Radiation levels.

[Thetoad]

I might have written this somewhere else, but ... The rt finished on 1 Feb. and was 60 Gy in 20 fractions. I have no idea if that's a low or high dose in 20 days and it's hard to get information. I saw the specialist mid March and he said nothing much, just come back in three months with a PSA test result. So, he didn't seem concerned about anything. I was able to resume testosterone injections as they treat men with normal levels and my levels are below normal without them. The expected side effects have been and gone. I now am trying not to worry about PSA tests, I'm told it takes about 18 months to drop and the first one might not be that different. Next thing is root canal work next Monday. Such fun!

[Tall_Allen]

It's a normal hypofractionated dose.

[bobdc6]

I had proton for my G 4+5, 78gy in 39 sessions.

[tallguy2]

Seems reasonable to me. I had 72 Gy in 40 sessions in 2012.

[Thetoad]

The latest thing bugging me is that my last psa was July last year at 7.4 and jumped from 6.3 in April, i.e a jump of 1.1 in three months. (On 29 March, 2017 it was 5.3.) The routine dre found a nodule in April 2018. So it might be that it kept increasing until the rt in January? But they keep using the 7.4 reading, so if there is a drop it might be from a theoretical higher level, which means a false difference. Nobody knows of course and my next test is in about two weeks.

Reading over this makes me realise that my anxiety is surfacing again. In fact it is probably a pointless post, but I'll do it anyway. Looking for reports from people whose first reading was significantly lower I guess and it kept going down.

Biopsy was G7 (3+4.) Localised with two out of thirteen showing cancer.

[Thetoad]

And the test yesterday was 3.1, 4 months after rt finished. So not so worried now and hope it keeps going down.

[Thetoad]

Update. It's now 2.7 from 2.9. Going down very slowly after the impressive drop to 3.1 after rt. Wish it would hurry up.

[Thetoad in reply to Thetoad]

At last! My ipad stopped loading this site, but I remembered I could use the laptop. Decided to wait 6 months for next psa test, so it's due mid September. Getting nervous already, but I do that, sadly.

[Thetoad in reply to Thetoad]

Here's a new question. I was having haemarrhoids (sp?) bleeding and a Dr. (not mine) went further and felt my prostate. He commented that it was quite small which made me wonder what actually happens to it after rt, which was 18 months ago. Does it shrink as the cancerous cells are destroyed and do the healthy ones regenerate over time? He said he couldn't feel a lump, which is great. My Dr said he wouldn't do any post rt Dre's as it would be a bit mushy, I think he said. Next psa in about 6 weeks and really hope the downward trend continues!

[Thetoad in reply to Thetoad]

Apparently it does shrink or weigh less after rt. Not sure why an unknown Dr decided to feel it, but I'm happy(ish) that he did.

[Thetoad]

And the PSA today was 1.5. A much larger drop. Since rt it has been 3.1, 2.9, 2.7 and now 1.5. (20 months since rt now.)