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Follow up after proton beam treatment: GREAT PSA NUMBER
After I finished my last Proton Beam treatment for Prostate Cancer Jan 21,2020, I had my first PSA test last week May 28, 2020, and PRAISE THE LORD, it was .26 !!!! I was told
Anything under 2.00 is OK . The Dr tells me I Will have a PSA TEST approximately every 6 months now
for 5 years. Basically I had very few side effects
Until the last 5 treatments out of 20, then I had
Burning when urinating, and Constipation.
Those effects when away after 5 weeks. I am
very thankful for DR CHOO and his staff at MAYO CLINIC Rochester, and that I had the opportunity to have Proton Beam Treatment.
than
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That's great news. I finished my proton beam therapy January 2019. Since then I've had 3 PSA tests, all negligible. Each is a time to celebrate. I've learned to appreciate every day of being cancer free. My ADT was completed in April. So, now we will see what happens as my testosterone level returns to normal.
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2 ReactionsI had Proton Beam treatment at Loma Linda in 2005. My PSA went down then after a few years it had a bump up. then down and out. What are side effects?
Have you had additional treatment since 2005? If not, it seems unlikely that you would be still be experiencing side-effects. That said, radiation therapy can contribute to secondary cancer due to possible damage to bodily areas exposed to radiation near your prostate during your 2005 treatment for cancer. One example is bladder cancer. An ostensible advantage to proton therapy is that it lessens this exposure. However, in the end, radiation is radiation. A blip in PSA levels over time isn't unusual after treatment. However, it's definitely something to track to see that the cancer hasn't recurred. In sum, you need to visit your physician to gain a medical perspective on what you're experiencing, determine the cause and take action if needed.
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1 Reaction<p>Update: OCTOBER 6. 2020<br />MY TREATMENT HISTORY</p><p>I HAD A LUPRON SHOT IN NOVEMBER OF 2019.<br />FOR MY PROSTATE CANCER.</p><p>I STARTED MY 20 PROTON BEAM<br />TREATMENTS<br />IN DECEMBER 2019, AND FINISHED<br />ON JAN 21, 2020</p><p>MY PSA ON MAY 28, 2020 WAS .26<br />ANYTHING BELOW 2.00 IS GOOD.</p><p>I WILL HAVE ANOTHER PSA READING IN<br />NOVEMBER 2020</p><p>I AM STILL HAVING SOME BURNING<br />FEELING AND LIGHT PAIN BELOW MY WAISTLINE IN THE EVENING HOURS,<br />AFTER I AM IN BED FOR 2 HOURS.<br />THE DOCTORS DON’T THINK<br />IT IS<br />FROM MY PROSTATE CANCER<br />OR TREATMENT. POSSIBLY FROM<br />MY BACK CONDITION. I HAD BACK<br />SURGERY AT MAYO IN 2011.<br />THE LATEST MRI SHOWS MY BACK HAS HAD SOME DETERIORATION<br />SINCE MY SURGERY.</p>
@mwspro thanks for the update. It looks like you should update the bio in your profile too 🙂
You'll notice a couple of things: 1) I removed your name and telephone number from your post. Because Connect is a public forum, we recommend not sharing personal contact information. We don't want you to get unwanted spam or phone calls. 2) I moved your update to the earlier discussion you started so that you can connect with @bruto1 @reydelroble @waynen and others again.
Mike, it's so easy to imagine that every ache, pain, twinge, feeling is cancer. While I'm sorry to hear about the back deterioration, I'm glad to hear it's not cancer. Follow up scans will keep an eye on that. What are you doing to help with the back pain?
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2 ReactionsHi Mike, your schedule for Lupron and Proton Beam treatment is exactly one year after mine. Actually, my pain in my lower body has decreased over the last 5 months, since my withdrawal from the effect of the Lupron. It did cause me some pain during the 18 months I had the shots. Most side effects are decreased, since the end of the treatment. I also have lower back pain from arthritis and it's about the same. If you have increased pain, of course it's worth finding out the cause.
The best to you and stay well.
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2 ReactionsMine was 10 weeks in early 2019 at Loma Linda, too! My PSA was near zero for the first five years or more. Over the last 12 years, I notice yearly increases to currently (12/2022) 2.4.
I had and have not issues health wise. But, this does give me some conern.
Hope all is well...
@jrhamp Am I correct in assuming you meant 2009 and not 2019?
Regrets..the dates were 10 weeks commencing March of 2010.
Proton radiation therapy at Loma Linda Hospital in Loma Linda, California..for 10 weeks/2010. Although, now I understand the treatment is much shorter. Post radiation PSA near zero until 2015 when PSA began to increase. Now 14 years after radiation PSA is 3.21. I have PSA test every six months and the increased are slight but nonetheless increasing.
As most know, PSA normally is below 4.0. If PSA reaches that level, then some sort of MRI scan is recommended.
The question is: what then if cancer is identified. How much time before radical changes in body or other. Or, just wait it out until something else brings the dark and endless tunnel...?