← Return to PSA at 6 months after salvage RT—not so good

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PSA at 6 months after salvage RT—not so good

Prostate Cancer | Last Active: May 23 7:45am | Replies (14)

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Profile picture for mjp0512 @mjp0512

I did not have surgery but had IMRT as prostate treatment with ADT/ARSI. That said my numbers are on the same trajectory as yours although somewhat higher. My PSA went from 0.19 in August, to 0.23 in December, to 8.80 and then 10.295 two weeks later in April. ALP was 165 at last check in April. PSMA PET lit up right side of prostate and L5. Called RO and we're going to zap L5 next week, but the prostate issue is going to have to be a medical solution since it was just radiated last October. If I could re-live the last 6 months, I would have insisted on monthly PSA checks after the first rise in PSA, with PSMA scan scheduled as soon as it would have been detectible. Probably could have gotten L5 zapped sooner before it started keeping me up at night. I think the docs tend to shrug at a 1st time PSA rise. I would argue that if PSA is going in the wrong direction after treatment, it needs immediate attention, not wait for the next 3- or 6-month test. Test sooner and often to shorten the gap between discovery and treatment. In my case, after 6 months on ADT it should have been undetectable, not rising. In your case, you have no prostate so it should not be rising. In both our cases, high ALP + rising PSA = bone met possibility and, in my case, confirmed.

Sorry, bit of a rant. Best wishes!! 👍

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Replies to "I did not have surgery but had IMRT as prostate treatment with ADT/ARSI. That said my..."

@mjp0512 First, sorry to hear that your numbers are trending the wrong way. Sure hope that continuing therapy brings things under control.

I concur with you about the frequent (monthly) testing. I’ve noticed that there is a hesitance with many docs to go beyond quarterly testing. I will push hard on that if necessary.

Many thanks for sharing your situation, and best wishes back at you!

Mel