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PC spreading to your bones

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Posted 10/10/2018 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
In another month, I'll be five years out from PC surgery by Dr. Joel Nelson at UPMC in Pittsburgh. I've been posting low numbers but recently had a growth develop on my right clavicle. The growth came suddenly and is starting to become painful.

I plan to see my family doctor on Friday. I'm due for my annual PCA check and want my doctor to run some tests to see if the PC has spread. I guess you never know what cells escaped from the surgery years ago. Is there anything else I should request test wise?

Thank you for your advise and thoughts...…..
Berk
Posted 10/10/2018 1:37 PM (GMT 0)
When was the last PSA test done. In your signature you had a PSA of 0.06 in 10/16. At least a PSA test needs to be done.
Posted 10/10/2018 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
My last test was November 2017...…….
Posted 10/10/2018 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
It's time for your annual physical, and anyone treated for PC should include a monitoring PSA test annually...the annual physical is an excellent time & place to have that done, then notify your surgeon of the results.

In your particular case, you had surgery 5 years ago and all the PSA test results you have posted are under 0.1 ng/mL. There is virtually NO chance that any pains in clavicle are in any way related to prostate cancer. PSA < 20 ng/mL has high predictive value in ruling out skeletal metastasis, so virtually zero chance with your most recent PSAs >100x lower. Linking your runaway thought "I guess you never know what cells escaped from the surgery years ago" to your shoulder pain is entirely inconsistent with your annual results...and that's the very reason for taking the data!

Likelihood that your PSA lept >100x since your last data point, and/or that you have bone mets...virtually zero.

Likelihood that you might someday have a slowly increasing PSA...not zero.

I'm not a doctor. I am not giving medical advice. I'm just stating the obvious.

Post Edited (Normal59) : 10/10/2018 8:28:02 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/10/2018 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
First you need a current PSA test. The numbers you're posting should not be enough to cause bone pain. The PSA will give you an indication if there is BRC

Next, yes get it checked out. Some scans might be in order and if there is a growth, they can do a needle biopsy to determine what it is.

If it is a PC met, then a bit of spot radiation should clear up the pain and then you're on to ADT to manage metastatic PC. It's possible that it's some other kind of growth (non-PC), but you'll need to get the diagnostic work done to find out what's up.

Keep us updated on what the doctor says.

Andrew
Posted 10/10/2018 2:36 PM (GMT 0)
I will see my local urologist tomorrow morning. I'll let you know.
Thanks so much for your responses.
Berk
Posted 10/14/2018 4:05 AM (GMT 0)
I am a worry wart but with positive margins, I would want a PSA every 3 months.
Posted 10/14/2018 12:02 PM (GMT 0)
I had pain in the right clavicle area a year or so after treatment and had a number of tests. Couldn’t find anything. And then erupted in shingles in the area. Docs surmised it was the shingles causing the pain. Still bothers me at times.
Posted 10/14/2018 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
If you are going to see your local urologist...be prepared...for many tests...many referrals...with swings back to local uro as needed (by him)yes the black hole of the medical system... a pov...not advice...I very well could be wrong
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