Biochemical Recurrence After Prostatectomy

Posted by trusam1 @trusam1, Nov 26, 2023

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41391-022-00638-y
I came across this article from U of Cal, San Francisco published this year. While I have not done a deep dive into it, trying to to stay out of rabbit holes before I need to go down them, based on 3300 men having prostatectomy for cancer,2000-2022, 20 % developed BCR. They conclude:
"Men who develop a detectable PSA > 6 months post-operatively may have excellent long-term outcomes, even in the absence of salvage therapy."

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

@delmar418

In May of this year, 2024, I had the hoLEP laser enucleation of the prostate. I had to wait 1 year and 9 months with a urethral catheter for this procedure. They enter through the urethra, cut the prostate itself into sections, push those pieces into the bladder and then go in with another tube called a morcellator to flush with liquid and suck the pieces out. The CAPSULE, or shell, of the prostate, is left intact. The pieces of prostate, "the ultimate biopsy," is sent off for pathology.
Previously, I had an MRI that showed no presence of tumor. However the pathologist did discover a malignancy, rated at Group 2 with a 7 (3x4).
Two weeks ago, I had a PSA, the first one post op six months after, it came in at 0.911
I have been reading that anything above .2 is a biological recurrence. I am in Barcelona Spain, public health system, where the doctors are "accountants first" doctors later, i.e., bottom line.
My uro surgeon says you're fine, point 9. I mentioned that it should be .2 or less. He says, point 2, point 9, could be anything. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. He says: you're cured! I said, really? Well, that must explain the lower back and sacral pelvic bone pain I have been experiencing since a little before the surgery.
He shrugs it off. Then, he says that I'll need to come back again in six months for another PSA. (I already knew he was going to say this btw), so I asked why? He said to know for sure that we got all the cancer. Then I said, but if I am cured, why do I have to have anther PSA? He said it was routine for all men. So then I remarked that if I'm "cured" yet you need to make sure, then the cure statement is moot. You really don't know, hence the follow-up. I asked him to write out a partial prognosis that doesn't specify I'm cured, but doesn't diagnose me with cancer. He also added in discussion that it could be some "other" cancer, but either way, I will attend the follow-up- then he sends by email an invitation to prostate cancer seminar / group at the foundation where I had the surgery. I never asked for that, I signed up for it.
Is it time for a second opinion? From who? They all know each other. Opinions?

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I am speechless. Cancer is bad enough without being treated by incompetents and liars.
Firstly, morcellators are practically outlawed in the US. They ‘grind up’ tissue and this allows any cancerous tumors to be turned into hundreds or thousands of cells, free to seed the entire body. I am not being alarmist but if you have the means $$ get on a plane to the US - or any country that practices current cancer care ( the UK?) - and get some form of treatment IMMEDIATELY.
You need PET scans, probably ADT to slow cancer growth and then radiation if possible.
Again, I know your anxiety levels are high and I don’t mean to make them worse, but you need help right NOW, not in 6 months. Best to you

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@heavyphil

I am speechless. Cancer is bad enough without being treated by incompetents and liars.
Firstly, morcellators are practically outlawed in the US. They ‘grind up’ tissue and this allows any cancerous tumors to be turned into hundreds or thousands of cells, free to seed the entire body. I am not being alarmist but if you have the means $$ get on a plane to the US - or any country that practices current cancer care ( the UK?) - and get some form of treatment IMMEDIATELY.
You need PET scans, probably ADT to slow cancer growth and then radiation if possible.
Again, I know your anxiety levels are high and I don’t mean to make them worse, but you need help right NOW, not in 6 months. Best to you

Jump to this post

Well, I underestimate my intelligence- auto gaslighting? So I didn't need a consensus, but after that meeting and dismissive attitude, mock concern, I felt compelled to look here to see if anyone was in the same boat. I agree with you, and thank you very much for your understanding and concern. It really helped me a lot. No, you're NOT being alarmist- it's pragmatic and common sense. This whole show should have gone down more than a year ago.

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@heavyphil

I am speechless. Cancer is bad enough without being treated by incompetents and liars.
Firstly, morcellators are practically outlawed in the US. They ‘grind up’ tissue and this allows any cancerous tumors to be turned into hundreds or thousands of cells, free to seed the entire body. I am not being alarmist but if you have the means $$ get on a plane to the US - or any country that practices current cancer care ( the UK?) - and get some form of treatment IMMEDIATELY.
You need PET scans, probably ADT to slow cancer growth and then radiation if possible.
Again, I know your anxiety levels are high and I don’t mean to make them worse, but you need help right NOW, not in 6 months. Best to you

Jump to this post

PS-

I didn't know morcellators had been kaboshed. THAT, was my OTHER contention with regard to the pathology- how the HELL do they know where the cancer was located withing the prostate if the prostate is the consistency of peanut butter? They use these for abortions. Millions of visible and invisible cells could have gone into the vascular area- a very vascular area. I mean, I had blood in my urine for a year & 9 months, if an infection can get in there- candida- sepsis, so can the cancer.

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@firespooks

I’m on my second recurrence. I personally don’t believe that anyone is “Cured”. I believe that cancer goes into remission. I was in remission for 7 years the first time and then 2 years the second time. Now my cancer is growing again. The cancer cells are so small , that they can be anywhere and they could start growing again, which is what happened in my case. Just my opinion.

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That's what my oncologist told me. If you have a biological recurrence, especially that affects the bones, (which unfortunately I have) it can be a life long program of monitoring and treatment as needed. And be proactive. My PSA wasn't checked at my 2023 physical for some reason, and PSA was 30 when they checked it a couple months ago and now I'm stage 4.

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I know. I get my PSA checked at least 4 times a year. Plus I had a PSMA scan that was clear.

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@delmar418

In May of this year, 2024, I had the hoLEP laser enucleation of the prostate. I had to wait 1 year and 9 months with a urethral catheter for this procedure. They enter through the urethra, cut the prostate itself into sections, push those pieces into the bladder and then go in with another tube called a morcellator to flush with liquid and suck the pieces out. The CAPSULE, or shell, of the prostate, is left intact. The pieces of prostate, "the ultimate biopsy," is sent off for pathology.
Previously, I had an MRI that showed no presence of tumor. However the pathologist did discover a malignancy, rated at Group 2 with a 7 (3x4).
Two weeks ago, I had a PSA, the first one post op six months after, it came in at 0.911
I have been reading that anything above .2 is a biological recurrence. I am in Barcelona Spain, public health system, where the doctors are "accountants first" doctors later, i.e., bottom line.
My uro surgeon says you're fine, point 9. I mentioned that it should be .2 or less. He says, point 2, point 9, could be anything. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. He says: you're cured! I said, really? Well, that must explain the lower back and sacral pelvic bone pain I have been experiencing since a little before the surgery.
He shrugs it off. Then, he says that I'll need to come back again in six months for another PSA. (I already knew he was going to say this btw), so I asked why? He said to know for sure that we got all the cancer. Then I said, but if I am cured, why do I have to have anther PSA? He said it was routine for all men. So then I remarked that if I'm "cured" yet you need to make sure, then the cure statement is moot. You really don't know, hence the follow-up. I asked him to write out a partial prognosis that doesn't specify I'm cured, but doesn't diagnose me with cancer. He also added in discussion that it could be some "other" cancer, but either way, I will attend the follow-up- then he sends by email an invitation to prostate cancer seminar / group at the foundation where I had the surgery. I never asked for that, I signed up for it.
Is it time for a second opinion? From who? They all know each other. Opinions?

Jump to this post

I would get a second opinion at a Center of Excellence. My PSA was undetectable for 8 yrs after.my Prostatectomy. Then it slowly went up. When it reached .24, it was repeated 2 months later. Still .24, criteria for Biochemical Recurrence. PSMA Pet Scan was neg so the Prostate Bed was radiated x 37 days. PSA has been .02 for a year now, meaning undetectable. It's repeated every 6 months. Undetectable does not mean cured but it's as close as one can get. Good Luck!

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@stumpzilla

That's what my oncologist told me. If you have a biological recurrence, especially that affects the bones, (which unfortunately I have) it can be a life long program of monitoring and treatment as needed. And be proactive. My PSA wasn't checked at my 2023 physical for some reason, and PSA was 30 when they checked it a couple months ago and now I'm stage 4.

Jump to this post

@stumpzilla, are you currently on treatment? How are you doing?

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