1. < Prostate Cancer

Share your test results (if you'd like)

Posted by northoftheborder @northoftheborder, May 28 5:25pm

I thought it might be helpful to have a thread dedicated to sharing routine test results, good or not-so-good. My intention is just to provide a place for sharing, support, and encouragement, not for debating tests and treatments

I'll start. I've been at stage 4b oligometastatic for over 2½ years, and last Friday I did my routine 12-week bloodwork. My PSA remains below 0.01 (undetectable), Orgovyx and Erleada are holding my testosterone at 0.2, and the other tests are in normal ranges, except for those related to iron, which are slightly low.

Overall, it was a banner day! 🎊 I always treat myself to a masala chai at the little Indian café across the street while I'm waiting for my results to pop.

Do you have any recent test results you'd like to share?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

michaelcharles | @michaelcharles | Aug 27 8:15pm

Aug 2024 quarterly testing:

PSA < .02 negative or undetectable
That is the 4th quarterly test since completion of Salvage treatment; radiation May /4 mos ADT June 2023

Testosterone pre salvage treatment 439.
Undetectable during Salvage Treatment and 247, 349, 310 and 345 since treatment ended (about 80% T recovered).

Very happy and pleased to share.

Best to all.

REPLY
1 reply
scottbeammeup | @scottbeammeup | Aug 27 8:57pm

First post radiation PSA 0.03. Testosterone a bit higher on Orgovyx at 23 than it was on Lupron at 7. Before treatment PSA was 7.5 and T was 620.

REPLY
northoftheborder | @northoftheborder | Aug 28 5:47am
In reply to @michaelcharles "Aug 2024 quarterly testing: PSA < .02 negative or undetectable That is the 4th quarterly test..." + (show)
@michaelcharles

Aug 2024 quarterly testing:

PSA < .02 negative or undetectable
That is the 4th quarterly test since completion of Salvage treatment; radiation May /4 mos ADT June 2023

Testosterone pre salvage treatment 439.
Undetectable during Salvage Treatment and 247, 349, 310 and 345 since treatment ended (about 80% T recovered).

Very happy and pleased to share.

Best to all.

Jump to this post

That's wonderful news!

REPLY
stevecando54 | @stevecando54 | Aug 28 3:35pm

almost 18 months in, I get monthly Firmagon and take Abiraterone daily. I get tested monthly, this month psa at .02 I lost the less then symbol last month. For some reason they haven't tested for testosterone last two months. Dr. asked me about going to 3 month Firmagon dose, I'm good where I'm at. I also finally asked the question I knew the answer to,, yes I"ll be on this treatment until it stops working or I have problems being on it,(no,fatigue doesn't count lol ) Another month in the books. Best to all.

REPLY
proftom2 | @proftom2 | Aug 29 8:43am

My best number comes Monday. I'll turn 71. 3.8 Yeas ago after my stage 4 diagnosis I never thought I'd make it to age 70. Now I am looking at 71. My PSA is rising, but I've been at this long enough to know that PSA numbers go up and go down. The most important number to me is Quality of Life and its at best version level. Gift, every day is a gift.

REPLY
1 reply
northoftheborder | @northoftheborder | Aug 29 3:22pm
In reply to @proftom2 "My best number comes Monday. I'll turn 71. 3.8 Yeas ago after my stage 4 diagnosis..." + (show)
@proftom2

My best number comes Monday. I'll turn 71. 3.8 Yeas ago after my stage 4 diagnosis I never thought I'd make it to age 70. Now I am looking at 71. My PSA is rising, but I've been at this long enough to know that PSA numbers go up and go down. The most important number to me is Quality of Life and its at best version level. Gift, every day is a gift.

Jump to this post

That's a wonderful post! When I was first diagnosed with stage 4 in 2021 at age 56, they told me I had a *very* long shot at maybe living to 65 since I was young and there was just one (big) metastasis, but virtually no chance for 70, and also that I'd likely see progression in the next couple of years when my cancer became castrate-resistant.

Fast forward to 2024. I turn 60 this fall and have had zero progression so far (thanks, Apalutamide!). They're no longer giving me an arbitrary time limit. I know 70 might still be a stretch goal with current biotech, but I no longer feel like it's an impossible dream with so many new treatments in the pipeline. Heck, I haven't ruled out 90 yet.

REPLY
1 reply
northoftheborder | @northoftheborder | Sep 3 9:46am
In reply to @northoftheborder "That's a wonderful post! When I was first diagnosed with stage 4 in 2021 at age..." + (show)
@northoftheborder

That's a wonderful post! When I was first diagnosed with stage 4 in 2021 at age 56, they told me I had a *very* long shot at maybe living to 65 since I was young and there was just one (big) metastasis, but virtually no chance for 70, and also that I'd likely see progression in the next couple of years when my cancer became castrate-resistant.

Fast forward to 2024. I turn 60 this fall and have had zero progression so far (thanks, Apalutamide!). They're no longer giving me an arbitrary time limit. I know 70 might still be a stretch goal with current biotech, but I no longer feel like it's an impossible dream with so many new treatments in the pipeline. Heck, I haven't ruled out 90 yet.

Jump to this post

I did my quarterly blood work this morning, and had my ultrasensitive PSA result online less than 2 hours later. Still undetectable (< 0.01). 🎉

As I've mentioned before, next month is my 3 year anniversary of a stage 4b oligometastatic PCa diagnosis, so it's great to know the spinal debulking surgery, radiation, ADT (Orgovyx), and ARSI (Erleada) are still doing their job.

But it's also good to know that if they weren't, I have a *lot* of other treatment options these days, as others have kindly shared from a bit further along the journey. Prostate cancer treatment in 2024 is a defense in depth: every time the cancer fights its way across one fortified line, it runs smack into another one ready to stop it.

REPLY
1 reply
perrychristopher | @perrychristopher | Sep 4 7:16am

Congratulations on you great results!

REPLY
michaelcharles | @michaelcharles | Sep 4 10:06am
In reply to @northoftheborder "I did my quarterly blood work this morning, and had my ultrasensitive PSA result online less..." + (show)
@northoftheborder

I did my quarterly blood work this morning, and had my ultrasensitive PSA result online less than 2 hours later. Still undetectable (< 0.01). 🎉

As I've mentioned before, next month is my 3 year anniversary of a stage 4b oligometastatic PCa diagnosis, so it's great to know the spinal debulking surgery, radiation, ADT (Orgovyx), and ARSI (Erleada) are still doing their job.

But it's also good to know that if they weren't, I have a *lot* of other treatment options these days, as others have kindly shared from a bit further along the journey. Prostate cancer treatment in 2024 is a defense in depth: every time the cancer fights its way across one fortified line, it runs smack into another one ready to stop it.

Jump to this post

Congratulations. Very happy for you and wishing you continued good test results. 😊

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.