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PSMA PET Scan

Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Jul 23 2:27pm | Replies (19)

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Thank you all for the comments. I have had a PSMA PET Scan and it showed nothing outside the prostate. I have also had a CT with contrast that also showed nothing other then the prostate (except for an old neck injury I had in 2012 where they noted it was degenerative and not cancer). My concern was that I have several indicators that I have read could happen when the cancer spreads outside of the prostate. These being on and off pains in my lower abdomen (both dull and at times sharp which started just recently), with lower back and upper thigh pain and stiffness (which I have had for several years now). Certainly both the PSMA PET Scan and the CT with contrast couldn't both be wrong. I guess this is my life now since the diagnosis back in April. Thankfully I think it was caught early enough and now I just need to get some treatment. Elevated PSA (4.5) found in December 2024, MRI found PIRAD5 area on prostate in February 2025, all metabolic tests normal in March, 12 core biopsy in April showed 70% of one core at area of concern was 3+4=7 with 4 making up only 5% of the core, and found one additional core having 3+3=6 with only 5% of core being 3, all other cores good. Since then I have had CT with contrast and PSMA PET Scan both showing no signs of spread outside the prostate. I was told by Moffitt in June that I am not a good candidate for focal therapy due to the size of my lesion which was estimated at 2 cm on the MRI (1.8 cm on the PET). This was disappointing. I am waiting on the ARTERA-AI test results to finalize my decision between radiation of removal. I have met with both a Radiologist and Surgeon at AdventHealth in Orlando (where it was found and all tests were done), and at Moffitt, and I have an appointment at the Mayo in Jacksonville next week. Interestingly that the surgeon at Moffitt suggested I do radiation.?? I thought that was odd since Drs usually advocate for what they practice. Not sure what to do, but I feel I need to do something. Obviously I don't like the side affects of removal, but I also want this out of my body before I miss the window of opportunity I have.

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Replies to "Thank you all for the comments. I have had a PSMA PET Scan and it showed..."

❝ My concern was that I have several indicators❞

That's a very normal and understandable situation. After a cancer diagnosis, we can become hypersensitized to little aches and pains that we would have ignored or downplayed before. ❤️

You've had all the best tests done, and while there's never a 100% guarantee, it's probably safe to trust them for a while, at least to to the same extent you trust that a bridge won't fall on you when you drive under it

When I apologized to my family doctor for worrying about so many aches and pains early on (to the extent she was booking double appointments for me), she told me two things

1. It's a normal reaction to a new cancer diagnosis.

2. If I were still doing that in 5 years, then she'd be concerned.

In fact, after about two years I stopped worrying. I still mention anything new to my oncologist, but as I approach the 4-year mark, I no longer feel that sense of panic: listing them is just routine due diligence now.