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Six-month PSA results - bad news

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Posted 5/11/2009 9:49 PM (GMT 0)
Greetings, David. Sorry to hear the news about the PSA. Sounds like you have a plan of attack that is appropriate for your situation. This disease really kicks us in the butt sometimes but please get up and keep on fighting. You have lots of brothers and sisters here who are pulling for you and will continue to pray for you.

On a separate note best wishes on your job interviews. I know it's hard to keep your head in an interview when you have such important health issues. We'll wish the best for you. Please keep us posted. David
Posted 5/11/2009 10:49 PM (GMT 0)

Hi David,

Bugger !, thats what we would say down under (Australia), but from reading all your posts since I have been here, your tough mate, and you can beat this with one hand tied behind your back.  Mind you, we have similar stats, and you have just scared the hell out of me, as my six month is coming up very soon.  Wish me luck, and keep your pecker up.  Cheers Mate

Posted 5/11/2009 11:49 PM (GMT 0)
David, I have followed your posts with interest, and am also sorry to hear your news. However radiation can fix these recurrences (if you go that path) so all is not lost.

I may be following in your footsteps. My most recent PSA showed a rise to 0.07 from <0.05 (undetectable) and my uro said to expect my next PSA to be higher. I am still hoping that this will turn out to be an aberration, but just the same, I am mentally prepared for a further rise....
Posted 5/12/2009 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
 So sorry to here about your last test.Your posts have been an encouragement to me too at this forum and I haven't been here for very long either. As a health care provider I have had numerous patients (for orthopedic issues) who have had prostate cancer with salvage radiation and they all had few side effects and very good outcomes. I know you are disappointed to have to go this second round as I would be too. I am a bit paranoid about my cancer reoccurring due to strong family history and have picked out a radiation center just in case I have to go this route too. This is one way I cope with the unknown future. You are a fighter and you will get through this because your posts reflect a strong will to live with lots of family support. Please let us know how you are doing, you will be in my prayers tonight...............
Posted 5/12/2009 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hey, David
At my 3 month check-up the doc told me that it would be possible for the PSA to go up and then come back down at the next check. He said he'd seen it happen to a lot of guys and that, for now, not to worry if that were to happen. He showed me another fellow's numbers (he covered the guy's name) that showed that he went from <0.01 to 0.05, 0.08, 0.10 and then to 0.05 to0.01 again. He said that it is not uncommon. I don't recall if you said your Uro. was in a group or on his own. If he's on his own you might seek a group's input as there are more minds working on the problem, just as this site works. But. to clear your own head, have another test soon with a different lab doing the analysis. What would it hurt?
Hoping for the best,

Bob
Posted 5/12/2009 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
David, just caught up and saw your latest news. As another Aussie has said "that is a real bugger". That's what I hate most about this disease..........it reminds me of that Godfather movie........"just when you think you're out it reaches out drags you back in". The fact of the matter is that unfortunately, none of us can ever be really 100% sure that it will not surface again. We can only give it our best shot. I remember the recent post by a member who had had surgery and was completely undetectable for 16 years and then "Pow!"....... PSA detected and later increasing. But as you know if it turns out that this is not the result of some remaining benign prostate tissue (quite possible with nerve saving) then there still are quite a few more guns in your arsenal to hammer any cells. I can imagine that after all your past battles you are mightily sick of the continuing need to fight for your good health but your determination shows all you friends here what a battler you are. Best of luck with the job interviews.
Bill
Posted 5/12/2009 2:30 AM (GMT 0)
You and I are similar on the stats, Mag. My own dr. was shocked at the rise to .10 from .05 in just three months, so soon after surgery. We had a long talk about Gleason 7's. He feels they are sometimes the most dangerous of the range, because they can be so unpredictable and volatile at times. He said they are more prone to turn aggressive suddenly without much warning. So any of our brethren with 7's, whether they be 3+4 or 4+3, keep a close watchful eye at all times.

David in SC
Posted 5/12/2009 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
CPA, thanks for the words, yes, its hard to think about interviews at a time like this, but I still have to help my wife and family, I have a wealth of experience in my field, and not ready to call it quits professionally.

Not hard, thanks, and may your pecker stand at attention soon and you get your own good numbers

Piano - i was expecting perhaps a .01 rise worse case, but not a doubling in 3 months, that put me in shock and awe, i asked my dr. to repeat what he said.

mspt - i dont have any known in my family so nothing to compare to there

ralph - i can only hope for that at the next 6 week psa check, it is possible in theory

billy - thanks for the encouragement, getting a job now after all this and all these months would at least be good for my head
Posted 5/12/2009 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
David, you'll be in my prayers. Keep up the fight.
Posted 5/12/2009 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, coxjajb
Posted 5/12/2009 4:18 AM (GMT 0)
Dave,  I know its not good news, that you have had, but is SRT, all that bad ?  I always thought it was going to be there if I needed it, as a second defence if you like.  And my understanding is that it is fairly non-evasive and a simply procedure offering a very very good outcome.  Am I mistaken or do I not have a very good understanding on it.  I am not wishing it apon you or myself for that matter, but I like to think of it as a dam good back up if needed.

According to the nonograms at the sloan kettering web site, you have been bloody unlucky

mate, but I've got a good feeling thats all about to change, fingers crossed that psa comes down in six weeks,  I know you will keep us posted.

Cheers ......Nothard (still)

 

Posted 5/12/2009 12:36 PM (GMT 0)
Nothard, its just not that simple with me. We each have two big guns to fight our PC. I used the first one up with surgery, surgery that said it was contained, by a very good surgeon. If I ever had to use my second gun, Radiation, I was hoping not to need it for at least 5 - 10 years out. From what I heard yesterday, I may need to use the Radiation gun just barely 8 months after surgery. If that happens, and if that doesn't work, the rest of the story doesn't sound real pretty to me.

Plus, I had a prolonged, really rough series of radiation 10 years ago for other cancers. In the end, it caused a complete physical and mental collaspe of my system, which in turn took a full year of physical therapy to cure. I still have residual effects of that radiation 10 years later. It might have stopped that particular cancer at the time, but it came at a high price, even to this day.

That is why I told my urologist when he gave me my dx. for PC back in August, that I was far more afraid of having radiation as a treatment then any kind of surgery.

David in SC
Posted 5/12/2009 1:43 PM (GMT 0)
David,

You have my sympathy, and sorry to be late in noticing your post. As others have said, you've been so helpful to a lot of us. My doc's lab doesn't use the more sensitive test, so I, as another 4+3, only know that I am <0.1. Will continue to look for how you're doing.

DJ
Posted 5/12/2009 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks DJ, I will have to tough it out mentally the next 6 weeks ,try not to get obsessed thinking about what might be and could be ahead, that game will drive you in the grave, trust me.

It is possible it could go back down a little, with the ultra sensitive tests. If it stayed the same, I would be happier, but if it even goes up again as little as .01, that would be pretty conclusive that its back again.

Thanks for caring, hoping the best for you too.

David in SC
Posted 5/12/2009 3:43 PM (GMT 0)

My first PSA after surgery on Jan 2,2009 was .01.  This was from blood drawn by my GP who also did cholesterol and testosterone.  He agreed to T replacement if my PSA was undetectable.  In early April I had another sample drawn by my urologist, PSA, Testosterone and Free Testosterone.  He started our consult by saying "Your PSA is undetectable, testosterone is where it should be".  The rest of the time we talked about erectile issues and solutions.  He's big on this.  Wants all his patients dry with a woody, and on schedule.  Nothing wrong with that.

I called his nurse back later the same day to get the actual numbers from the test to put into my log, and lo and behold!  the PSA was .04  What happened to my .01? We went round and round, until finally she claimed that different labs produce different "undetectable" numbers, depending on their testing equipment.  Her .04 is the same as my GP's .01 -she claims.  Undetectable.

My Medicare coverage starts on June 1, and my Medicare Advantage covers a comprehensive initial exam, blood panel, pretty much whatever my GP stipulates, at no cost.  (I've got a great plan, $21.80/month includes everything even the Part D.  Took a lot of research to find that one too.  Email me if you want more info:  [email protected])

Anyway, I'll get another PSA using the GP's lab and see if my urologist's nurse was telling the truth (or she just wanted to get me off the phone).  It DOES make sense that there could be minor variations between labs, and on different days, due to type  of equipment, calibration or some other issue.

As PC survivors the numbers we are concerned about are not relevant to the majority of men tested.  A PSA of less than 1.0 would  be of no concern to someone getting his annual PSA.  The labs are probably geared to that market. To us, ANY number is a big deal.  The numbers DO seem to bounce around quite a bit.

Is there a name for the ultra sensitive test?  Is there a lab that those of us who live away from a major metro area could have out blood sent to?

Posted 5/12/2009 3:59 PM (GMT 0)

Purgatory,

I'm sorry to hear about your test results. I hope your numbers will come down. Keep up the fight and God bless.

Posted 5/12/2009 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
David,

I was sorry to read your post. I have been reading all of your posts since about December and they are an inspiration to me and many others. I don't have any new suggestions but I would agree with others that a second opinion can't hurt.

Best luck, John
Posted 5/12/2009 10:50 PM (GMT 0)
Key West - thanks for the insurance info

Jersey - thanks for the kind words

John - thanks too for the kindness, things aren't always peachy in our world of PC
Posted 5/13/2009 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear the news but you are a FIGHTER and can tackle this as well. Keep your chin up and keep posting here and let us know how things are going. I agree with Tony that you should go get another test. I wouldn't wait. Please know that you have many friends on this site that respect you.
Posted 5/13/2009 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
rob - thanks for the encouragement and kind words, i know we all go through these feelings from time to time dealing with what we deal with.
Posted 5/13/2009 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry to hear about your test results. I hope your numbers will come down with the next test
Posted 5/13/2009 9:08 PM (GMT 0)
6071, thank you for the kind words and encouragement, really feel i need them since i found out my number on monday morning, took me by surprise, wasnt prepared to deal with this so soon after surgery
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