When to have further testing?

My husband was diagnosed about 3 months ago with PC, G3/4, and has been undergoing radiation therapy. He has had 36 treatments and has 3 to go.

He is doing well but I am concerned about the future. It seems that they will do PSA tests for the next 5 years? Is this correct? How rapidly can you expect the PSA to go down.

Mainly I worry about whether or not the cancer may spread or may have already spread. I don't think they did any further testing.

My 54 year old daughter was diagnosed withe breast cancer 3 weeks ago and yesterday found out that it has spread to 5 of the 9 lymph nodes that were tested. She will be starting radiation and chemo in the coming weeks. This is devastating news.

She has had the tumor for about 2 years according to her current doctor because the mamogram that she had previously was misread.
The doctor biopsed the wrong area of her breast. She was in a more advanced stage when they finally caught it.

Anyone have any advice for me to pass on to my husband about further testing? Thank you.

I went from every three months to every six months for PSA tests. I anticipate going to annual PSA testing in a year or three. So sorry to hear about your daughter, she will have a rough road ahead of her.

Just want to echo what Prato said. Most prostate cancer is slow growing, and with the kind of monitoring that your husband will be getting, in the very unlikely event that it does spread later, treatments will be available.

Looks like you have a lot on your plate with your daughter now. Rest assured that medical treatment for cancer is 1) way better than it was a while ago, and 2) way better at cancer than the things you've been suffering with. Best of luck to you and your family.

Hi Memaw:

You should have every expectation that the radiation will cure your husband's cancer. With a low intermediate diagnosis and a low PSA the cancer was likely contained in the prostate and the radiation should take care of it. You should see a drop in the PSA by 1/2 or more within six months. He will probably have PSA tests every 6 months for a couple of years and then annually for the rest of his life. It may take many years to reach the low point -- it took me 6 years. And there my be a bounce or two along the way but that is totally normal.

Really sorry to hear about your daughter and wish the best for her.

Jim