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Woulda, coulda, shoulda

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Prostate Cancer
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Posted 1/30/2015 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I know I screwed up in 2011 not having a biopsy, thats water under the bridge.

But today at the doc, I noticed on my chart that my PSA in 2009 was 4.0.

Ok, I was 50 in '09', isn't that a level that some doc maybe should have suggested let's take a closer look.

I know it's still water under the proverbial bridge, but I'm nervous about my further treatment and a bit po'd about seeing that stat.
Posted 1/30/2015 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
My PCP was alarmed (thankfully) that mine had risen from 2.5 to 4.6 in a year and referred me to a local urologist. I went and talked to his nurse, who wanted to do a DRE. I didn't go along with that as she started talking about PCa treatments such as castration, etc. I always get a little pissed when I pay for a visit, especially to a specialist, and only talk to a nurse or PA.

But anyway, I scheduled an appt. with a urologist at Emory in ATL. In the meantime, the hospital here offered FREE screenings so I went and did that. All looked normal.

A week later I got a letter with my PSA at 4.0 and they had typed "Normal" and for me to followup with a check in a year.

I was a little concerned, like you, as 4.0 is fairly high for a 48 year old, imo. That's why we have to spread the word I guess b/c some in the medical field miss things I suppose.
Posted 1/30/2015 7:52 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah brother!!
So, today I basically found out that I've had cancer for at least 6 freaking years.
Posted 1/30/2015 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
Ap, is this the same doctor that does nothing at 4.0 and recommends IMRT at undectable?

Cheer, Doug
Posted 1/30/2015 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
Primary care doc did the PSA at 4.0 ( I was actually still 49, happened a month before my 50th birthday)
Of course at 52 it was 7.8 and he DID encourage me to get a biopsy.


IMRT is suggested by my Urologist/Oncologist as followup treatment since my Gleason score was 9 (4+5) and I had positive (margins, perineural invasion, seminal vesicle invasion, lymph nodes).

And I've finally reached a level of continence 98-99% that radiation is now recommended.

Woo hoo, boy howdy!!
Posted 1/30/2015 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
It seems the HT is keeping things at bay. I'm just wondering why you would want to go to RT so soon. Is it the hope for a cure, which I guess could happen if its only local. Looking at your sig you started HT right after surgery which has obviously been working but what about distant mets/micro? They wouldn't show up with such a low PSA. I'm not questioning you but asking questions. You can tell why from my sig. Just curious!

Cheers, Doug
Posted 1/30/2015 10:36 PM (GMT 0)
Distant mets have not been detected, clear Bone and CT scans.

But apparently they have to be of sufficient size to show up and I'm not a candidate for C11 until they do.
Posted 1/30/2015 10:52 PM (GMT 0)
Exactly my point and the conundrum! Do you wait or to treat now and hope that's it only local? Tough, eh?

Cheers, Doug
Posted 1/30/2015 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
aleph null,
Yeah, I had the same thing happen.
Posted 1/31/2015 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
Same thing happened to my husband. PSA went from 1.5 to 4.0 in six months and the doc didn't even do a DRE. Five months after that, he was diagnosed with multiple mets after his collarbone started to tingle.
Posted 1/31/2015 5:01 AM (GMT 0)
Its amazing the what some Gp's and urologists do and do not do. Be your own advocate, its not the same as being your own lawyer. When I get irritated about the state of the world, I just say, at least we don't have to worry about Sabertooth tigers, lidat….
Posted 1/31/2015 7:44 AM (GMT 0)
Same thing happened with Gary. Had to go over GP s head to get a dx even though he had done a DRE and thought it was slightly enlarged 3 yrs prior, when Gary complained of trouble urinating. Failed to follow up and when we did finally get psa ordered it was nearly 2000 and widespread mets. Almost lost him before he was diagnosed. This seems to be a common thread among young men. I have posted about it several times and hope the HW folks can help get a grassroots campaigne for early detection in the same way women have brought breast cancer awareness to light.
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