Prostate Cancer Post RP rising PSA

SpencerNearn
SpencerNearn Member Posts: 6
in Prostate Cancer #1
What are you thoughts on these rises? Is this an aggressive rise? Should we be concerned?
06/11/2012 2.40
11/30/2010 1.51
03/26/2010 1.51
06/11/2009 1.4
01/29/2008 1.20
08/26/2008 1.13
05/12/2008 0.71
03/31/2008 0.60
02/08/2008 0.46
01/02/2008 0.84
11/27/2007 surgery Robotic prostatectomy and meatal
Gleason 3+4 (7) Cancer was contained on report

Testosterone levels history
06/18/2012 99
06/11/2010 137
01/02/2008 128
07/16/2007 137

Thanks for any info to help us understand..my hubby does not go to the doctor only to get PSA checked.

Comments

  • Kongo
    Kongo Member Posts: 1,166 Member
    #2
    Spencer, welcome to the forum. I'm sure you will find many supporters here who can share their experiences that you my find useful in understanding where your husband's prostate cancer is at this point.

    The PSA history that you describe is indicative of a recurrence of prostate cancer...or more likely it was never fully removed when your husband had his radical prostatectomy back in 2007. A 0.84 is fairly high following a surgical removal and it's basically been going up ever sense. Most oncologists subscribe to the standard that a 0.2 ng/ml PSA score after RP is evidence of continued cancer growth. There really isn't anything else that would cause the PSA to continue to rise.

    While your husband may not be experiencing any physical symptoms at this point, it would be prudent for him to get some scans to determine if they can see the cancer anywhere else. The doctors will also probably suggest treating this with hormone therapy, radiation treatment, or both.

    Your husband needs to talk to a specialist in this.

    Best of luck to you both.

    K
  • ralph.townsend1
    ralph.townsend1 Member Posts: 359 Member
    #3
    Rising PSA
    Any rise in psa after RP is not good, It looks to be slow to me. In my case 11/15/2011 I was 1.2 psa and by 02/01/2012 I was 2.6 psa. 2 1/2 months double, but saying that 2.40 it sound like it was not contained at removal of the prostate and specially since your testosterone has drop. My testosterone is not detectable and my psa is 0.2 now.

    Is your husband on hormone treatment or any treatment?
  • SpencerNearn
    SpencerNearn Member Posts: 6
    #4
    Kongo said:

    Spencer, welcome to the forum. I'm sure you will find many supporters here who can share their experiences that you my find useful in understanding where your husband's prostate cancer is at this point.

    The PSA history that you describe is indicative of a recurrence of prostate cancer...or more likely it was never fully removed when your husband had his radical prostatectomy back in 2007. A 0.84 is fairly high following a surgical removal and it's basically been going up ever sense. Most oncologists subscribe to the standard that a 0.2 ng/ml PSA score after RP is evidence of continued cancer growth. There really isn't anything else that would cause the PSA to continue to rise.

    While your husband may not be experiencing any physical symptoms at this point, it would be prudent for him to get some scans to determine if they can see the cancer anywhere else. The doctors will also probably suggest treating this with hormone therapy, radiation treatment, or both.

    Your husband needs to talk to a specialist in this.

    Best of luck to you both.

    K

    Jim refuses any treatments
    Jim refuses any treatments you suggested. Only symptoms I am seeing is he seems tired lack of entergy...not ever hungery. We eat extreamly healthy. His Testostrone has always been low. His red blood cell count was really low. He is seeing a Urologist today...why I so not know ..he will not get any treatments. Hopefully he will get tests to determaine if cancer can be found. He want testostrone replacement to up his entergy. He does not seem concerned. He is 65 Young....and tells me other men live out their natural lives with reoccurrung Prostate cancer.
  • SpencerNearn
    SpencerNearn Member Posts: 6
    #5
    ralph.townsend1 said:

    Rising PSA
    Any rise in psa after RP is not good, It looks to be slow to me. In my case 11/15/2011 I was 1.2 psa and by 02/01/2012 I was 2.6 psa. 2 1/2 months double, but saying that 2.40 it sound like it was not contained at removal of the prostate and specially since your testosterone has drop. My testosterone is not detectable and my psa is 0.2 now.

    Is your husband on hormone treatment or any treatment?

    No he refuses treatments.

    No he refuses treatments.
  • SpencerNearn
    SpencerNearn Member Posts: 6
    #6
    ralph.townsend1 said:

    Rising PSA
    Any rise in psa after RP is not good, It looks to be slow to me. In my case 11/15/2011 I was 1.2 psa and by 02/01/2012 I was 2.6 psa. 2 1/2 months double, but saying that 2.40 it sound like it was not contained at removal of the prostate and specially since your testosterone has drop. My testosterone is not detectable and my psa is 0.2 now.

    Is your husband on hormone treatment or any treatment?

    his testostrone has always
    his testostrone has always been very low...mumps as a teen caused this...the docs have said is the reasoning behind.
  • SpencerNearn
    SpencerNearn Member Posts: 6
    #7
    ralph.townsend1 said:

    Rising PSA
    Any rise in psa after RP is not good, It looks to be slow to me. In my case 11/15/2011 I was 1.2 psa and by 02/01/2012 I was 2.6 psa. 2 1/2 months double, but saying that 2.40 it sound like it was not contained at removal of the prostate and specially since your testosterone has drop. My testosterone is not detectable and my psa is 0.2 now.

    Is your husband on hormone treatment or any treatment?

    his testostrone has always
    his testostrone has always been very low...mumps as a teen caused this...the docs have said is the reasoning behind.
  • mrspjd
    mrspjd Member Posts: 694 Member
    #8
    SpencerNearn said:

    his testostrone has always
    his testostrone has always been very low...mumps as a teen caused this...the docs have said is the reasoning behind.

    Welcome
    Mrs N,

    From one wife to another, welcome to the PCa forum. If I understand your posts correctly and your husband is refusing any txs for probable recurrence of PCa, I wonder why he continues to have his PSA monitored and to be informed of the results. PCa recurrence, especially with metastasis, low T levels, low red blood count, are all factors that may contribute, together or individually, to some of the symptoms your husband is experiencing. I wonder if major infection has been ruled as a secondary contributing factor to his symptoms.

    Low T levels may be attributed to many different causes, mumps during puberty being just one possible culprit. You may wish to read about other causes from the Mayo Clinic site: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/male-hypogonadism/ds00300/dsection=causes

    As you’re probably aware, TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy) is a controversial tx (for PCa docs and patients) and a double edged sword for men with PCa or who are at higher risk for PCa. I suggest that you do your own in depth research about TRT accordingly so that your and your husband’s decision about any TRT is well informed.

    Good luck to you both.

    mrs pjd
    Wife of a PCa survivor, T3 stage
  • SpencerNearn
    SpencerNearn Member Posts: 6
    #9
    mrspjd said:

    Welcome
    Mrs N,

    From one wife to another, welcome to the PCa forum. If I understand your posts correctly and your husband is refusing any txs for probable recurrence of PCa, I wonder why he continues to have his PSA monitored and to be informed of the results. PCa recurrence, especially with metastasis, low T levels, low red blood count, are all factors that may contribute, together or individually, to some of the symptoms your husband is experiencing. I wonder if major infection has been ruled as a secondary contributing factor to his symptoms.

    Low T levels may be attributed to many different causes, mumps during puberty being just one possible culprit. You may wish to read about other causes from the Mayo Clinic site: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/male-hypogonadism/ds00300/dsection=causes

    As you’re probably aware, TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy) is a controversial tx (for PCa docs and patients) and a double edged sword for men with PCa or who are at higher risk for PCa. I suggest that you do your own in depth research about TRT accordingly so that your and your husband’s decision about any TRT is well informed.

    Good luck to you both.

    mrs pjd
    Wife of a PCa survivor, T3 stage

    Thanks...I make him get PSA
    Thanks...I make him get PSA lol...I am setting in a doc office now..hoping he will be convinced into treatment. We have not visited with dr as of yet..been here 2 hrs.
  • laserlight
    laserlight Member Posts: 165
    #10
    SpencerNearn said:

    Thanks...I make him get PSA
    Thanks...I make him get PSA lol...I am setting in a doc office now..hoping he will be convinced into treatment. We have not visited with dr as of yet..been here 2 hrs.

    Spencer
    Good for you, this cancer needs to be watched and treated. This is a normal response a lot of people go into denial. This cancer needs to be treated, I was diagnosed in Jan of 2011, my wife and myself had a visit with the doctor and her comment to me was "GET IT TREATED" in the doctors office. I went for the robotic surgery. Now a little bit about myself I normally donot follow the doctors advice, but this time something pushed or nudged me to listen and follow the doctor. I am glad I did, my cancer was at stage T2C and gleason score of the 3+4=7. My doctor was very concerned and informed me if I did not treat this I only had a couple of years left, I am 62 years old. This past 16 months have been hard I have been seeing the doctor about every 6 weeks. Prostate Cancer sucks, but I have adopted a full circle approach to treating this, my wife has been a constant support in this. She focus on my diet and keeps me updated on what I should be doing and not doing. The doctor informed me that my cancer will most likely return at some point down the road, but I am trying to delay this as much as possible. Keep up with the support this is important. From one Prostate cancer survior to another tell him to get it taken care of and to research all of the treatment methods. Sorry for going on about this
  • mrspjd
    mrspjd Member Posts: 694 Member
    #11
    SpencerNearn said:

    Thanks...I make him get PSA
    Thanks...I make him get PSA lol...I am setting in a doc office now..hoping he will be convinced into treatment. We have not visited with dr as of yet..been here 2 hrs.

    more wondering...
    ...about why he needs "convincing." I would respectfully suggest that a 2nd opinion is in order with a knowledgeable and experienced PCa oncologist who can speak to him (and you) candidly to allay his fears and answer questions about salvage PCa tx options once recurrence is confirmed by the oncologist and possible location/extent of PCa is identified. Knowledge is empowering and hopefully will guide you both in making informed educated decisions that best meet his and your personal lifestyle priorities.

    PS Re "Robotic prostatectomy and meatal." Perhaps he also had a "meatotomy."

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