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Posted 9/15/2015 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
KENNY T, 64 years young, Hi Everyone, the last time I posted in here was last year in April 2014 and was at the point where I had to decide what route to take to fight this crappy cancer. I was at low risk, my PSA went from 4.2 in 2012 to 6.7 in 2014. I had a biopsy 4/8/2014, that showed 2 cores positive, both 5% (3+3)=6, in the RT APEX and RT BASE LATERAL. I could have gone with any treatment, but heard many people who picked IGRT utilizing the TomoTherapy technology and had good results with very little discomfort and se's. So I went to a local Cancer treatment center in St Petersburg, FL. My treatment consisted of 42 treatments on TomoTherapy HI-Art equipment with almost no problems or SE's at all, just a little redness on my butt and some urinary urgency and fatigue for a few months, I was very happy with the treatments, in fact my urologist, suggested going to 81Gy because I tolerated the treatments so well, which I did. The concern I have now is that my 3 month PSA was at 3.2 and my 6 month PSA was at 4.2, I am now having second thoughts about the decision I made to take radiation over surgery, I was wondering if anybody could give me any feedback, on this

Post Edited (BikerKen51) : 9/15/2015 9:38:47 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/15/2015 3:58 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear about you having doubts. I'm not an expert on radiation as primary treatment, and others more knowledgeable than me on this will chime in soon. But for now, I would say, I know that usually, there is some rise inPSA after radiation, called a PSA bounce, which is from the dying cancer cells releasing PSA INto the bloodstream. I always thought this was typical after 12 - 18 months, not sure about 6 months.

No doubt you'll hear from others soon, good luxk
Posted 9/15/2015 4:17 AM (GMT 0)
You're doing fine. Sometimes there is a PSA bounce before the PSA finally heads for Nadir. It can take a year or two before you hit the lowest PSA.

Right now it's a waiting game, wait for the next test.

Yes, waiting is a killer.

Hang in there,
Andrew
Posted 9/15/2015 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
I find it helps to think of the bounces as cancer cells dying.
Posted 9/15/2015 6:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ken:

With your stats, you are probably experiencing radiation bounce. 10%-15% of men who have your treatment have this situation. Waiting is hard but, hopefully, you'll see this dropping at your next test.

No need to second guess your treatment choice at this time. If you end up with a recurrence it's very likely that it would have happened with either surgery or radiation because it means that the cancer had already escaped. But, pls. try not to worry about that for now as the chances are your cancer is gone.

Jim
Posted 9/15/2015 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
BikerKen51 -

I just had to weigh in here as soon as I saw that "81gy" number in your post, because that's what I maxed out in my own RT-as-primary treatment back in 2012. (Notice my username to the left?).

My RT was IMRT, but a lot of the rules still apply. And the others so far have all given you good advice, that what you're experiencing is likely a "bounce," and there's no call for you to become upset at this point.

I know, easier said than done, but it has also been rightly said that finding out about the ultimate success of RT really is a waiting game, and those of us who chose that road often just have to be patient.

BTW, as the numbers in my signature below show, I seem to have done okay at 81 grays, and I'll bet you're going to as well.

Good luck.
Posted 9/15/2015 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
the bounce is a drawback of radiation. look at how my PSA moved in the last five years.

ed
Posted 9/15/2015 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
From Robert Marckini's book: You can beat prostate cancer and you don't need surgery to do it:

"I called my radiation oncologist , Dr Rossi at Loma Linda. He explained that I had nothing to be concerned about. Post radiation treatment PSA drop is never a straight line. It can be a "roller coaster ride," he explained. He told me it can plateau and it can even temporarily bump up, especially during the first two years following treatment."

F8's PSA trend is not really applicable to your case since he had HT.

Intellectually, I understand the bumps, but if my next PSA in January doesn't fall 50% from its last number I too will be very disappointed and worried. I know how you must feel. Think of it as one of the SE's of radiation.
Posted 9/15/2015 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
hrpufnstuf -- those PSAs are all post HT. you should ask before you make foolish claims.

ed
Posted 9/16/2015 2:54 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you, for your Info everybody, It 's very comforting and reassuring to hear from people on this forum. I realize there is a lot of knowledge on this subject here and a lot of people willing to help others.I now feel better about making the choice I made. I must admit, up until this PSA issue, I was very happy with my treatments and the lack of any serious SE's other then the reduction of ejaculate and some urinary urgency.
My oncologist also mentioned trying prostic Q by Farr Labs, has anybody ever tried this? Sounds a little unorthodox to me.
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