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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web265 | @web265 | May 13, 2022

Watching this thread with great interest. I had RP Sept of 2021.
Post op labs indicated clean "margins" but some very minor indication of invasion of blood vessels and nerve tissue. I also has the right lymph node removed, it was clean as well. No further treatment was recommended at the time.
3 month scans so far are;
<.2 (not ultra sensitive)
.039
.091
My Gleason scores were 7. Given the combination the surgeon is referring me to a radiation oncologist but has also ordered the PSMA PET CT. My insurance company has denied it as "medically unnecessary". I'm considering going "out of pocket" for it. Is it really thought to be that much better than a standard scan?

dpcarriere | @dpcarriere | May 12, 2022

Yes I have and no it wasn't.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | May 12, 2022

Hi @hector13, welcome. I believe @bandit11 @kujhawk1978 @natem @scullrower @bburg and @olanordman have experience with the newer PSMA-PET scan and can share more about what to expect.

Hector, I assume that your prostate was removed 5 years ago due to cancer. Is the scan being recommended to monitor for recurrence?