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Dad has a PSA of 2006

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Posted 11/28/2011 9:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

My 72-year-old dad's first PSA result came back 2006 early this month and I could barely believe my eyes as I had never seen such high number (now I see living1963's record). I'm from Hong Kong and I am so glad to have found this forum as i really need support right now. He is going to have needle biosy this week but the result won't be out until Dec 19 ( you guys are so lucky to have this promptly done!) and bone scan on Dec 23. Is bone scan result instant or need another torturing wait? with such a high number, is it almost certain that it has spread to the bone? He has no symtomps except frequent urination. Any experience sharing would be appreciated.

Thank you!

Posted 11/28/2011 11:41 AM (GMT 0)
Get info and join groups dealing with advanced PCa, also many here could answer questions you have, sites to see:

www.hrpca.org (also group emails through yahoo groups)

www.yananow.net (info, histories of like 1,000 patients many are contactable by net)

www.prostatepointers.org (groups to join)

www.paactusa.org (newsletters online pdf files for advanced PCa patients)

www.phoenix5.org (Robert Youngs website= psa was over 3,000 when diagnosed and bone pains)

Learn about bone density assisting drugs, hormone drugs and those choices, one man had worse stats than yours appear to be and lived 10 yrs. with advanced PCa found at diagnosis his story is at www.yananow.net (Trueman Seamans) That is just one example, results vary because of so many parameters within PCa making it more individual than collective to analyze. Best to you going forward hope these sites help you some.

Scans are imprecise to some degree, may show mets in specific areas that can be treated by radiation for pain management, but micro mets areas could exist and not show up on any scans....you may find this out by asking specifics from your radiologist doc or internet searching.

Post Edited (zufus) : 11/28/2011 4:51:12 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/28/2011 12:42 PM (GMT 0)
HKdaughter

Hi - sorry to hear about your Dad.

Yes with that high of a PSA the prostate cancer has most likely spread to the bone, but do not get too worried.

My journey so far maybe exactly what your Dad and you will be facing.

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=216907

My email is in my profile, feel free to email me if you want.

Welcome to our family!

Bud
Posted 11/28/2011 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
HKdaughter,

Welcome to HealingWell.
Granted, a PSA of 2006 is not the best news in the world. But it's not the end of the world either. Look at the people who have answered you already. Some of the guys here are inspirations! I'm proud to say I have spoken with living1963 and his attitude is something to emulate.

OK, I'm sticking my neck out here. I am not a doctor so feel free to ignore me.
You are waiting for data to confirm what you most likely know already. Odds are the biopsy will be positive in at least 10 out of 12. The scans will most likely show mets. The medical system needs to do these tests before a treament plan can be approved. It may feel like you are helpless and can only wait but there are some things you can do right now.
1) Get your dad up and exercising, now. Have him try walking, or jogging, or anything he can do to get his body moving.
2) Start doing the things that his doctor has been telling him for years. Quit smoking. If he's overweight try to knocking off a pound or two through exercise.
3) Study. the PCa options. Surgery is most likely not an option.
4) Help him get "his house in order". Get his will done, clean up paperwork, get rid of trash, check finances, set up bill paying to automatic or via online. Simplify.

There will never be a better time to start. Once he begins HT treatment or radiation or ... he will not be thinking quite as clearly nor will he be as mobile.
He is feeling good now. Take advantage of this precious time to get things done.
And don't panic. It accomplishes nothing.

Good luck to both of you.

Jeff
Posted 11/28/2011 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
HKdoughter,

There is good news. You have caught it before he starts feeling bad. With Hormone Therapy, and mayotte even some spot radiation if there are some mets, can give your dad many years of good living.

Just learn as much as you can, and be active in his treatment plans. Ask questions, be insistent when you need to be, and be sure and help your dad to enjoy every day he can as a bonus. Do the things he's always wanted to do.

Welcome to HW, and thanks for being a devoted daughter.

Post Edited (goodlife) : 11/28/2011 2:29:14 PM (GMT-7)

Posted Yesterday 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much guys! Couldn't believe I actually got warmth and support from the other side of the world! I'll study the information you gave me and I agreed with worried guy, looks like Hormone Therapy is a better option in my case. I just want to check what side effects does HT bring, aside from fatique, loss of libido, tender chest, hot rashes? and how effective is it?

Yes goodlife, I'm thankful that we caught it before he starts feeling bad. He does exercise every morning but now I ask him to just walk and do some simple moves, but not to jog because his bone may become fragile. He doesn't smoke, he eats lots of veggies and he's very thin.

He'll have the needle biopsy tomorrow, on his 72nd birthday. I'll keep praying and stay strong. Thank you and best wishes to you all too!
Posted Yesterday 5:33 AM (GMT 0)
Worried Guy

You posted excellent advice, with one exception.

"Once he begins HT treatment or radiation or ... he will not be thinking quite as clearly nor will he be as mobile."

I noticed that according to your signature info that you have no personal experience with HT or RT so I'm not sure where you obtained your information.  I can assure you from MY personal experience that you are totally mis-informed and could be misleading "newby's" who are just starting their research.  HT and RT DO have side effects but those effects should not be generalized in one broad statement.

Just my opinoin.........  wink

Posted Yesterday 6:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Putt, so what exactly are the side effects apart from those I mentioned? Thanks.
Posted Yesterday 8:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Putt,
You're right about me not having experienced the effects of HT, RT, etc. All of my info about it has been from reading about it and listening to others here. You can see by my stats I was faced with that decision but decided to take the risk and go surgery. Fortunately it has been working out for me. The only hot flashes I feel are from my wood burning stove when load it. :-)

The main point of my message to HKdaughter was to use the time wisely to get important things done, now - while he is feeling good. It will never be easier than starting today.

Jeff
Posted Yesterday 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
HKdaughter
You have already mentioned the basic ones and much has been written on this forum already so take a look at the links provided by Zufus. The http://www.yananow.org/ site is worth its weight in gold if you would like to compare your Dad's numbers with others. As far as SE's go, I could be the poster boy for Lupron. If there was a possibility of having one, I had them all. I survived and have been on a vacation from them for over 4 years. My choices were limited so I am satisfied I took the right path. Without RT and HT, I would not be here today posting in this forum. You are doing the right thing for your Dad by being there for him. Loving support is the key.

Jeff
I love the smell of a wood burning stove. Enjoy the season and the flashes. You pointed out the importance of getting ones affairs in order and that is excellent information for all of us. My wife and I both have cancer and because of treatments we are both in remission so we know about the importance of looking ahead and taking care of business. Its all about family. Nothing can be more important......
Posted Yesterday 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
Putt, Jeff,

I'm not yet an HT guy, but it is coming. I have been approached by friends in some of my support groups who generally put on a good face, but in private give me advice very similar to Jeff's.

They expect that as a single guy, with no wife/kids kicking me daily, that I will have a much harder time. They all most strongly advise that I get things "in order", not so much as a preparation for anything dire, but simply because they expect me to be run down and demotivated enough to let things slide that I normally have a grip on, and that starting from order and a spotless house, it will be better for all involved. I suspect they are doing it as preventative, expecting to be among those who come by to be sure I haven't curled up in a corner with a pile of chick flicks on the TV.

So indirectly coming from direct experience, I have a very few who say it will go great, no real issues, but most are of the idea that it will be a challenge.

Posted Yesterday 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hey 142,
We will be watching your modding very carefully. If the text starts looking weepy and tear-stained I'm getting on a plane and coming to your house. turn
Jeff
Posted Yesterday 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
142 -- now i read posts like yours and Jeff's i see whay lupron gets such a bad rap on this forum.  it's going to be tough but you are a motivated guy.  i don't believe your mind and world are going to fall apart.

you know the weirdest period that i have since i began my PC journey was when i was exercising like a demon, dieting and losing two pounds and more a week.  i was an absolute madmen with no control over my mouth.  i was angry and emotional to the point where several of my friends "grouped me" and asked me what was up.  i mean some of the things that i said to people was waaay over the top ...even for me cool .  i was overtrained and had the classic symptoms and now i have had a cold for more than a month that i can't shake.

i had my last shot of lupron in the first week of september, last year.  lots of things can make you nuts and if you expect those results you may improve your chances of getting them.

ed

 

Posted 12/12/2011 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

My dad just got the biopsy result today and all 12 of them came back negative. We were all very surprised, including the doctors, they don't really have an explanation for such an extremely high negative PSA, but negative biopsy result. Now we have to check PSA again to see if the first one was a false number. But DRE they could also feel something. What do u guys think? Any chance for a psa of 2006 but no cancer? thanks!
Posted 12/12/2011 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
HKdaughter

Cheers! All 12 negative!

I think it is possible - others with a lot more knowledge than me will I'm sure provide you with much better info.

You and yours must be greatly relieved:)

Hugs!

Bud
Posted 12/12/2011 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
You'll have to wait to see what the next PSA says.

My PSA never got over 1.3 yet the doc could feel nodules during the DRE and my biopsy was positive... We're all so very different.

Have fingers crossed that the PSA is low....
Posted 12/12/2011 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
I dare not get too happy until I see a really low Psa! Such a roller coaster...fingers crossed n keep praying...
Posted 12/12/2011 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
Also, what they find from DRE, can it be a benign tumor? Will it affect PSA? Thanks
Posted 12/12/2011 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
Wow all negative. What a shocker that one is.. If I were to place a bet it would have been Positive. Lets see what the next PSA. So far good news. :)

Cajun Jeff
Posted 12/12/2011 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
HKdaughter - nodules/lump and bumps on the prostate can also be caused by a build up of calcium. I thought that was great news until I had my biopsy and found out differently. You should ask your URO about this.
Posted 12/12/2011 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
My urologist has a patient, a younger man, with numbers like your Dad's..He has no real explanation. This man has a greatly enlarged prostate gland...BPE to the MAX, but no cancer...

But that PSA number needs to be reconciled somehow...SOMETHING is going on....
Posted 12/12/2011 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
Very happy to hear the biopsy was clear and your dad is feeling well.  I will keep your dad in my thoughts and prayers.  Much luck in getting to the bottom of this, I know it must be nerve wrecking but again anything is possible and I wish you continued good news.
Posted 12/13/2011 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much guys!! I'll keep you posted when the result is out next week.
Posted 12/16/2011 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
Oh I just realize this 2nd psa test was done only 12 days after the biopsy. Will it boost the number? So worried...
Posted 12/16/2011 6:36 PM (GMT 0)
Yikes! Any activity to the prostate will raise the PSA. A DRE, sex, and most certainly a biopsy.
Most of the surgery guys here had to wait 6 weeks after their biopsy for the prostate to heal enough so we could have it removed.
At 4 weeks I still had significant blood in my ejaculate. 12 days is not enough.

I am not a doctor nor have I performed a study. But I'll bet someone here has some info on it.

Whoever ordered the test should reread the manual.
J
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