Has anyone had the PSMA-PET scan? Was cancer found?

After two years of Lupron and xtandi my psa dropped to undetectable. Went off everything for three months and psa started to climb…by 6 months it went from 1 to 5.
Had the psa pet scan and found tumors in neck vertebrae. So back on Lupron and xtandi and will radiate the neck. Wouldn’t have found the new tumors without the psa pet scan. Best of luck to you.

Does anyone know where a PSMA-Pet Scan testing location might be in Arizona. We live in Prescott.

Hi Colleen,
Yes, my urologist scheduled the PET scan because after 4 years of PSA readings of 0.00, it has risen to 0.2. I had the scan yesterday, and hope it picked up where the cancer cells are located.

New question: Do you have data as to what percentage of patients who have their prostate removed, and have radiation treatment, later experience a recurrence of their prostate cancer?

Good question about stats regarding recurrence and treatment modality. I don’t have access to specific clinical data other than what one can google. For example this study
Potters L, Klein E, Kattan M, et al. Monotherapy for stage T1-T2 prostate cancer: radical prostatectomy, external beam radiotherapy, or permanent seed implantation. Radiotherapy and Oncology. 2004;71:29-33.

Which is outlined in this article: https://news.cancerconnect.com/prostate-cancer/recurrence-rate-similar-between-common-treatments-for-early-prostate-cancer

Naturally, there are individual factors that also need to be considered.

How did the scan go yesterday? When will you discuss the results with your cancer care team?

What have your PSA's been prior to MRI, Bone Scan, PSMA? Thx

In Feb 2022 they did a C-11 Choline PET scan which indicated the prostate cancer in the left testicle. Additional ultrasound indicated cancer was unlikely. However, in May 2022 a Pylarify PSMA PET scan had the left testicle light up like a lighthouse beacon. So yes, in some cases the PSMA scan can detect malignancy better than other scans.

Welcome @landc, Thanks for sharing your experience with the two tests. Are you undergoing a different treatment after your latest test?

Yes, much to my dismay. What is proposed is an orchiectomy, for me to surgically remove my left testicle etc. Not my preferred treatment. However: I was diagnosed with Gleason 10 advanced prostate cancer and given less than 2 years to live. That was over 9 years ago. So, although I sometimes question their treatment suggestion, it is hard to argue with success.

I hope my comment is not a repeat. I was first diagnosed in 2001. PSA 5.1. Gleason 4+3=7. Underwent prostatectomy. PSA went undetectable. Two years later recurrence. Salvage radiation. PSA undetectable until it wasn’t in 2012. Slow rise then rapid rise in PSA. At 6.0 started Lupron in 2016. PSA responded nicely until it started rising in 2021. At PSA .85 went from my home in West Virginia to UCLA for PSMA PET Gallium 68 Scan in November. Four cancerous pelvic lymph nodes were found. December into January 2022 had 5/SBRT radiation treatments and started Nubeqa. A month later PSA was .5. Two months after that PSA was undetectable less than 0.008. Only time will tell whether cancer is truly gone or not. I have had no noticeable side effects from the radiation so far. I truly hope the newer PSMA PET scans become more widely available. If you can see the cancer, you have a good chance of killing it. Best of luck.

First diagnosed in 2004. PSA 9.5 then Prostatectomy - Gleason 4+3=7 - seminal vesicles involvement - followed by 36 radiation treatments. Undetectable PSA for six years. Since then 12 years intermittent lupron treatment. Most recent PSA was .6
I hate lupron side effects - always feel weak, any exertion is exhausting, gained 40 pounds, little motivation, my brain is not what it was.
March 2022 had PSMA PET scan, no tumor visible. No lupron let tumor grow. Will check again in six to 12 months. Doctor says tumor probably visible when PSA in range of 1 to 3.
A little bit scary approach, but the thought of no lupron for years is a tremendous incentive.