PSA up slightly but testosterone down to almost undetectable.

[Desanthony]

Hello,

GP called me yesterday afternoon with the results of the tests done prior to my second hormone injection. My PSA is 2.3 . 2 months ago it had gone down to 1.9 after 5 weeks of hormone treatment I know this is only an increase of 0.4 but wonder if this is a normal swing? The testosterone level is, as she termed it, almost undetectable at 0.1 which she says is good. I have my second hormone injection tomorrow morning and I see the oncologist next Wednesday for treatment planning.

[Dr_WHO]

A change of half a point may be within normal variation, especially if you still have your prostate. You may have to wait until you get the next result to see if there is a trend. What other, if any, treatments have you had for your cancer?

I have been on hormonal (Lupron) since last June and I am through 34 of 38 radiation treatments to tap down my advanced cancer (T3N1Mx, Gleason 8, Ductal, surgery to remove prostate and cancerous lymph nodes last April). Last blood tests were Sept 30, PSA <0.1 (Henry Ford Hospital only takes it to one decimal point), testosterone went from 404 to 17, which they said was acceptable level. In my case, since the prostate was removed, if my PSA becomes detectable I will probably have to start chemo.

[Desanthony in reply to Dr_WHO]

Waiting to start radiotherapy in the next few months.

[Dr_WHO in reply to Desanthony]

Wish you the best of luck. Hope that your PSA goes back down. Do you know your Gleason score and have you had CT/MRI/bone scans?

[maverick9513 in reply to Dr_WHO]

hated the Hormone shots I was diagnosed in 2015 and had Radiation Therapy

[Desanthony]

They are telling me that I don't need bone scans "Gleason score is 7 (3+4) involving 4/5 cores on right and 0/5 cores on left. Staging according to the urologist who did biopsy T2b PSA 12.9. MRI: suggests no positive disease and T3 disease, however on review in Urology multi disciplinary team it was felt nodes were insignificant, cannot exclude T3 disease. Significant co-morbidity - Overactive bladder - currently taking Mirabegron and Toviaz. Previous anal fistula disease from infection 2007. TURP 2004. "

The reason T3 cannot be excluded is that on MRI there was a bulge in the prostate but it still looked as though the cancer was contained in the capsule.

I consulted privately with the Royal Marsden re: cyber knife and the Oncologist there gave a diagnosis of T3N0Mx. As I said I have just had my second 3 monthly hormone injection and although I feel a little more fatigued and weak I have no other side effects at the moment.

My main worry is about collateral damage to bladder, rectum and bowel. Another worry is what effect the hormone therapy will have on my bones. I already have significant problems with my spine in 2 places which is painful and in the neck area could be dangerous, although even after a whiplash accident a few years ago nothing changed - in fact for a while my neck mobility was better! Though I had been told that such an accident could be fatal! Still here so mustn't grumble.

I will be 73 in just over a weeks time but keep myself fit and healthy going to the gym as many times as I can manage usually 3 or 4 times and tend for a huge garden which is just getting too much for me now.

Thanks for your reply.

Des

[Petrolhead9]

Hey, the PSA, it should continue reducing, not going up, if the hormone therapy is working...

rog...

[Desanthony in reply to Petrolhead9]

Apparently this small rise is nothing to worry about. It could be the way the test was done and lots of other things. Next test was a little lower than original at 1.8 and testosterone at 0.01.