1. < Prostate Cancer

Just found prostate cancer. Does it normally go to the bones?

Posted by ltdan23 @ltdan23, Dec 10, 2023

I feel for the last five years the aches and pains in my bones. I thought they were just wrecked up for old man pains just getting old. It's pretty good chance. I got bone cancer and I've had it for a while and after they remove my prostate next Monday how long is the recovery time?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

VancouverIslandHiker | @vancouverislandhiker | Dec 16, 2023
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @ltdan23, that is quite a shock to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and to also..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi @ltdan23, that is quite a shock to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and to also hear that it may have already spread to your bones.

You asked about what to expect and recovery. You might be interested in the tips shared in this related discussion:
- Prostate cancer surgery: What can I expect & prepare for?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/48-about-to-have-prostate-removal-surgery/

Do you live alone or will there be someone with you as you recover? Does someone go with you to your appointments to help be that second set of ears? It's a lot to take in.

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Colleen , such great advise ! Because I was my fathers caregiver when he had PC 25 years ago , I almost was "frozen in time" when I was told I had prostate Cancer. I get so much anxiety even talking about it , SO , my devoted wife comes to all appointments with me know . The Dr's say I have some sort of PSD from watching my father pass away from it 25 years ago. So its real important for another set of eyes and ears to come to appointments , to ask questions . Thanks for your help ! James

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jc76 | @jc76 | Dec 16, 2023
In reply to @wooldridgec "I always found it confusing what the doctors call undetectable. At first y doctor said <..." + (show)
@wooldridgec

I always found it confusing what the doctors call undetectable. At first y doctor said < 0.01 is undetectable. Later it was any PSA value < 0.100. My understanding is that when the prostate is removed or radiation is given to the prostate the docs like to see a PSA near or < 0.01. If you have a prostate undetectable is anything < 0.100. I'm assuming it is because one might still have a prostate that can create normal (not diseased PSA). I still have my prostate and I am stage 4 do novo - cancer in the bones only. My PSA is < 0.100 and has continued dropping even after completion of chemotherapy.
I agree. Great outcome to your treatment.

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wooldridgec, Same thing. Very confusing. I see all kind of numbers here and there. Then I read if you have a prostrate it should be this or that but things can make it rise and not be cancer.

Then if you don't have a prostrate anymore you should not have any. But any is not a 0 but something above that means PSA is undetectable.

I wish you well on your treatments and a great outcome.

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northoftheborder | @northoftheborder | Dec 16, 2023
In reply to @wooldridgec "I always found it confusing what the doctors call undetectable. At first y doctor said <..." + (show)
@wooldridgec

I always found it confusing what the doctors call undetectable. At first y doctor said < 0.01 is undetectable. Later it was any PSA value < 0.100. My understanding is that when the prostate is removed or radiation is given to the prostate the docs like to see a PSA near or < 0.01. If you have a prostate undetectable is anything < 0.100. I'm assuming it is because one might still have a prostate that can create normal (not diseased PSA). I still have my prostate and I am stage 4 do novo - cancer in the bones only. My PSA is < 0.100 and has continued dropping even after completion of chemotherapy.
I agree. Great outcome to your treatment.

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I think "undetectable" means just "below the limits of what this particular test is designed to find." A regular PSA screening test can detect down to 0.1; an ultrasensitive test can detect as low as 0.01 (they don't use the ultrasensitive test for routine screening because it's more expensive).

So it might just be a matter of what test your insurance (if you live in the US) or your province (if you live in Canada) is willing to pay for. In any case, below the minimum detectable threshold is always a good thing.

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northoftheborder | @northoftheborder | Dec 16, 2023

@jc76 The way my onco team explained it to me, when prostate cancer has metastasised, the metastatic cells will often evolve to produce their own testosterone after androgen-deprivation-therapy like Degarelix (Firmagon) cuts off their supply. In that case, the cancer cells will start multiplying again and your PSA will start rising even after your prostate has been radiated or removed. That's called metastatic Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC), as distinguished from metastatic Castrate-Sensitive Prostate Cancer (mCSPC), which still responds to ADT. At that point, more-aggressive treatments like chemo might come into the picture.

Next-generation medications like Apalutamide (Erleada) are designed to help prevent and/or slow down that progression (by years), and have been very successful so far both with mCRPC and mCSPC.

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1 reply
jc76 | @jc76 | Dec 17, 2023
In reply to @northoftheborder "@jc76 The way my onco team explained it to me, when prostate cancer has metastasised, the..." + (show)
@northoftheborder

@jc76 The way my onco team explained it to me, when prostate cancer has metastasised, the metastatic cells will often evolve to produce their own testosterone after androgen-deprivation-therapy like Degarelix (Firmagon) cuts off their supply. In that case, the cancer cells will start multiplying again and your PSA will start rising even after your prostate has been radiated or removed. That's called metastatic Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC), as distinguished from metastatic Castrate-Sensitive Prostate Cancer (mCSPC), which still responds to ADT. At that point, more-aggressive treatments like chemo might come into the picture.

Next-generation medications like Apalutamide (Erleada) are designed to help prevent and/or slow down that progression (by years), and have been very successful so far both with mCRPC and mCSPC.

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northoftheborder, That is very good and helpful information for us trying to understand this rotten disease that affects so many of us. Thanks for sharing.

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perrychristopher | @perrychristopher | Dec 17, 2023

I would think you would have had either a whole body bone scan or PSMA test before your doctor authorized surgery. If you have bone cancer your doctor would recommend ADT along with radiation. Based on this I don't think you have bone cancer. Best of luck and confer with your doctor about his recommendation of surgery

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