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Prostate Cancer
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Posted 7/13/2018 1:41 PM (GMT 0)
In 2012, I had RP for 4/3 prostate cancer with tertiary 5. By January,2013, it was determined that I had recurrent cancer, with of a PSA of .396. In August,2013 , I began RT. All went well at six month PSA checks(<.064) until my latest check on July 3, 2018,at which time the PSA was .074. I know that this could be a lab error and that I need a least one more PSA to confirm a return of cancer.

My questions are, if it is confirmed to be a return of cancer, is it considered to be uncureable and is it more likely to be metastatic? RP was to the prostate bed with a pos. margin.
Posted 7/13/2018 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
You'll need to see a much larger PSA rise to determine its back. Sadly, if (big if) it has returned it will be micro-metastatic and currently we have no curative treatments for that. All treatments will be palliative.

That's the clinical.

However, there are lots of treatments available can keep the PC at bay for years, decades in some cases. Further, it's still speculation that you've got a failure. When to start more treatment will be another huge question. Depending on the doubling time, that could be years before that is needed.

That leaves you in that horrible state of just waiting for the next few PSA tests to see what is really going on. You may have a lab error, slight bounce, or it might go down. PSA is a bit fickle.

Hang in there,
Andrew
Posted 7/14/2018 12:52 AM (GMT 0)
I assume you meant "RT was to the prostate bed." If the cancer is trapped in the pelvic LNs, you can still have RT there. Unfortunately, your PSA is way too low to show up on any scans, so you have to make a judgment call.
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