PSMA scans in Washington State

[EvFC]

We were planning to get the PSMA scan done in BC Canada this week. Their machine is broken and it will be three weeks before it is fixed. Does anyone know how much it would cost to do the scan in Washington state? And where it’s done? I will start searching now, but thought I would ask in case anyone has the info readily available. It feels like one hurdle and delay after the other right now! Thank you!

[GP24]

You can save a lot of money by waiting three weeks.

[EvFC in reply to GP24]

The waiting is scary, because every step adds more time. The CT scan that inadvertently discovered the cancer was on Nov 29. So we are 4 months out from that now and still don’t have a treatment plan. Everyone keeps telling us how aggressive his cancer is, so waiting longer and longer is frustrating! And scary!

[LDC2024 in reply to EvFC]

PSMA scans are the crime brûlée of scans for PC but not readily available to many patients in Canada. We’re in Toronto and weren’t offered one for my Dad. He had MRI, bone scan and PET scan, CT scan (so many scans!), but not PSMA. He may have a more pinpoint accurate picture with PSMA, but in the meantime we are going forward with treatment for what was found on the other scans, and he’s feeling good so far. Wishing you great success and more happy healthy years ahead.

[RyderLake2]

Hello,

There is more than just one PSMA PET scan in British Columbia. As far as I know, there are four: two in Vancouver (one at the BC Cancer Agency), one in Victoria, and one in Kelowna. There were also plans to add two more, one in Kamloops and one either in Nanaimo or Prince George. I am not sure if they are operational yet. Also there is a private clinic in Burnaby where you can pay for a PET scan. I can't remember the name. Good luck!

[EvFC in reply to RyderLake2]

Thank you. It was the private clinic we were planning to go to. The other scans within the provincial health care system are mostly for clinical trials right now and the wait lists are really long.

[Hailwood in reply to EvFC]

I had a PET scan at VGH, not part of a trial but used before radiation was to begin in the pelvic floor and it was where it was discovered there were distant Mets and so began the Erleada/Lupron protocol which is far from a clinical trail and more an anticipated treatment plan

[EvFC in reply to Hailwood]

yes, I have read the scan is also used at VGH for high risk patients but the wait list is too long to be of use to us. Wishing you all the best.

[positive-thinking]

Is he having a bone scan tomorrow? If so it only took a few days and we knew the results. He had a cat scan before that and it showed that the cancer was contained in his prostate. The bone scan showed a different story. It was already in several bones. You could see what the bone scan shows and decide from there ? Best of luck

[EvFC in reply to positive-thinking]

Thank you for this. That’s a good point. It’s his recent back pain over the past couple of months that makes me the most nervous, but I guess there is a good likelihood that if it was connected to the cancer something would show on the bone scan. I’m glad he didn’t cancel the bone scan when we decided to do the PSMA scan!

[positive-thinking in reply to EvFC]

I was all excited when he had a cat scan and it said his cancer showed it had not escaped the prostate. I have learned so much since the beginning , back than I could not understand why he still needed a bone scan if it was not out of the prostate on the cat scan. He had a bone scan in the afternoon on Nov 23 /2023. He was getting ready to fly home the next day and got a call on his cell phone ( Nov 24/ 2023) that bone scan showed ribs, shoulder and several mets in pelvic. That's was the end of discussions about taking out his prostate and also no discussion about radiation as he had more than 5 mets ( apparently they find the risks outweigh the benefit with more than 5 mets ). He is on triple therapy and almost done the chemo . We are having a hard time now convincing anyone that he should have another bone scan , they said only if PSA has changes . Frustrating for someone that did not have high PSA .

[EvFC in reply to positive-thinking]

I don’t think I’ll feel assured until we get the PSMA scan that says everything is clear, but even then from everything I am reading with Gleason scores this high there is a high likelihood of some cells escaping. Just trying to take things one day at a time as best we can. Who called you about the bone scan? We made an appointment with the GP who ordered it early next week, but would someone else also call us?

I hear you about wanting reassurance that everything looks ok. If his PSA is too low, the scans might not pick anything up. I think Initio had told us a PSA of 0.2 was needed for the scan to show anything. I’m not sure how it works with a bone scan, as we have no experience with that yet.

Wishing you all the best. It sounds like the chemo is having positive effects right now.

[positive-thinking in reply to EvFC]

We were called by the urologist's office and we had to set up flights to go there for the scans . We live in the Yukon and the scans are all in Vancouver . I had actually emailed their office when we had not heard when we would get a bone scan . I said we wanted a scan immediately . They replied within a day and had a date a month later ( soonest we could get in for one )

[CaptainKrunch]

Sending healthy energy your way. Reg. cost of PSMA Pet scans in WA... I had mine done January 2023 at the downtown Kaiser facility on Capital Hill. It was initially denied for coverage, and I was quoted 10k out of pocket. I decided to hold off, and two weeks later Kaiser updated their coverage to include initial high risk screening, and I had it done then.

[Manilo in reply to CaptainKrunch]

Go to UK for a scan at less than $4000

[Hopingandprayin]

Have you tried INITO Medical group in Vancouver?

[EvFC in reply to Hopingandprayin]

This is the one that is currently broken.

[MPCSUX]

You could call Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle to discuss out of pocket cost for cash pay PMSA scan. fredhutch.org/en.html

They are a research center as well, so if the cost is not affordable they may be able to enroll you into a study and the cost would be covered.

[EvFC in reply to MPCSUX]

Thank you. I called them yesterday and was transferred four times. No one knew the answer. Based on the responses here, it looks like we’d be looking at $5-$10k usd.

[quietcorner]

The other place to consider if flying from BC iš Singapore. Approximately $2500 USD in price. English is spoken there, also, making it easy to communicate.

[treedown]

Check out Mt Baker Imaging in Bellingham, WA for a Pylarify PET Scan. No idea what OOP cost is nut I suspect approx 10k

[Mgtd]

I am sure you guys are well versed on trans border medicine but you all seem to make it out to be like crossing the border and going shopping at WalMart.

Is it that easy?

[EvFC in reply to Mgtd]

I can’t speak to that, as I have never done it before. I know a lot of Canadians do though.

[Mgtd in reply to EvFC]

You may want to check it out. It could save you some time and heartburn. I have issues going across town from one medical office to another. It would amaze me it is that easy.

[EvFC in reply to Mgtd]

I wouldn’t guess it’s as easy as going to Walmart, but given how many Canadians do it I suspect it’s relatively easy. Anyhow, the cost is significantly higher from what I am seeing, so I am looking at options in Eastern Canada right now. Will see how that goes. We may end up just having to wait three weeks - they haven’t actually given us an intake appt in BC yet though, so hopefully that doesn’t get pushed out more. 🤞🏻

[Mgtd in reply to EvFC]

Good luck and my experience may give you some relaxation of your stress.

After being referred by my GP to a urologist because of high PSA, he did a digital exam and told me to get a 4Score test. Well I am really hard of hearing and misunderstood his instructions and waited 6 months to send in the test kit.

Turns out I had cancer and it took another 9 months to finally get radiation treatment. I realize we are all different but I would suspect that 3 weeks is not a major issue. Hope this helps relieve some of the stress.

[EvFC in reply to Mgtd]

Thank you 🙏🏻 It’s all the delays that are the worst. Once you have a treatment plan, you can move forward. Wishing you all the best!

[Mgtd in reply to EvFC]

I am post radiation and ADT and so far it appears to be good.

It is nice that your husband has an advocate like you. Sometimes we need another one in our corner to bring clarity to the situation.

In my case the AMAZING news as a result of this cancer is that I now wear hearing aids and I am hearing things I have missed for years. Life is good.

[Ian996 in reply to Mgtd]

Yes it is that easy

I think Pylirafy is now available in 100s of clinics across the USA

All you need is a doctors referral a means of payment and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone

[RS265]

Australian cost is about USD1000 for visitors.

There will be appointment lead times no matter where you go, so ultimately you won't shorten the 3 weeks by much. PCa induced anxiety is a natural response but in my view the delay will be inconsequential to the overall course of treatment.

[Leaffan57]

I live in KW in Ontario, only offered a PET scan of the cancer doesn’t show up on a CT scan or a bone scan. After that only if the PSA is on the rise. Good luck .

[EvFC in reply to Leaffan57]

Thank you. Is that true of private scans as well? I found one company in Mississauga who does private scans.

[Leaffan57 in reply to EvFC]

I don’t know, I just do what the Drs tell me to do. Simple as that. You can spend all your time worrying, but I not about to let that happen. 5 yrs into this mess it’s all I can control.

[positive-thinking in reply to Leaffan57]

We were told the same here. It would not change the outcome of treatment in my husbands case as the bone scan showed up exactly why we are doing the treatment we are now. PSMA PET scan would not have changed the treatment plan that he is currently on .

[MakeItRainbows]

I don't know cost information, which seems like it would be very dependent on insurance etc, but I had my Pylarify PSMA Pet scan done at Virginia Mason in Seattle.

[Ian996]

I had my 1st Ga68 PSMA Pet scan done at UCLA back in march of 2021 The cost was $3200 USD at that time No wait time they just needed a doctors referral. They also did not charge me for the 5 page report. I did pay $800 for a zoom meeting with Dr M Rettig to review the scan results and go over their recommendations. I have the utmost respect for and confidence in the Cancer Staff at UCLA Westwood

Since then I have contacted the Mount Baker clinic and was told the cost of Pylirify was $8000 for the scan and another $600 for a written report

I have had 2 scans done at Initio and they charged $3200 CND

[mababa]

EvFC, I had mine done at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. I was supposed to be scheduled for one Mt Baker imaging but in the process of trying find out the cost I grew so concerned at their ineptitude that I canceled and went to Seattle. It only took me one phone call to UWMC to get the ball rolling. (They are affiliated with Fred Hutch.) They got what they needed from my RO to make the arrangements. I’m on Medicare with a supplemental Medigap plan. I never saw a bill, but I did see a retail invoice to Medicare for $30,000. Couldn’t believe it. Obviously, no one (especially Medicare) pays the retail price. But without insurance, what the others quoted might be close. Pylarify is a radioactive substance and must be handled with special care. It does an amazing job of “lighting” up the cancer. My RO is in Sedro Wooley and I’m on Whidbey Island. Best wishes for the future.

[fast_eddie]

Just google: PSMA imaging in Washington State

You'll get a bunch of hits. I am in Arizona with plenty of options here.

[LongTimeRunning]

For reference, I was officially diagnosed at 58 in an early Nov 2022 biopsy after sitting on a PSA of 24 found unexpectedly in the previous August 2022 (Gleason 8). My PSA rose to 49 before finally seeing a MO in Feb 2023. I was screened for a clinical trial (PSMAddition) with a PSMA scan by Initio in late April 2023 (confirmed metastatic results got me into the trial). Currently PSA is undetectable after treatment.

[EvFC in reply to LongTimeRunning]

I’m happy to hear the treatment is going well for you. So, between Nov 2022 and Feb 2023 your PSA doubled - in 3 months? I asked my husband’s GP to do another PSA test, as his last one was in December. She said now that he’s been diagnosed there isn’t much point while he is deciding on treatment, as it wouldn’t change the course of treatment. I am wondering if it would give some indication of how quickly things might be moving though?

[LongTimeRunning in reply to EvFC]

Actually, for the Nov 2022 biopsy the PSA was noted to be 24.1 which was the same as August, even though an Oct 2022 PSA test indicated 34.1 Not sure why they are different. The PSA of 49 was measured in Feb 2023 before seeing the MO, so about ~5.5 months doubling time. At the end of Feb I started ADT and my PSA 2 weeks later dropped to 8.3 and a month later to 0.4 and in the summer to undetectable.

Your husband's PSA is relatively low compared to mine upon discovery, but at the end of the day PSA level is only one marker of the extent, severity of the PCA. Having a genetic test for types of mutations can be helpful for sure.

I wouldn't have done a PSMA test as my PSA was dropping fast with hormone therapy already, but for me it allowed me to get into a clinical trial. When I did my PSMA test my PSA was only 0.13. It did show PSMA activity though, enough to get into the trial.

[TJGuy]

There were several "brothers" here that went to India for PSMA scans and the price was like $600 to $800 or so.

I wrote to a hospital in Germany and a PSMA scan was like in the $3000 range.

Australia as mentioned was like $600 US money

So all these were a few years ago before inflation so

I'm doing this off my memory so give a little wiggle room.

We really need a offshore private facility in the Bahamas to provide $1000 PSMA scans. And several in eastern Canada for US residents.

[Jancapper]

Top hospitals in the Seattle area include Swedish Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center and The University of Washington. Harborview would probably be the least expensive of the three.