1. < Prostate Cancer

PSA detectable 18 mos after prostatectomy

Posted by Ksusan @kscharmer, Jan 10 3:10pm

My husband had a prostatectomy in June 2022. Postsurgery PSA tests were all undetectable < .10 until January 8, 2024. The PSA result was .14
Does this mean his cancer has returned? Can PSA fluctuate?
We spoke to a friend who had a prostatectomy 9 yrs ago and had two detectable PSA >.10 tests then returned to undetectable. Is this typical?

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heavyphil | @heavyphil | Oct 19 8:02am
In reply to @harvey44 "To add to my continuing PC battle, I had a PSA screening last week with a..." + (show)
@harvey44

To add to my continuing PC battle, I had a PSA screening last week with a 5.25 result. Consulting with my medical oncologist, we are still under the notion of wait and see. I'm hopeful that another PET scan will either show a metastasis somewhere so we know a method of treatment. I will have another PSA test in late November by my radiation oncologist. A PET scan in February 2024, my 4th, did not yield a location of a metastasis.

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Wow….you’d think a 5.25 would absolutely show something, right?
Are you on ADT at least?

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harvey44 | @harvey44 | Oct 19 12:25pm

No sir, I'm not on anything but luck!

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1 reply
northoftheborder | @northoftheborder | Oct 19 3:47pm
In reply to @harvey44 "No sir, I'm not on anything but luck!" + (show)
@harvey44

No sir, I'm not on anything but luck!

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I'm a big believer in luck.

The more good cancer treatment I receive, the luckier I get. 😉

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harvey44 | @harvey44 | Oct 19 4:32pm

I hear you brother! I just haven't seen the need to be on hormone therapy and live some of the horrible stories I've picked up from guys who are on it. If they find a cancer to treat then, I'm all for the necessary. Quality of life has a lot to do with happiness in life. I'm an old hippy but not the drug scene type. Also somewhat of a risk taker. Smart, maybe not?!

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1 reply
northoftheborder | @northoftheborder | Oct 19 4:39pm
In reply to @harvey44 "I hear you brother! I just haven't seen the need to be on hormone therapy and..." + (show)
@harvey44

I hear you brother! I just haven't seen the need to be on hormone therapy and live some of the horrible stories I've picked up from guys who are on it. If they find a cancer to treat then, I'm all for the necessary. Quality of life has a lot to do with happiness in life. I'm an old hippy but not the drug scene type. Also somewhat of a risk taker. Smart, maybe not?!

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Yes, I understand where you're coming from. I knew I had cancer, so there was never a question whether ADT might be necessary — it was more a matter of throwing everything we've got at it to slow it down.

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harvey44 | @harvey44 | Oct 20 8:40am

I've been dealing with this since 2008 when I had radical prostatectomy and was clear for 11 years when it reappeared. I then had hormone therapy and 36 radiation treatments. Sine that time it has been slowly rearing it's ugly head. Four PET scans later, there is still nothing to see yet. It may happen and it may not happen to find it. At 80 years of age, I will still seek treatment when I know where and what might work. Still as physically fit as I was 20 years ago for the most part.

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1 reply
heavyphil | @heavyphil | Oct 20 4:00pm
In reply to @harvey44 "I've been dealing with this since 2008 when I had radical prostatectomy and was clear for..." + (show)
@harvey44

I've been dealing with this since 2008 when I had radical prostatectomy and was clear for 11 years when it reappeared. I then had hormone therapy and 36 radiation treatments. Sine that time it has been slowly rearing it's ugly head. Four PET scans later, there is still nothing to see yet. It may happen and it may not happen to find it. At 80 years of age, I will still seek treatment when I know where and what might work. Still as physically fit as I was 20 years ago for the most part.

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Well good for you! If you are a risk taker and content with the way things are going then keep at it.
You didn’t mention your PSA velocity; how long after your ADT/ radiation did it take to get to 5.25?
Perhaps if it has taken many years, you might finally see something on a scan when you’re 90!😁

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1 reply
northoftheborder | @northoftheborder | Oct 20 4:06pm
In reply to @heavyphil "Well good for you! If you are a risk taker and content with the way things..." + (show)
@heavyphil

Well good for you! If you are a risk taker and content with the way things are going then keep at it.
You didn’t mention your PSA velocity; how long after your ADT/ radiation did it take to get to 5.25?
Perhaps if it has taken many years, you might finally see something on a scan when you’re 90!😁

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Just so — I don't want to judge someone else's choices either. If I'd been diagnosed with prostate cancer around age 64 and had had all the treatments then (radiation, ADT, etc) and then made it to 80 before my PSA started rising, I might also decide to wait and see before subjecting myself to ADT all over again.

Or maybe I wouldn't. I don't know. They initially told me I had no chance of even making it to age 70 (65, maybe), and while they're not saying that any more because my treatments have been so effective, if I have the incredible privilege of living to 80 I might be very proactive about heading it off. I turn 60 this fall; ask me again in 20 years.

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harvey44 | @harvey44 | Oct 21 8:14am

If I'm still getting out of bed at 90 I'll probably keep going as long as I can. Something sometime is going to get us all.

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larrycurlymo | @larrycurlymo | Oct 21 9:42am
In reply to @dcs "At 16 months after radiation PSA went from < .1 to .9 in one month. I..." + (show)
@dcs

At 16 months after radiation PSA went from < .1 to .9 in one month. I had been using alpha keto glutamate for muscle growth. Obviously, it is excellent for cancer. Makes it grow. I followed mayo, James Kirkland’s Experimental advice. Cancer was undetectable a month later. It pays to be proactive.And read the cancer effects for all food and supplements.

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Could you please share more information about the James Kirkland advice that you followed? Thank you.

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