wait time for radiation

[Pmalloy]

hello,

I just had a pet scan after my PSA went from .3 to 5.68 in 3 months time and it revealed 3 spots that my onc feels we should radiate. I am 3 years into this and have had 6 rounds of chemo and am currently on daro+ lupron. It took 6 weeks to get the scan and results and now my consult is in another 4 weeks. Not sure how long after that I would actually receive radiation. Are folks waiting this long for scans and treatment? Thanks.

[mrscruffy]

For me personally, it seems like a long time for results of scans. My scans are done in the AM and I meet with the MO that afternoon. Radiation has always been a couple weeks later as my schedule permits

[Tall_Allen]

There is no evidence that it makes a difference.

[Pmalloy in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thank you, my thinking is that while I am waiting with a rising PSA that something else could show up that won’t be accounted for because I won’t have another scan before I receive the radiation.

[Tall_Allen in reply to Pmalloy]

There is no evidence that it makes a difference.

[Teacherdude72 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Might be true for treatment effectiveness but for the mental aspect and anguish it certainly will have an effect.

[85236442968]

Pmalloy

The question was " Are folks waiting this long for scans and treatment?"

Have you looked to see if your Cancer Center has an electronic record system that you can get access to. Most do. In fact where I live even the PCPs, Dentists, and other Dr's Offices all have them. When you sign onto to them they are personalized and only show your data.

I can find all of my results (blood work, CT and PET scans, etc.) for the most part the next day.

Now you have to educate yourself on how to navigate the system, and then how to read the reports as the first time you go thru one, you will have more questions than answers, as the medical community has their own language (or so it would seem).

2nd if the Center you go to does not have anything like above, I would start questioning what else they do not have or have chosen to not have or do.

Who you see and where you go for treatment on this disease is your choice. You have to be your own advocate on this stuff, and if who you are seeing is not at "start of the art" you are not getting what you need.

Best wishes on your journey.

[Pmalloy in reply to 85236442968]

Thanks. Yes I can see all info. I am at Fred hutch in Seattle. It’s an extremely busy place. I’ve been at this 3+ years and this is the longest I’ve had to wait for anything so I figured I’d see what other experiences were.

[Cancer2x]

Wow. Six weeks to get the scan and result might just be a single, very busy machine/office. But another MONTH to have a consult? While you spin in the wheel of uncertainty? Sorry, but they would have the phone smoking in their hand about that! Ridiculous. Good luck with it all!

[Derf4223]

Please put details of your case in your bio. EG ADT, staging, et al. Its bad kharma not to.

If you are on firmagon (relugolix) then your PCA growth should be low and your PSA likewise. So no worries if subsequent RT takes a while.

[Pmalloy in reply to Derf4223]

Thanks, I mentioned I am on lupron and darolutimide currently.

[Ian99]

If it’s any consolation, in Uk it can take 4 weeks to plan a scan and another 4 weeks to get a result. When I was first diagnosed, this was the case, due to insufficient capital investment in scanners; and also due to a severe shortage of radiologists, the only solution here will be AI tools to interpret results.

[j-o-h-n]

Greetings Pmalloy,

Would you please be kind enough to update your Bio. All info is voluntary, it will help you and help us. Thank you!!!

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[Biru49]

We live in St. George, Utah. I just started year nine of stage four prostate cancer. My wait times are very different from yours. I had radical surgery to start and have had two rounds of radiation over the years. I started Orgovyx, Zitega and Prednisone 14 months ago with weight gain my only side-effects.

As for wait times, I have blood work every three months, so I schedule the date of the bloodwork in advance along with an appointment with my cancer doc two days after. I can logon to the hospital website the same or next day to see results. I haven't had any problems doing this.

I follow the same procedure for PSMA scans. I always know the date of the scan at least three months before the scan and can see the results the next day on the website, plus see my doc within a few days of the scan, which I also book in advance.

I hope this approach may be available to you. PC is stressful enough within stressing over delays of results.

Best of luck to you.