PSA Numbers and 3rd Round of Docetaxel

[Yzinger]

Hi all - so first an update. Had 3rd chemo session out of 6 yesterday and at least in my experience things are going really well all things considered.

Lost hair on balls first then finally head and facial but elsewhere it is good. No issues with hand or feets. No nausea or fatigue. In fact I had to ask docs how do i know this is even working because i have read for most folks it is really intense. Regardless I am thankful thus far to be responding as i am.

Now, curious question here,.

Before each session they do a blood runup...my PSA was .77 before session 2, and .68 before session 3. I was .56 before ANY chemo (but on lupron of course)

So, my question is should my PSA be dropping right off the map or not? I asked a onc nurse yesterday and she said all three of those readings were "normal".....but, i have read on here so often people that under .0xx or stuff like that. Undetectable etc...

Thanks for the ears and comments!

[JohnInTheMiddle]

I started off at 1.5 ug/L at beginning of Docetaxel and it kept dropping through the sixth sessions. I also tolerated very well. Didn't reach nadir until a month after the last. As per bio on an ARPI as well. Did have some fatigue and was only starting to exercise then. Sounds like you're doing very well!

[Tall_Allen]

Short-term serum PSA can be affected by dead cancer cells and by cancer cells that are impervious to chemo. Imaging may provide more clues.

[Benkaymel]

It's amazing how differently we all respond to docetaxel. I have also just completed my 3rd infusion and my experience has been very different to yours. I haven't lost much hair but have had extreme fatigue continuously since the chemo started. I don't yet know how my PSA has changed since starting chemo as the NHS in their wisdom embargo the results for a month after each test. However, I'm not too interested in the PSA level as it has been totally misleading of the state of the tumours up to now - PSA undetectable but tumours slowly growing and now I have spots in the liver. I will find out what's going on with a CT scan next week.

[Yzinger]

thanks guys. This disease sucks ass!!

[AlvinSD]

My PSA got down to around 0.3 after my last chemo. I didn’t get to undetectable until I finished radiation.

I got my infusions on Monday. I’d start to feel tired Tuesday evening and feel lousy until Friday. It was noticeable but not horrible. I was still able to walk 6-7 miles a day. (I just did it in the mornings when I had more energy.). The second and third weeks after my infusion I felt totally fine. The only thing (aside from hair loss) that was different for me is feeling much more sensitive to dehydration throughout chemo. I had to watch how much fluid I was taking in because if I started to get dehydrated I felt really shitty, really fast.

My head hair fell out about 2 weeks after my first infusion. Chest and abdomen hair fell out too as well as the hair in my pits and on my balls. Pubes and eyebrows thinned. It’s been a year since I finished chemo. Hair on my head is normal. Still don’t have pit, chest or belly hair. Pubes are back to normal.

Hang in there!!

[Oldie68]

My PSA dropped from over 200 to 0.05 with both Docetaxel and Lupron. NUBEQA was added along the way, probably after the second infusion, and it probably helped. However at the beginning it was dropping slower than later in the game. First week after infusion was always the most difficult. I was tired, my mind was foggy. Tried to stay active and walk a couple of miles every day. My taste buds got damaged at the 4th and especially 5th infusion. Later came back slowly and now, after almost 2 years, are completely normal. I was told PSA of 0.05 is not undetectable. It stayed at 0.05 for about 9 months but at the last Lupron injection was 0.06. Curious what it would be next week when I get my next Lupron injection. So I think it is very different for each one of us. Live every day like it is your last and don't overthink it.

[Wildfun44]

Glad you are tolerating chemo well. I had a similar experience to you. A little tired but I did step up my exercising and think that is critical. I didn't lose/shave my head until after the 4th treatment. I thought I was getting lucky but it caught up to me eventually. 10 months later my head hair is fully back but my chest hair and arm pits are still gone. Which is not all bad. I've noticed less BO with zero pit hair.

My PSA didn't drop to 0.01 until my last treatment. And it has held steady now for 10 months. I was on triplet therapy of Lupron shots, Abiraterone daily, and then chemo. Finished chemo but still on the other two.

Good luck and keep up your spirits!

[Yzinger in reply to Wildfun44]

thanks I also am on triplet. Hoping for good outcome.