Anemia

Hi everyone! I posted a few days ago about my dad's PSA levels. He had surgery to remove his prostate in fall 2014, then radiation in spring 2015. He had a remaining PSA after surgery, and last year during/after radiation it fell steadily to .4. In December it had risen from .4 to .5, but last week it had fallen to less than .1. He saw his medical oncologist yesterday and he reassured him that this does happen and is not extremely unusual, but recommended another PSA test in three months to see if it remains at less than .1.

The major issue now is that my dad is anemic. He had ANOTHER surgery just a few months ago for a major hernia that recurred after his prostate surgery, and when they tested him beforehand they said he was anemic. He's actually had three surgeries in the past two years: one for a hiatal hernia in Spring 2014 before his cancer diagnosis, the major prostate surgery in fall 2014, and then this hernia surgery a few months ago.

He has blood in his stool as a side effect of radiation. He's talked to his MO about it but I don't know how extensively. Anyway, he had never been anemic before they tested him a few months ago prior to his last surgery. At his appt. the other day, my mom told his MO about the anemia. I don't know HOW anemic he was, by the way. I don't have any numbers. His MO ordered a blood test for him, which he had today. I wasn't at the appt. but my mom said the MO said his anemia is likely a result of the blood in his stool. I've read that radiation to the prostate can also affect the bones in that area, which can result in anemia too. And finally, I wonder if having so many surgeries in a short span of time could cause some blood loss as well?

I guess I am just hoping for reassurance that the anemia is not due to advanced disease in his bones. Like I said, his PSA is now <.1, but I've heard of stories about PSA being low but there still being advanced metastatic disease. My dad's PSA at diagnosis was 66, so he doesn't seem to have a kind of cancer that doesn't give off much PSA, because that was pretty high. But yeah, I guess I'm transferring my PSA anxiety over to anemia anxiety... gotta be anxious about something! Haha. :-(

Anyone else have anemia as a side effect of prostate cancer, and what exactly was the cause? Thanks.

No, he's only had surgery and radiation.

I had some bleeding after radiation, but not enough to cause anemia. It would take a lot of bleeding to cause that. He might need another colonoscopy at some point.

but there are a lot of things that could cause it. Best to wait for the next test and see if it improves on it's own.

Andrew

I had anemia before I knew that PCA was running amok in my body. I was tired and taking naps, which I have never taken as an adult. It is not a high level of anemia, but they do monitor it. I hope that your father has a low level and that will just need to be monitored.
Michael

Thanks for all of the help!