Anyone had a full body scan when they have prostate cancer?

@stepheno Thank you very much , He had a PSMA in late April, 2025. I assumed that they might do another one once he had completed his radiation, or perhaps some time later, but that is not their standard procedure. They watch the PSA, which is negligible but from my understanding if the ADT has taken your testosterone down to nothing, then you won't have a PSA reading, so that doesn't really tell what is happening. I am no doctor, so I may be incorrect.

@topf - My scans actually started just above the lower jaw and ran to just above the knee. I was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma via biopsy prior to the scan. If it was small cell carcinoma or neuroendocrine carcinoma, scan would have included the brain and been coupled with MRI (I asked). Adenocarcinoma very, very rarely metastasizes to the brain and then usually only after it is identified in other organs like lungs and liver first. (Or so I was told)

@gkgdawg If on ADT with no PSA then the PSMA will not show anything. If the PSA increases significantly after the end of radiation and ADT they would do another PSMA PET at least in US. Also, if biopsy is <4+3 a lot of insurance will not approve a PSMA.

@heavyphil Oh my gosh, I had no idea it would be that brutal. I guess I just extrapolated from my own MRI's but those have only been partial body MRI's.

@jim18 His Gleason was 4+3. We don't have insurance, other than a health spending account and our national health care, I guess I just wish there was something more to show whether the treatment had had an impact. I look at him sometimes and wish I had x ray eyes.

PSMA PET/CT scans are standard of care at major cancer centers if MRI & biopsy show cancer. My PSMA PET/CT scan was from "Scull base to mid thigh"

I did have a full body MRI at Sloan after my BCR in addition to a pelvic MRI.
Let me just say that I will NEVER, EVER have another one unless I am completely anesthetized (out!)!!
The techs told me nothing about what to expect - intentionally now that I think about it. I was never claustrophobic before this event, but now I totally AM!
You are weighed down with about 60 lbs of sandbags to immobilize you and a polycarbonate catcher’s mask is screwed into place over your face, crushing your nose to prohibit movement.
You are then slid into a coffin-like tube (being generous with the dimensions) and spend the next 45 minutes in total hell; banging, clanging, whirring and screeching noises assault you as you struggle to breathe and not choke to death on the post nasal drip threatening to reach your larynx.
I’m telling you man, nothing you have growing inside you can be worse than this f***ing machine!
Phil