels disease is stable.

I’m not used to PSA jumping around or rising, it was high at diagnosis and then after ADT and Chemotherapy it dropped to <0.06 and for the first time since treatment today it was up to 0.09. I’m praying just from stress.

We are moving.

The CT scans my medical oncologist like to do and my new gastroenterologist, just waited on the results from the CT Scan done Tuesday.

Lettuce231 profile image
Lettuce231

Hello Shorehousejam, from where I am, it looks like you've already got enough worries to think about.

Moving house is counted as one of the most stressful things people experience.

I too had bleeding from the rectum, I fretted, but it was a polyp, so that was one off the list.

Perhaps your PSA is a blip due to the stress you're feeling, try to ease of the gas for a bit and see if it settles again. Some time back mine blipped upwards, that was stress related. But it returned back down.

Good luck 👍

Shorehousejam profile image
Shorehousejam in reply toLettuce231

Thank you, that is great news to read

EdBar profile image
EdBar

I was undetectable for several years using an ultra sensitive test, once it became detectable again it bounced around being undetectable for a few months before starting a slow steady increase while remaining at extremely low levels. Once I reached 0.2 my MO doctor Sartor ordered a PSMA. It showed a suspicious spot on my left rib. I had SBRT to the spot and PSA dropped to nearly undetectable. That was about a year ago, recently PSA started to increase again so I did the same, got scanned and this time a very hot spot (high SUV or uptake) on my right rib. I have an appointment with the radiologist and will get SBRT again. Sartor says you can use SBRT numerous times depending upon the number of areas affected and where they’re located. Fortunately ribs are easy to radiate. My plan is to keep kicking the can down the road with SBRT before moving on to other treatments.

Ed

Shorehousejam profile image
Shorehousejam in reply toEdBar

Thank you for sharing, yeah it sounds like a great plan to use treatment tools as needed to keep pushing the dam back. Hopefully, the engineers can get it right and fix the dang thing.

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n

An increase in your penis from 0.06 to 0.09 is something to rave about, in your psa it's just a drop in the bucket..so relax...Hope you can get the docs to stop that bleeding (taking any blood thinners by any chance)?

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 10/11/2023 5:00 PM DST

Shorehousejam profile image
Shorehousejam in reply toj-o-h-n

No blood thinners, just diverticulitis as both medical oncologist and gastroenterologist are leaning towards that. My wife has me starting Claritin tonight to calm my system down and Imodium to calm the colon movement. I usually don’t take her advice lol, I always end up that I am wrong…

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n

Is Greek yogurt good for diverticulitis?

Dairy: “Cottage cheese and Greek yogurt are real winners if you're recovering from a flare-up: They're high in protein, calcium and other nutrients and don't have any fiber. They're also soft, moist and easier to get down if you're not feeling well." You can also have milk and cheese.

Being of Greek decent...... I would like to second the recommendation for yogurt.....

BTW you're always right, unless your wife is more right.......

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 10/11/2023 10:00 PM DST

Shorehousejam profile image
Shorehousejam in reply toj-o-h-n

I’m not a dairy person at all, definitely not yogurt, but I do like cheese, my wife has gotten in all the goodies…so, I’m feeling alright just not my usual hormone up self, due to the diverticulitis and btw moving sucks..

ya me su lol

addicted2cycling profile image
addicted2cycling in reply toShorehousejam

Like coconut ?? might want to try >>

sodeliciousdairyfree.com/da...

as for CHEESE -- for me it's Parmigiana Reggiano straight up sliced or with warm apple pie/vanilla ice cream and even N.Y. Style Cheesecake with 100% Cacao drizzled on top

good luck and hope the move goes well

Shorehousejam profile image
Shorehousejam in reply toaddicted2cycling

Thank you for making me very very hungry…

Bestdays profile image
Bestdays in reply toaddicted2cycling

Or with red wine

addicted2cycling profile image
addicted2cycling in reply toBestdays

Bestdays wrote -- "Or with red wine"

👍👍😁

*Our Daily Wines* = Organic + taste is wonderful +++ inexpensive

ourdailywines.com/

Bestdays profile image
Bestdays in reply toaddicted2cycling

I’ll take a Cab. Sauvignon please…

addicted2cycling profile image
addicted2cycling in reply toBestdays

Local Publix has Red in a Box on sale some times but saw today that *ODWines* are available on line even cheaper. Cab-Sav sounds great and thinking about placing an order. 👍👍

Bestdays profile image
Bestdays in reply toaddicted2cycling

I’m in Canada, I can’t imagine the duties to import. You enjoy a glass for me.

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n

Whether they're changing jobs, upsizing their homes or just looking to try on a new neighborhood or dream city, Americans move an average of 11.7 times in their lifetime.

11 times for me, From small baby to big baby.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 10/11/2023 10:23 PM DST

addicted2cycling profile image
addicted2cycling in reply toj-o-h-n

4 me it's been the house I grew up in almost 23 years - apartment following marriage less than a year - 1st house following apartment for almost 13 years - 2nd house in now for almost 37 years and planted until dead. 😁

Never been average and a Gleason 5+5

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n in reply toaddicted2cycling

You forgot to count the time in the "joint"............

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 10/11/2023 10:47 PM DST

addicted2cycling profile image
addicted2cycling in reply toj-o-h-n

Don't count my visit to the *Cuckoo's Nest* and >>>

youtube.com/watch?v=M8KdtJO...

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n

Don't count my visit to the *Cuckoo's Nest*

I understand, cause that was the time when you were on your Hornymoon....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 10/11/2023 11:13 PM DST

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