Ridgeway-
darn stealthy disease!
At a PSA of 1.5, you're coming into range where some PET scans can detect it. They can detect it around a PSA of 2, or when the doubling time is rapid enough (which it is), or when the tumor is large enough.
There is a new generation of PET tracers in clinical trials now that focus in on a certain protein (called PSMA) found only on the surface of prostate cancer cells. They promise to detect cancer at much lower PSAs and to give fewer false positives than any we have so far tried.
A couple of forum members have participated in a clinical trial of a new PET tracer called 18F-DCBFBC. It is
highly sensitive even at low PSAs and is very specific to prostate cancer cells, possibly better than the C-11 Choline and Acetate PETs currently in vogue. The clinical trial is at NIH in Washington DC. They pay all costs including travel. Click on the following link for a descript
ion of the trial and contact details.
18F-DCFBC PET/CT in Prostate CancerAnother similar new PET tracer is in clinical trials at Johns Hopkins. Here are the contact details:
A Safety Study of 18F-DCFPyL, a PSMA-based PET Radiotracer, in Patients With Advanced Prostate CancerMemorial Sloan Kettering is testing radiotracers based on Zr 89. Here are the contact details:
Phase I/IIA Study of PET Imaging With 89Zr-Df-IAB2M in Metastatic Prostate CancerHopefully, you'll be able to get in on one of those clinical trials, avoid paying any out-of-pocket costs, and get one of the most accurate new PET scans available.
- Allen