Carcinomatosis

[Jansverr]

Hi all, I went through 4 sessions of Taxotere treatment a year ago, but had to stop due to an infected abcess in my colon that had to be treated and eventually part of my colon was removed. PSA was then stable at around 70 until Dec. last year, but started to rise again after approx. 6 months.

I have done several PET PSMA scans, but the only thing they have detected is a suspected metastasis in one lymphnode located in the mesentery.

After that I have done 2 CT scans which shows no further progress in my lymph nodes, but they now suspect carcinomatosis in my abdomen as the CT shows diffuse increased ventral density in the abdomen. My oncologist says this is very rare in connection with prostate cancer and wants to do a FDG PET scan to rule out any secondary cancer. She also wants to take a sample of fluids in my abdomen. My last PSA was 136. The CT also showed slightly increased ascites in the pelvis and right flank. The goal is to get this done as soon as possible and then commence Taxotere treatment again.

For all you experts out there, does this seem like a good way forward? I am also taking Zoladex injections at 3 month intervals and Nubeqa every day, but I they stopped working about 3 years ago. I am also suffering from extreme fatigue that only seems to get worse.

Other abnormal bloodtest readings, which I don't really understand, is LPK 10.1, CA199 3068, CEA 6,4 and CRP 12.

My cancer was detected in 2007 so I guess I have been lucky to have made it this far, but it seems to me that I am getting close to the end of my journey. I am thankful for any advice and words of encouragement you can give me

[Tall_Allen]

A biopsy of any metastases discovered with the FDG PET/CT will give you a more clear direction.

[j-o-h-n]

to Jansverr,

"but it seems to me that I am getting close to the end of my journey."

That's what our late President Carter said and he reached 100. So put that in your Bunad and live, live and live.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[Seasid]

DeepSeek said

The blood test results you provided indicate several abnormalities that should be evaluated further by a healthcare professional. Here’s a breakdown of what each marker may suggest:

### 1. **LPK (Leukocyten / White Blood Cell Count): 10.1 x10⁹/L**

- **Normal range**: ~4.0–10.0 x10⁹/L.

- **Interpretation**: Slightly elevated. This could indicate mild inflammation, infection, or stress. However, it’s only marginally high and may not be significant on its own. Combined with elevated CRP, it supports the presence of inflammation.

---

### 2. **CA 19-9: 3068 U/mL**

- **Normal range**: Typically <37 U/mL.

- **Interpretation**: **Markedly elevated**. CA 19-9 is a tumor marker often linked to **pancreatic cancer**, but it can also rise in other conditions:

- **Cancer**: Pancreatic, colorectal, gallbladder, bile duct, or stomach cancer.

- **Non-cancer causes**: Pancreatitis, gallstones, liver cirrhosis, or bile duct obstruction.

- Levels >1000 U/mL are more concerning for malignancy, but imaging (CT/MRI) and clinical correlation are essential.

---

### 3. **CEA: 6.4 ng/mL**

- **Normal range**: <5 ng/mL (non-smokers) or <7 ng/mL (smokers).

- **Interpretation**: Mildly elevated. CEA is another tumor marker associated with:

- **Cancer**: Colorectal, lung, breast, thyroid, or pancreatic cancer.

- **Non-cancer causes**: Smoking, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, or infection.

- Combined with high CA 19-9, this raises more concern for malignancy (e.g., pancreatic or GI cancer).

---

### 4. **CRP: 12 mg/L**

- **Normal range**: Usually <10 mg/L (varies by lab).

- **Interpretation**: Mildly elevated. CRP indicates inflammation, which can occur in infections, autoimmune diseases, or cancer. Non-specific on its own but adds context to other results.

---

### **Next Steps**

- **Consult your doctor promptly**: These results (especially CA 19-9 and CEA) require urgent follow-up to rule out serious conditions like cancer.

- **Imaging**: CT/MRI of the abdomen, endoscopic ultrasound, or MRCP to assess the pancreas, liver, and bile ducts.

- **Additional tests**: Liver function tests, amylase/lipase (for pancreatitis), and stool tests if colorectal cancer is suspected.

- **Symptoms to monitor**: Jaundice, abdominal pain, weight loss, changes in stool, or appetite loss.

---

### **Important Notes**

- Tumor markers like CA 19-9 and CEA are **not diagnostic** on their own—they must be interpreted alongside symptoms, imaging, and biopsies.

- Non-cancerous conditions (e.g., pancreatitis, gallstones) can also cause elevated CA 19-9, though levels >1000 often warrant thorough investigation.

**Please follow up with your doctor immediately to determine the cause and plan next steps.**

DeepSeek said