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

Posted by hector13 @hector13, May 12, 2022

My prostate was removed 5 years ago. Two months ago, my PSA went from 0.00 to 0.09, and this month the PSA increased to 0.2. My urologist believes I am a candidate for the new PSMA-PET scan approved in 2020 that is more sensitive than previous scans in detecting small tumors. Has anyone had this scan? If so, what was your PSA at the time and was the cancer found?

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@dsingstock

Met with Urologist and he was very happy with results of 6 month Eligard injection (1st) and 160 mgs daily of Xtandia. Psa yesterday, 25 Jan, 0.4, down from 20.8 on 9 Novv22. Will meet with Oncologist next Monday 30 Jan. Doing minor weight bearing exercises and very active all day. Watching diet closely and remaining off sugars. Also, 1 cup of coffee and Boost in morning, enter during dayvand 1 cup of green tea on the evening. Jusy happy psa down 20 points in 2 months.

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I am on Zolodex injections and now Xtandi or Enzalutamide I have tiredness only I feel positive even though med oncologist said Enza may only last 18 months I have my BP pill then Oatmeal then sake easy to swallow Enzalutamide 4 pills $33.75 CDN each OHIP paid along with a D3 dissolvable

I have green tea with breakfast and throughout the day Soothing I am anxious in the evening though Any thoughts. A tad depressed thinking what's after 18 months? PSA up to 9.8 from 1.2 last oct so looking forward to it dropping fast Metastasis is in L2 lumbar hip and T11

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@melcanada

I am on Zolodex injections and now Xtandi or Enzalutamide I have tiredness only I feel positive even though med oncologist said Enza may only last 18 months I have my BP pill then Oatmeal then sake easy to swallow Enzalutamide 4 pills $33.75 CDN each OHIP paid along with a D3 dissolvable

I have green tea with breakfast and throughout the day Soothing I am anxious in the evening though Any thoughts. A tad depressed thinking what's after 18 months? PSA up to 9.8 from 1.2 last oct so looking forward to it dropping fast Metastasis is in L2 lumbar hip and T11

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Meet with Oncologist on Monday for evaluation. So far after starting Xtandia on 6 January and the the Eligard injection on 9 Jan feel good but a littke on the tired side. No other side effects. Could be as I am a care giver 24/7 for my other half. My psa went from 20.8 in November to 0.4 in January. 3rd PSMA PET scan matched first two. Am trying to get some exercise and keep active.

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I had a PSMA Pet scan on 12/2/22 and it showed my cancer was confined to the lesion in my prostate which gave me peace of mind that it had not spread and that I had time to investigate all options before making a decision as to treatment. I had a 30-core biopsy of my 100-gram prostate with 5 cores all in the same spot positive for PC. 3 cores were 3-4 and two were 4- 3. currently looking for a 2nd opinion from a different pathologist as to Gleason numbers. PSA is 2.9 and lesion is 7mm according to MRI.

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@mikewo

I had a PSMA Pet scan on 12/2/22 and it showed my cancer was confined to the lesion in my prostate which gave me peace of mind that it had not spread and that I had time to investigate all options before making a decision as to treatment. I had a 30-core biopsy of my 100-gram prostate with 5 cores all in the same spot positive for PC. 3 cores were 3-4 and two were 4- 3. currently looking for a 2nd opinion from a different pathologist as to Gleason numbers. PSA is 2.9 and lesion is 7mm according to MRI.

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Personal, non-medical opinion: I would have prostatectomy at a center of excellence or by a very experienced Urologic Surgeon. And soon.

Removal of cancerous prostate while cancer contained within capsule was my wish; unfulfilled because some cells had escaped (EPE), and now Radiation and Hormone therapy to chase down the lousy bastards.

And I know that medicine is balancing treatment vs overtreatment. Also, my physical recovery from surgery at 72 has been terrific, so I am a RP advocate (continence has been excellent; ED significant changes and a work in progress).

Very personal opinion of 1 (some might say radical).

Note: My MRI suggested cancer contained within prostate capsule and my Gleason scores were higher (8s and a 9), last 4 PSA results were 4.6, 5.9 and 7.5 at time of MRI (over about 2 yrs).
Would surgery earlier have eliminated the cancer? Who knows. But now I am chasing cancer cells.

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@michaelcharles

Personal, non-medical opinion: I would have prostatectomy at a center of excellence or by a very experienced Urologic Surgeon. And soon.

Removal of cancerous prostate while cancer contained within capsule was my wish; unfulfilled because some cells had escaped (EPE), and now Radiation and Hormone therapy to chase down the lousy bastards.

And I know that medicine is balancing treatment vs overtreatment. Also, my physical recovery from surgery at 72 has been terrific, so I am a RP advocate (continence has been excellent; ED significant changes and a work in progress).

Very personal opinion of 1 (some might say radical).

Note: My MRI suggested cancer contained within prostate capsule and my Gleason scores were higher (8s and a 9), last 4 PSA results were 4.6, 5.9 and 7.5 at time of MRI (over about 2 yrs).
Would surgery earlier have eliminated the cancer? Who knows. But now I am chasing cancer cells.

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Hello, was wondering if you had gene testing done. It turns out that a BRCA 2 gene mutation for me explains how aggressive and invasive my PCa has become.

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@maryvilleman

Hello, was wondering if you had gene testing done. It turns out that a BRCA 2 gene mutation for me explains how aggressive and invasive my PCa has become.

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No, sorry. Have not had gene testing.

Best wishes.

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@maryvilleman

Hello, was wondering if you had gene testing done. It turns out that a BRCA 2 gene mutation for me explains how aggressive and invasive my PCa has become.

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I never had this done, but I'm curious. You say it explains how aggressive the cancer has become. Did having this knowledge change your treatment in any way?

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I have a family history of prostate cancer (grandfather, father, brother) so I have been very diligent in getting my PSA checked annually. Last check, PSA had more than doubled from 1.4 to 3.6 in a year. Still in normal range for a 71 year old. Because of my family history I had an MRI on 12/29 which showed PI-RADS Category 5 with several lesions in the bones of my pelvis. Next, a CAT Scan which showed no evidence of cancer, next a bone scan that confirmed the MRI results, next a biopsy that resulted in a Gleason score of 8, finally a PET scan that confirmed cancer in prostate, 3 locations on my pelvic bones and sacrum, one lymph node, and nowhere else. Started on Casodex immediately after MRI, scheduled to start Lupron next week, started Zytiga 3 days ago. Radiology oncologist has scheduled 5 weeks of radiation starting in April after the ADT has taken effect. The PET scan indicated clear targets for radiation and both my oncologist and radiology oncologist are optimistic.

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I’ve had two. The doctors had already determined that I had G9 and the PSMA Pet scan showed it had spread to my lymph nodes, spine, pelvis, and scapula. I immediately started Lupron and had radiation to the spot on my spine to prevent it from reaching my spinal cord. My second scan was six months later and showed that all the infected areas were significantly smaller. I’m also on Erleada and XGeva (to prevent bone loss).

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@maryvilleman

Hello, was wondering if you had gene testing done. It turns out that a BRCA 2 gene mutation for me explains how aggressive and invasive my PCa has become.

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I had the decipher (seems to be the preferred test because of sample size) and the Myriad test done for aggressiveness of the cancer based on samples from my biopsy. My RO adjusted treatment partially because of those tests. It also suggested how many modes of treatment I needed. I had the Genetic myrisk test which showed no active bracha or other gene isssue, which was good for my sons and daughter (ie bracha and breast cancer).

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