Another PET scan and ?

[spencoid2]

I just got another PSA test because I am scheduled to have a second Axumin (sp) PET scan in mid may. The last one was inconclusive so I don;t want another unless there is a good chance it will be diagnostic. My PSA is now 75 representing a doubling time of about 4.87 months. The test before that was 55.45 which was a doubling time of 3.3 months and the one before that as a doubling time of 2.5 months.

So PSA is increasing steadily but not quite as fast now. Ideally should be close to 0 since I was treated with brachy and external beam about 5 years ago.

Does it make sense to do another PET scan, the last was about a year ago. Should I wait some more?

At what PSA or doubling rate should I freak out and start on ADT?

Is there any harm in waiting? I am having pretty severe difficulty urinating and need to self catheterize occasionally. I was previously convinced that the urination difficulty was caused by bladder neck contraction since that is where the insertion of the catheter was difficult. Now it is difficult to get the catheter through the whole distance of my prostate.

[Tall_Allen]

I wonder how much of your PSA is caused by your ongoing problems with urethral stricture and urinary retention.

[spencoid2 in reply to Tall_Allen]

no one seems to know how much any particular things contributes to PSA just that certain things do. I tried to ask about how much a UTI would contribute so as to make sense of high PSA when there was in fact an infection. No one seems to know how much infection masturbation biking etc contributes just that it can effect the test. the PSA is continuing to rise and I have had the problem with bladder neck stricture for a long time, it does come and go. I had to cath a day ago and i am very aware of how they go in. BTW, i now have a cath that is even better for difficult situations. It is "the cure" and it even comes with a packet of sterilized water for hydradation so you don't have to use questionable tap water.

It now feels like the whole length of my prostate is very tight. Previously there was resistance at the beginning of the prostate because of the bend in the urethra and then smooth until the bladder neck. Now it is tight from the bend all the way to the bladder. So I think my prostate is generally inflamed, probably PC. The last POT scan was highly suspicious of PC recurrence in the prostate ( a minor hot spot) which is why I had another biopsy which was negative. Also a suspicious spot in a hylar lymph node.

So what I am trying to determine is whether I should go ahead with another PET or wait? Will try to contact oncologist today.