Waiting is the worst part

Waiting is hard, for sure!
Hang in there - I hope for favorable results for you.

Since you’ve had both surgery and radiation, they are extremely unlikely to do an MRI or a pet. At this point, they will go by the PSA results. If your PSA has risen maybe above .5 they might do a pet, Or they might just wait a little longer to see what happens since it can take a while for the PSA to drop after radiation. If you are still on Lupron, it is more likely your PSA has gotten very low so they will just wait until it starts to rise again. If you have a very low PSA, it is very difficult for a PSMA pet test to find anything. An MRI is just never done in this situation.

When we were developing my treatment plan, I expressed to my medical oncologist that I didn’t want to go through the anxiety of waiting 3 months for my first post-radiation/Eligard treatment PSA test. So, I asked if we could do a PSA test after the last day of radiation treatment.

They said “sure, no problem.” Then another PSA test 6 weeks later; then at 3-month intervals.

Sometimes all you have to do is ask.

well just keep your cool- you may have some ups and downs but think positive..I am in same boat.. next PSA test is end of March...if I start with the what ifs, it makes me crazy..so I just take my medicine and do my routine..got 15 more months of ADT ( radiation finished in early Dec -45 sessions) my PSA last draw was < .01

But I understand what you are saying and pprob 90% on here feel the same way..

Waiting is good!
Good chance you'll have PC the rest of your life - go slow, so much can go wrong

@briang1958 Now THAT, @briang1958 belongs on a T- shirt! You’re SO right.
The most difficult part of this disease is understanding that once you are diagnosed, you are never done - not EVER.
It is a chronic illness managed by a variety of treatments, some minor and others major. You just have to test, test, test and take the next steps (or not), whatever they may be.
Don’t get me wrong, I have my PSA next week and the only reason I’m not thinking about is because I have a colonoscopy 💩tomorrow!!
So pick your cancer, if you must…
Personally, I’ll take PCa over colon cancer because of the treatments, success rates and side effects.
In fact, we should all have a disclaimer stamped on our birth certificates:
LIFE: May Come With Side Effects😉
Phil

@heavyphil

Best of luck on your colonoscopy tomorrow!!!!

@dpayton - funny story, well maybe not funny but I thought it was.
Whilst troubleshooting my bowel/stomach issues they decided to scope me from both ends simultaneously.

I always fall asleep with any sort drugs they give for a colonoscopy, so I didn't even get to ask if the scopes got to a place where they were looking at each other?

HHHHHMMMMM

With persistent G 9, I completed salvage radiation (SRT) in May 2023 (and Orgovyx in June 2023).
My 1st post SRT tx PSA was in November 2023, 6 mos following completion of radiation. And, thankfully, it was and has remained undetectable, with a quarterly test later this week 🤞.

My comment is that while waiting is hard, it takes time for the radiation to work and the ADT to exit our system to achieve a relatively meaningful post SRT PSA .

I was more comfortable in Feb 2024, when my 2d post SRT PSA also reported undetectable because of the additional time that had passed.

Checking sooner than 6 mos post radiation may be encouraging to you, so by all means have the tests, however the effect of the Lurpron may still be evident.

Best wishes.

It's called scanxiety and it's very real.