1. < Prostate Cancer

Post prostatectomy: What do rising PSA levels mean?

Posted by hoard @hoard, Sep 10, 2019

New to group! Wish I had checked this out 2 years ago while supporting my husband! Now over e years post prostatectomy, wondering what might make psa go from all 0 to 2.6...

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michaelcharles | @michaelcharles | May 30, 2023
In reply to @kpgnsm "Well let me help you relax. My PSA in the fall of 2008 was 2.4 and..." + (show)
@kpgnsm

Well let me help you relax. My PSA in the fall of 2008 was 2.4 and I had a radical "where they got it all". Two years later the PSA started to rise from the original post surgical >.05 and the decision was made for me to have 40 treatments of radiation in November 2010. It stayed in the .05 - 07 range until the Spring of 2017 when it began to rise (7 years of being good) then in the Fall an Full Body Scan was ordered but it show no detectible spots. It continued to rise until the Fall of 2021 when it was .86 and a Petscan was ordered. It too came back with no detectible locations of cancer cells. In Feb 2022 it has rised to .92 and the urologist said we would look at it in 3 months....we did and it was .94. Then with a retest in December it was 1.92 and I was sent for a PetScan that showed spots on my T4 verterbrae, 2nd rib and in upper right lobe of lung. Decision was made by urologist to send me to radiation oncologist who said he could radiate and KILL all three spots in three sessions. I have completed 2 of the three treatments. In addition the urologist initiated Eligard hormone 6 month shots which I have gotten and I was also sent to a hematologist-oncologist who is starting me in a few weeks on a tertosetone blocking oral medication that will prevent tertosterone from entering and "fueling"the growth of cancer cells. This should put me into somewhat of a remssion for serveal years and when we detect more cancer growth another drug will be started. So it has been 14 years since I first was told I had prostate cancer and I am hoping for 14 more years.

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What is the "testosterone blocking med" that is being added to your tx protocol, if you do not mind my asking?
And what was your Gleason scores?
I was G 9 post RP w/ 90 day postop BCR and just now completing salvage radiation and Orgovyx regimen.
Best wishes for your health.

REPLY
3 replies
pueblokid1 | @pueblokid1 | May 31, 2023
In reply to @michaelcharles "What is the "testosterone blocking med" that is being added to your tx protocol, if you..." + (show)
@michaelcharles

What is the "testosterone blocking med" that is being added to your tx protocol, if you do not mind my asking?
And what was your Gleason scores?
I was G 9 post RP w/ 90 day postop BCR and just now completing salvage radiation and Orgovyx regimen.
Best wishes for your health.

Jump to this post

How are you feeling after being on Orgovyx? They want me to start taking it, after 8 years of being cancer free my psa is starting to rise again

REPLY
2 replies
itterac | @itterac | May 31, 2023
In reply to @michaelcharles "What is the "testosterone blocking med" that is being added to your tx protocol, if you..." + (show)
@michaelcharles

What is the "testosterone blocking med" that is being added to your tx protocol, if you do not mind my asking?
And what was your Gleason scores?
I was G 9 post RP w/ 90 day postop BCR and just now completing salvage radiation and Orgovyx regimen.
Best wishes for your health.

Jump to this post

What is tes blocking med

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2 replies
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jun 8, 2023
In reply to @itterac "What is tes blocking med" + (show)
@itterac

What is tes blocking med

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@itterac @michaelcharles
Anti-androgens block the use of testosterone. They attach to androgen receptors on prostate cancer cells and prevent them from using testosterone to grow. Examples of anti-androgens are
Leuprolide (Eligard, Lupron Depot, others)
Goserelin (Zoladex)
Triptorelin (Trelstar)
Histrelin (Vantas)
Degarelix (Firmagon)

Here's more info https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hormone-therapy-for-prostate-cancer/about/pac-20384737

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mybigdog50 | @mybigdog50 | Aug 15, 2023

I would like to know what does it mean s 068 after a radical prostatectomy. First PSA level came back less than 0.1 second one was used at a different lab second one was used at the VA first one was used by Atrium health LabCorp.

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itterac | @itterac | Aug 15, 2023
In reply to @itterac "What is tes blocking med" + (show)
@itterac

What is tes blocking med

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Finestride is a testosterone blocker. I was 7 4/3 in 2018. Bcr in 2020. Salvage 36 in 2021. Bcr 2022.

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1 reply
itterac | @itterac | Aug 15, 2023
In reply to @michaelcharles "What is the "testosterone blocking med" that is being added to your tx protocol, if you..." + (show)
@michaelcharles

What is the "testosterone blocking med" that is being added to your tx protocol, if you do not mind my asking?
And what was your Gleason scores?
I was G 9 post RP w/ 90 day postop BCR and just now completing salvage radiation and Orgovyx regimen.
Best wishes for your health.

Jump to this post

Finestride. 7 4/3. Rp 2018. 2 bcr and salvage since

REPLY
itterac | @itterac | Aug 15, 2023
In reply to @pueblokid1 "How are you feeling after being on Orgovyx? They want me to start taking it, after..." + (show)
@pueblokid1

How are you feeling after being on Orgovyx? They want me to start taking it, after 8 years of being cancer free my psa is starting to rise again

Jump to this post

I did 90 days orgovyx. Lost muscle mass and energy but no other side effects

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itterac | @itterac | Oct 2, 2023
In reply to @itterac "Finestride is a testosterone blocker. I was 7 4/3 in 2018. Bcr in 2020. Salvage 36..." + (show)
@itterac

Finestride is a testosterone blocker. I was 7 4/3 in 2018. Bcr in 2020. Salvage 36 in 2021. Bcr 2022.

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My psa now.51 fm .24 last December. My second bcr. Rp 2018. Radiation 2021. 8 4/3. Urologist has me on finestride and bicultamide. Thoughts on this approach. Psma pet negative in April. Should I b doing anything else.

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ajpernsteiner | @ajpernsteiner | Oct 3, 2023
In reply to @pueblokid1 "How are you feeling after being on Orgovyx? They want me to start taking it, after..." + (show)
@pueblokid1

How are you feeling after being on Orgovyx? They want me to start taking it, after 8 years of being cancer free my psa is starting to rise again

Jump to this post

I have been on Orgovyx for 13 months. I go to the gym 3 times a week and have an active life. There has been some muscle loss, but the gym helps that. A few hot flashes, not bad, nor awful. The side effect that bothers is pain in my hands. The pinky and finger next have pain that interfers with some things. I use compression gloves, which do help. The pain began 9 months in on treatment. My PSA has been kept at 0.04 following radiation and being on orgovyx.

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