My PSA Oct 3

Yep, that's good news! I followed the same path about 3 years ago for my Gleason 9 w/ mets. Started with monthly degarelix injections plus started on abiraterone w/ prednisone. PSA dropped like a rock. EBRT Radiation w/ SBRT to a small pelvic bone mets. I continued on ADT until July of this year. PSA has been undetectable and decided to quit the ADT to see what will happen. PSA test in 2 weeks, fingers crossed!

@tjs911
Thank you! And I wish you good luck 🙂

Remember when you have radiation, your PSA does not come down immediately for everyone. I know people that it took three years for it to come down to their lowest point. The radiation does damage the cells and prevent them from growing and prevent them from splitting and they die, but they can take time to die.

You’ve had a steady drop and that’s really what you’re looking for.

@johndavis60
Great news on your PSA. Many labs have different values of what they consider undetectable and how low they will list numbers.

My last PSA test was .10 My PCP stated that at Mayo lab Jacksonville that anything below .10 was considered undetectable and you would not get numbers below that just the symbol that is below .10 Don't know what your lab sets as numbers, but from my expereince with PSA testing you are very low. One thing my urologist, R/Os and PCP warned me was to make sure I had all my PSA test done at same lab.

They stated can have different results with same blood and some use different classification of undetectable and also how far down the numbers will be listed numbers. I only had one bump up (was told completely normal it is what happens over time) and all rest over my 2.5 years and every 3 months PSA test went down.

I did not have RP or hormone treatment so very happy with my .10 I was told by my R/O was to have a PSA that stayed below 1 So I am way below that and my doctors like me are all happy.
Good luck and again try to stay with same lab doing your PSA tests.

@jc76 Thanks!!
I got to the same place to get my blood drawn every time. It’s very close to my house. They probably use the same tests, I’m assuming.

@johndavis60 Quest and Labcorp use different instruments, so their PSA test results are not comparable. Indeed, stick with the same lab. Also, results from a regular PSA test (limit of detection is 0.1) and an ultra-sensitive PSA test are not comparable (again different instruments/procedures), although results might be close. Also, there is lab variance, so you might see slight changes in your PSA result even if you go to the same lab consistently. For example, I had PSA tests done at the same lab within 5 days of each other. The first was 0.11 and the second was 0.12. I put no stock in the 0.01 increase and just attributed it to normal lab variance.

Your numbers look like a real trend though. Congrats! Hope it keeps trending down below detection and stays there.

Great news John 😃👍 !!! I am sure the trend will continue. Those are excellent results indeed : ) 🌺
Keep us posted 😊

PSA 11.8 in Jan 25. MRI, biopsy, PSMA test, all lead to positive for prostate cancer with Gleason 4+4. PSA was over 23 when treatment began. Metastasis to left femur top and left shoulder top (both areas significantly injured in a 1997 accident). Began radiation of prostate and left femur in mid Jun for 28 treatments. Waited 2 weeks then received 3 radiation treatments on left shoulder. Received Eligard on July 11 and began Abiraterone on August 18th. August 28th tests showed PSA was undetectable and testosterone was 10. I was fortunate in that side effects were limited to feeling tired and having "heavy" legs from time to time. Abiraterone dosage has been reduced from 1000mg to 250mg and will have PSA checked monthly if it rises then the dosage will return to 1000mg. My oncologist has had patients on the lower dosage as they could not tolerate the side effects. We are doing this because I found a 2018 NIH study on this with a group of only 72 patients. Hope my journey continues to be blessed and wishing all of you the same.

@glendale
Usually people drop to the 250 mg of Zytiga because they have a low fat breakfast with it. That results in the same amount of medicine reaching the body as taking 1000 mg without eating.

Is that what you did in your case? I know a few people that are doing this.

If you are having fatigue with Zytiga Increasing prednisone from 5 mg to 10 mg can make a big difference. 10 mg is actually one of the standard doses of Prednisone when on Zytiga. Most doctors start with 5 mg however. Some people actually go to 7 1/2 mg as sort of an in between amount.

Yes a low fat meal for breakfast, which means less than 3 grams of fat per 100 calories, when I take my medication. The fatigue was during radiation and a couple weeks after. Now working to increase my strength and stamina to where they were or as close as possible. It'll take time, but I'm determined. Manually cut down three 40 foot trees, lopped the branches, hauled off the debris and almost finished splitting the wood without a fancy splitter.