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Worried: PSA Spike Already ?

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Posted 1/13/2015 11:59 PM (GMT 0)


Dear Brothers and Sisters On This Forum,

I am on ADT (Lupron shots) for advanced prostate cancer. In the fall of 2013, I was initially diagnosed with prostate cancer which had spread to both lungs, and a PSA value of over 100.

The Lupron shots cleared up the lung nodules in both lungs, and then I pursued the new protocol of adding chemotherapy (Taxotere) this past fall to the Lupron hormone shots, based on the new CHAARTED study which recommended this new course of treatment.

Over time, with both Lupron shots and Taxotere chemotherapy, I got my PSA down to 0.04 right before Christmas time (December 2014). So I felt I had made valuable gains, for my particular case.

I just had my follow-up appointment yesterday (January 2015), and my PSA has already "jumped up" from 0.04 to 0.10, just over the course of one month. I realize that is a relatively low PSA number, but it looks like something is on the rise already ...

Needless to say, I am concerned and worried. Obviously, the chemotherapy kept the wolves at bay during the course of the Taxotere treatments, but now the PSA already seems to be rising ... and after slogging through those eighteen weeks of chemotherapy ...

Concerned and worried tonight,
Cyclone
Posted 1/14/2015 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
Are you taking Casodex (Bicalutamide) as part of the ADT? That can help a lot..A new drug Xtandi which is 5 times as effective as Casodex can be hard to get because of cost and medical politics but it's worth asking about..Provenge gets a good response in many cases, again politics and cost plays a roll....Best of luck to you...
Posted 1/16/2015 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
Cyclone
That's still a low #, as you said, and in my book still undetectable. I share your hope that it's only a temporary rise and that things drop back down at your next lab appt.
Until then, enjoy this weekend and every day and keep inspiring the rest of us.
Posted 1/16/2015 4:53 AM (GMT 0)
Cyclone,

Yes, those numbers are very low, but adding Casodex as was suggested above, and also Avodart, might be a next possible strategy, to maximally interfere with the growth of those (few) cancer cells. But, as Gunner said, there is no reason why that PSA cant be reversed on the next reading, given the small change, we don't have a pattern of growth yet.

Arthur
Posted 1/16/2015 11:23 PM (GMT 0)
I have the same thing going on so I feel I can safely say I know how you feel. Although your PSA IS still quite low it seems to be rising rapidly so from my perspective I would be pushing my Doc to see what plan of action is. Easier said than done. I have been off Hormone Therapy for over six months now with no follow up treatment and now my PSa as of December 9th was 1.2. Just had a CT SCAN AND bone scan and surpassingly the bone is clear although ther seems to be something going on with lymph nodes, kidneys, and kidneys.
Hope you get some answers soon.
Posted 1/17/2015 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
Aloha Cyclone:
I am sure you have your next MO appointment set up in the next couple of weeks at which time you will re-test the psa. As everyone says, the great news is that the psa is still very low, borderline undetectable, and if it is trending up a little there are so many things your docs can do to drive it down again. As a fellow G9, I know there is much sense telling you not to worry; but this really is at the very low end of what you should worry about at this stage. PS I assume you are happy with your medical team.
Simon
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