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PSA after 20 Proton treatments
My PSA has now dropped to 1.99 after my 20 proton treatments which ended in May 2023. At the highest PSA was 10. I was diagnosed with PC back in March of 2022 with a Gleason score of 3 +4. Was it only the proton treatments or the use of my repurposed drugs and the proton treatments that dropped my PSA?
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@brentbackus
What do you mean by repurposed drugs.
Regarding proton radiation. Yes will reduce your PSA. Mine (after 30 treatments) went from 3.85 to 1.2 after 3 months. Then 3 months later 0.79 then just recently 0.60. Radiation attacks all cells but normal cells DNA can reproduce where cancer cells when DNA is damaged do not reproduce and die.
This is not my opinion but oncologist/radiologist as UFPTI and oncologist/radiologist at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville.
After 21 treatments and now one year has passed, my PSA is now 1.22.
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1 ReactionI used Loma Linda for proton radiation in 2010. Nearly 2.5 months every morning. I was T1, Gleason 3+3, PSA 6.47. The two biopsies noted slow growth in a concentrated area. A month or so after completion, PSA was under 1.0.
But, now comes the current situation. PSA has risen in 2016 (6 years after completion of proton radiation therapy) to 4.29 jumping one full point in about 8 months.
I just completed an MRI at the VA in Gainsville but have yet to receive the results. If cancer cells are an issue, the options are few. I have TriCare for Life with strong resources, so can go anyplace. The decision matrix is the challenge. I am extremely healthy and active. The other scanning process is the PET scan which uses radiation, but more precise. The normal MRI does not use any radiation and is harmless. The procedure took about 20 minutes. RH
If indeed it is a recurrence your options are many (not few}.
This is from ChatGPT:
After radiation treatment for prostate cancer, recurrence can occur despite the initial treatment. Here are some options that may be considered in the event of recurrence:
Salvage Radiation Therapy: If the cancer recurs locally (in the prostate bed or nearby tissues), salvage radiation therapy may be an option. This involves delivering additional radiation to the site of recurrence.
Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT): Also known as hormone therapy, ADT is commonly used in cases of recurrent prostate cancer. It works by reducing the levels of male hormones (androgens) in the body, which can slow down or shrink the cancer.
Chemotherapy: In cases where the cancer has become resistant to hormone therapy, chemotherapy drugs may be used. These drugs target rapidly dividing cancer cells throughout the body.
Clinical Trials: Participation in clinical trials may offer access to new treatments and therapies that are being studied for recurrent prostate cancer.
Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be considered if the cancer recurs locally and is confined to a specific area that can be safely removed.
Active Surveillance: Depending on the characteristics of the recurrent cancer and the patient's overall health, active surveillance with close monitoring may be an option before initiating more aggressive treatments.
Cryotherapy or High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU): These treatments may be considered for localized recurrence in the prostate, especially if the cancer is in an early stage.
The choice of treatment for recurrent prostate cancer depends on various factors including the location and extent of recurrence, the aggressiveness of the cancer, the patient's overall health, and previous treatments received. Treatment decisions are typically made in consultation with a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals specializing in prostate cancer management.
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I am awaiting the MRI results. That said, then the challenge is what to do. I intend to contact Loma Linda and seek their suggestions. They have all my physical dimensions of localized cancer on file, so if proton radiation is the best option, then hello Loma Linda. i stayed at March AFB for 2.5 months. I understand now the procedure to faster due to increased targeting and identification.
I might add during the morning waiting period prior to the "big machine", others were present. Usually between five and eight. The majority of patients were physicians which reinforced my decision. At the time, I was just back from a deployment in the Horn of Africa and living in Spain. I spent over a month daily attempting to understand the best option(s).