PSA Rising swiftly again!

[Jaffa_2001]

My relationship ended 8 years ago and my PSA has been steady ever since even though it has been increasing albeit slowly. No sex since, other than my daily masturbate….and then I met an amazing guy 6 months ago and despite all my post-Op difficulties we have been having great sex. Suddenly my PSA has started to rise alarmingly swiftly again, reaching 7 last month and sharply reducing the doubling time. Does anyone know if testosterone surges when in a relationship and thereby increase PSA?

[BerkshireBear]

I doubt that your T is rising significantly from finding a new relationship. I just looked back at your posts from last year and see you got good advice from Tall_Allen. As I see it, your doctors should be quite concerned and offering you treatments to knock down the apparent regrowth of cancer in the prostate bed area. It needs to be eradicated before it can spread to other parts of your body. There appear to be several choices of treatments at this point, but others are better qualified to suggest them, but of course it all depends on exactly what the cancer is doing today inside your body.

[TimCo]

Sounds like a good possibility Jaffa. Id definitely discuss with your GP and or surgeon.

[Cubbiesfan]

The nice thing about a prostatectomy, is that there is a “Plan B” if PSA starts to rise again as it did for me. My advice is to see your doctors, and follow up if they make referrals for second treatments. Worked for me!

[Tall_Allen]

No, testosterone is not fueling an increase in your PSADT. That is most likely from metastases. You may want to request a PET scan (an Axumin scan if you can get one). I don't know why you weren't given salvage radiation when your PSA was lower, but it is almost certainly too late for that now. At this point, only hormone therapy can slow progression.

[sanFranDaddyRick]

Question. Have you had your estrogen levels checked? There is a new school of thought that says testosterone is not the culprit when it comes to a PSA rising. If the testosterone were the bad guy wouldn’t do every 20-year-old guy in the world have prostate cancer? As we get older estrogen which is foreign to our bodies becomes the hormone that multiplies fastest inside us. Have you had any luck on estrogen blockers or even thought of this? I have been on testosterone replacement therapy for 28 years. I was injecting testosterone into my own body every other week. Something happens when your body gets that much testosterone that 50% of it once injected it becomes estrogen. There’s a lot to be considered here and probably a lot you need to talk to a doctor about.

[Jaffa_2001 in reply to sanFranDaddyRick]

Hi Daddy Rick, here in the UK things do not move as swiftly as in the US. Our NHS is slow at doing anything new unless they feel the cost is justified. I have to admit I was unaware of any link with estrogen levels as I thought testosterone was the enemy, I have tried to avoid foods that are supposed to raise T levels and avoid dairy in favour of soya based food items. The NHS have never tested my testosterone levels here let alone my estrogen! My PSA has steadied again recently, but is heading towards the magic 10 figure which is when the NHS here feel ADT is appropriate. Personally I am prepared to wait until it hits 15 unless it takes off big time, but if a PET scan is clear I am willing to take the risk.

Hope your recovery is progressing well. Regards - Brian.