While it may be primarily true that PC is slow growing, which was also told to me my my then Oncologist, that was not further from the truth in my case. After my PSA had jumped from 4.0 to 5.5 in 4 months, then to 20 after just six additional weeks (back in June 2018), one day before my MRI fusion guided biopsy, his response was that PC was slow growing, he had many patients with PSA in the thousands and it should not be concerning. He also asked my why I was having the biopsy, which I proactively arranged for, not him. The biopsy resulted in 12 out of 16 cores positive and a Gleason score of 10. I then found a different Oncologist and immediately immersed myself in researching options.
I was subsequently (in January 2019) diagnosed as BRCA2+, from a Color Genomics genetic test, which made me genetically susceptible to aggressive PC. I wish the doctors had thought of having me tested sooner. Things may have been a lot different for me now, before it spread to the seminal vesicle, two lymph nodes, and lesions in the pelvic bone. This was all found a a result of my RP in November 2018, as part of my participation in the SIMCAP clinical trial. PSA started to accelerate after surgery, from 0.12 to 0.55 after a few months. Zytiga/Prednisone, which I was on for six months, was no longer effective after having initially lowered my PSA from 20 down to 0.12.
Also on Eligard and Xgeva.
Am now on Olaparib, a PARP inhibitor, used with positive results for BRCA2+ diagnosed PC patients. After 10 weeks PSA has dropped to 0.02. My Oncologist expects this treatment should hopefully be effective for the next 12-18 months. Until the next best treatment comes along, which I will definitely be on the lookout for.
Be proactive!!!
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. . .After my PSA had jumped from 4.0 to 5.5 in 4 months, then to 20 after just six additional weeks (back in June 2018), one day before my MRI fusion guided biopsy, his response was that PC was slow growing, he had many patients with PSA in the thousands and it should not be concerning.
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Q: What do you call the person who graduated at the bottom of his class in med school?
A: "Doctor".
My objection to the very popular "Invasion of the Prostate Snatchers" is that it suggests using your first oncologist's kind of approach:
. . . Wait till the cancer progresses, so it's not curable with surgery or radiation;
. . . Then, use ADT and chemo to control it.
It's bad medicine, IMHO.
. Charles
Well said.
I am in the Uk and have had PC for eleven years, I have had RT which failed after two years ,I then had HIFU which also failed after 1year ,current treatment is 150 mg Balcalutumide, which taken for three months seems to work bringing my PSA down from 30 to 2.50,My currant PSA was 42, but I know I have Prosatitis and currently taking Trimethoprim 200mg I seem to have no more treatment option ,but I am nearly 79 years old.