PSA bounce 1 yr. after radiation therapy

[curtisbirch]

Hello Everyone, Great to be back in touch -- and I appreciated your previous input, which helped me settle on my particular radiation treatment, high does rate brachy/ monotherapy (HDR). HDR helped me avoid the combination of low dose rate (LDR) seeds and beam radiation initially recommended to me. By the way, If anyone has any questions about HDR monotherapy, I'm happy to provide information. I highly recommend it.

Here's where I'm at now:

I had HDR brachytherapy one year ago. After treatment, my 3 month PSA test showed a 2.5 and three months later it was 1.7. Now, one year later, it is back up to 2.7. This, from what I understand, is called a "bounce" and it's common, especially with younger people and lower Gleason scores (I'm 51 and more of my details are at bottom).

Some studies say "bounce" could even mean good news:

pcnrv.blogspot.com/2018/03/...

That said, it's still an uncomfortable feeling to have such a strong trend downward and then see my PSA go up a full 1 point.

I was hoping that someone out there might have experienced PSA bounce and could share some details on how much their PSA went up and down, etc., when this happened, how long, etc.

Appreciate the help!

Richard

PSA 5.3-- pre treatment (3 + 3 Gleason in 5 of 12 cores / 3+ 4 Gleason in 2 of 12 cores)

PSA 2.5 -- 3 months post treatment

PSA 1.7 -- 6 months post treatment

PSA 2.7 -- 1 year post treatment

#radiationtherapy

#hdr

#hdrmonotherapy

#prostatecancer

#prostatecancertreatment

[Tall_Allen]

Learn to love your bounces:

pcnrv.blogspot.com/2018/03/...

[Magnus1964]

Don't pay much attention to the bounces, watch for trends. If you get 3 straight rises in a row, it may be time for some action. You PSA is still low so relax and enjoy life.

[AlanMeyer Moderator]

I had multiple bounces (PSA goes down, then up, then down again) from my combination treatment of HDR brachytherapy, external beam, and ADT. The ADT masked all bounces, but when that was over the PSA bounced around with a high of 1.8 and an eventual low of 0.07. My last little bounce was from 0.07 to 0.11 15 years after treatment(!).

As Tall_Allen said, bounces are indeed associated with better outcomes and, according to my radiation oncologist, are more common with brachytherapy than with external beam.

Do get regular PSA tests, e.g., every 3 months, in order to be sure that what you are experiencing is a bounce on not a recurrence.

Best of luck.

Alan