sky high psa

2

Comments

  • RonB
    RonB Member Posts: 47 Member
    #22
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1715032#Comment_1715032
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1715045#Comment_1715045

    Thanks for the link and information @swl1956. Greatly appreciated.

  • eonore
    eonore Member Posts: 185 Member
    #23

    Hey Ron,

    What is the size of your prostate? A very large prostate can lead to higher than normal PSA scores. Also, were you cautioned not to have sex, ride a bike or engage in strenuous exercise the day before the test?

    Eric

  • RonB
    RonB Member Posts: 47 Member
    #24
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1715093#Comment_1715093

    Post MRI and pre-biopsy, my urologist advised that my prostate is actually smaller than average. My advice at that point was either to have the biopsy and move forward from there OR, because I was asymptomatic, take the "wait and see" approach with it and monitor my PSA levels. Aside from refraining from ejaculation for 48 hours prior to the exam no other admonishments were provided but I had already had the digital exam and ultrasonic examination of the testicles.

    Hope that helps.

    Ron

  • Adice
    Adice Member Posts: 27 Member
    #25

    I have scheduled a 2nd opinion at the Mayo in Jax after my PET.I was much more impressed by their attention to my case. They returned calls quickly and also made me feel less stressed.I really wont know anything until after PET, Still Crazy stressed from my claustrophobia but hopefully will do well. Thanks again to all for support and info.,Adice

  • ColoradoCub
    ColoradoCub Member Posts: 1 *
    #26

    My father in law has metastatic prostate cancer and his PSA’s were over 6000 a month ago, even after multiple treatments he’s still over 2000, when he originally had prostate cancer 15 years ago which led to prostate removal his PSA was 170. While your PSA is above the normal zone, it’s not sky high.

  • Adice
    Adice Member Posts: 27 Member
    #27

    Hey folks I know you have no answers but I have to talk somewhere.just got Pet scan back, multiple nodes lit up.It seems that every time I feel like I can climb out of this hole, the hole gets deeper. Things are coming at me faster than I can handle them. I feel like I am going to die and if I don' t I don't don't know what will be left of me, I remember my father dyeing and they had to amputate a leg first. Then they wanted the other leg and he said to me " I don't want them to bury me one piece at a time" . I am trying to look strong for my kids and GK so I am saying these things here. Hope you folks don't mind. I know you have no answers

  • Oldernow
    Oldernow Member Posts: 49 Member
    #28

    Good morning Adice -

    Where in your body did "multiple nodes" light up?

    Someone posted earlier to check "The Prostate Cancer Research Institute" site. (Google it and view the videos). Dr. Mark Scholz has accumulated a ton of information in his videos - the bottom line being that prostate cancer is VERY treatable. Even if your cancer has metastasised a combination of ADT and adjuvant therapies have been very successful in kicking cancer's butt.

    When I was diagnosed in 2022 my primary care physician made the comment that "prostate cancer is the most treatable." After radiation and ADT (Lupron) my PSA remains at less than .03 (considered undetectable) - down from 20 before treatment. There are definitely side effects to every treatment but, in the long run, they are worth it.

    There is help for anxiety and depression. The cancer journey is definitely "scary" but with good care and a positive attitude you can beat it.

    Best of luck on your journey -

    Oldernow

  • Adice
    Adice Member Posts: 27 Member
    #29
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1715651#Comment_1715651

    Thank you so much .Just got these results and became very depressed. doing a little better now. Adice

  • ericolet
    ericolet Member Posts: 2 Member
    #30

    I work in the world of Radiology or Diagnostic Imaging. I highly recommend having the mpMRI first. It's a road map to what is going on in the prostate. After which, if there are any suspicious spots, Ultrasound-guided biopsy with MRI image fusion should follow. 'Blind' prostate biopsies, in my opinion, are a waste.

  • Old Salt
    Old Salt Member Posts: 1,530 Member
    #31
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1715650#Comment_1715650

    Contrary to what you wrote, we do have answers. The previous two ( from oldernow and ericolet) are 'right on'. Thanks!

    More in general, patients on cancer forums often describe their 'fights' to continue to live. Yes, you do have a fight ahead of you, but it's a worthy fight with your family in sight. More specifically, there are therapies that will help a great deal. Find the best medical oncologist and study those videos that have been referred to earlier in this thread.

    Best wishes going forward. You may think you are on your own goal line, but a first down is only ten yards away.

  • Adice
    Adice Member Posts: 27 Member
    #32
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1715654#Comment_1715654

    Thank you. the BX is done and the pet scan also. all nodes are in the region but there are many. This is just happening so fast. I feel fine healthwise just been a bad year. diagnosed T 2 diabetic, broken clavicle now this in less than 12 mos. I've always been in good health but this really scares me. Appt with Mayo jax on 6th.

  • Adice
    Adice Member Posts: 27 Member
    #33

    Good evening guys. Had Dr visit today referred to oncologist. My Urologist is flat and although not negative he doesn't offer anything positive for me to hold on to. I asked if with advances in radiation therapy is it possible that scarring,stricture,fatigue, and other side effects were less. He just said yeah those are all possible. I asked about hormone therapy and will I get flabby with man boobs and no sex drive and he just said those are possible side effects. I am so bummed. I really want to beat this stage 4 it is starting to seem like the light at the end of the tunnel is a train.I know these aren't the most important things but they are still on my mind and depressing me Thx for listening. Adice

  • Steve1961
    Steve1961 Member Posts: 625 Member
    #34

    so as far as MRI they have wide body MRI machines now lifesaver good foot above your face. You could put your head up and you can see outside of it not claustrophobic at all. What a game changer. They have them at Stanford that is where I go.

  • Adice
    Adice Member Posts: 27 Member
    #35
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1715833#Comment_1715833
    image.png

    looks pretty cool

  • Adice
    Adice Member Posts: 27 Member
    #36

    The only place I seem to find any peace anymore is on this site. Thx again

  • centralPA
    centralPA Member Posts: 341 Member
    #37

    diagnosed T 2 diabetic, broken clavicle now this

    @Adice , bad things always happens in threes, so the good news is your done for a while! Sorry, bad joke.

    No matter what your treatment course, living healthy will be beneficial, so might as well get your put on your workout duds and really get in shape. If you do hormone therapy, no doubt it will help with side effects.
    You have many years ahead of you, friend. Challenges and rewards. Fights on…

  • Adice
    Adice Member Posts: 27 Member
    #38

    Well back from oncology. Was told that with so many LN involved Radiation is not an option . Recommended hormone blockers and chemo. And even then the cells become resistant to the HB so said 5-7 years for me. Really bummed out and depressed

  • centralPA
    centralPA Member Posts: 341 Member
    #39

    Sorry to hear that, I wonder if the day won’t come where you can use Pluvicto. In 5 to 7 years, who knows what other new cure may have emerged too.

    You’ve got a lot of life ahead of you, shipmate. Not necessarily the one you were hoping for, but it is what it is. Roll up your sleeves…

  • Old Salt
    Old Salt Member Posts: 1,530 Member
    edited June 8 #40

    Your doctor (or doctors) really can't predict how long you still have. Many with diagnoses worse than yours have lived a decade or more. Moreover, you could be a statistical 'outlier'.

    Apparently, you will be getting (taxane?) chemo plus (some kind of) hormone therapy. Let's wait and see how that goes. If the initial hormone therapy fails and you become 'castrate resistant' there are other therapies. Pluvicto is just one of them.

    Best wishes!

    PS: where are you being treated? Whatever, a second opinion from a world class prostate oncology center would be a good thing.

  • Adice
    Adice Member Posts: 27 Member
    #41
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1715893#Comment_1715893

    Thx for the encouragement. My treatment will be local but prescribed by my Dr at the Mayo Jax.( A very nice man but highly numbers oriented). The 5-7yrs came from a series of additive steps and studies,"If we treated you with this, you average X yrs ,then we add this and you average 2 more years then add this…". It was just a Gut punch when someone puts a time limit on you. I have always taught my nurses and patients that these studies are just a whole bunch of dots on a chart and then they draw a line thru it and you are supposed to fall on that line. There are people way up at the top and way down at the bottom that they just ignore as outliers sometimes. But all of that seemed to fall away when someone flips the Hourglass.

    I was ok until he said that the Ca cells develop a resistance to the hormone therapy and my Ca has gotten so far away to nodes.They now also want to Bx the nodes to look for tumor markers. I guess things like that are the reason I drove 6 hrs to get to Mayo.

    I always feel better after talking with you guys Drs have given no real encouragement, just a plan and numbers. I still wake up every morning and go to sleep at night thinking about Ca. I hope I do well enough that I can encourage others

Discussion Boards