Good News But . . .

Swingshiftworker
Swingshiftworker Member Posts: 1,017 Member
edited October 2012 in Prostate Cancer #1
Good news!

The E-MRI/MRSI scans that I took on 10/2 at UCSF were negative for cancer anywhere in or near my prostate.

There's a small chance of a "false negative" but (according to my RO) there are no better scans and IMO no point doing a biopsy w/o a specific reason to suspect the recurrence of the cancer. So, there's nothing else that can be done for now except to continue to monitor my PSA and watch for significant increases that may indicate a cancer that the scans missed.

However, I'm still having significant urinary burning/frequency/urgency issues that I didn't have previously. Am getting a urinary analysis screening next week to check for infection and, if there is none, will have to resort to Flowmax and/or other medications to see if they have any effect on these problems.

So, although it's reassuring to have concrete evidence that my CK treatment in Sept 2010 was apparently successful in arresting the cancer, this info does not eliminate the need to continue the quarterly monitoring of my PSA nor does it resolve the other urinary issues that I'm currently experiencing.

Oh well . . .

Comments

  • hopeful and optimistic
    hopeful and optimistic Member Posts: 2,346 Member
    #2
    Excellent news
    So far so good
  • laserlight
    laserlight Member Posts: 165
    #3
    hopeful and optimistic said:

    Excellent news
    So far so good

    Swing
    Good news is always welcome on this site, I am glad to hear that the treatment is working.
    Hang in there

    Kurt
  • cchqnetman
    cchqnetman Member Posts: 119
    #4
    Glad to hear the good news
    Sure glad to hear your good news!!! Hope the other problems are easier to solve.

    David
  • VascodaGama
    VascodaGama Member Posts: 3,701 Member
    #5
    cchqnetman said:

    Glad to hear the good news
    Sure glad to hear your good news!!! Hope the other problems are easier to solve.

    David

    Fantastic results
    I am very happy for you.
    Negative image study fits the prognosis. Micromets could be a "guess" but why not judge the facts as cure?

    Lets congratulate and drink for the best.

    Salut
    VG.
  • Swingshiftworker
    Swingshiftworker Member Posts: 1,017 Member
    #6
    VascodaGama said:

    Fantastic results
    I am very happy for you.
    Negative image study fits the prognosis. Micromets could be a "guess" but why not judge the facts as cure?

    Lets congratulate and drink for the best.

    Salut
    VG.

    Cautiously Optimistic
    Hey, Vasco:

    Thanks to you and others for the congrats!

    Although I'm "happy" to have concrete evidence that the cancer is "gone", I remain guarded and only "cautiously optimistic" that I've actually been "cured."

    The results of the scans do not mitigate the need to continue to monitor my PSA indefinitely (quarterly for now) and they do not clarify why I'm now experiencing urinary problems that I never had previously.

    So, the saga continues . . .
  • rch
    rch Member Posts: 79
    #7
    Swingshiftworker said:

    Cautiously Optimistic
    Hey, Vasco:

    Thanks to you and others for the congrats!

    Although I'm "happy" to have concrete evidence that the cancer is "gone", I remain guarded and only "cautiously optimistic" that I've actually been "cured."

    The results of the scans do not mitigate the need to continue to monitor my PSA indefinitely (quarterly for now) and they do not clarify why I'm now experiencing urinary problems that I never had previously.

    So, the saga continues . . .

    Congratulations
    I'm glad the imaging was negative. Just wondering what was your post-void residual? With significant burning, urgency and frequency you ought to have had a urinalysis, perhaps even before the imaging. I strongly believe the modest PSA rise is due to lower tract symptoms. If the urine shows only white cells without any bacteruria, need urethral swab to rule out any occult chlamydial infection ( just an FYI).
  • Swingshiftworker
    Swingshiftworker Member Posts: 1,017 Member
    #8
    rch said:

    Congratulations
    I'm glad the imaging was negative. Just wondering what was your post-void residual? With significant burning, urgency and frequency you ought to have had a urinalysis, perhaps even before the imaging. I strongly believe the modest PSA rise is due to lower tract symptoms. If the urine shows only white cells without any bacteruria, need urethral swab to rule out any occult chlamydial infection ( just an FYI).

    Thanks, I'm getting a
    Thanks, I'm getting a urinalysis next week to see if that's the problem. Don't think they'll be checking for any STDs. Will have to ask about that.
  • djs123
    djs123 Member Posts: 102
    #9
    Swingshiftworker said:

    Thanks, I'm getting a
    Thanks, I'm getting a urinalysis next week to see if that's the problem. Don't think they'll be checking for any STDs. Will have to ask about that.

    Enjoy your good news
    I understand you're wary, but hang on to the good news and enjoy it. In the meantime, you'll continue to monitor things as needed and enjoy your life.
    best to you
  • Kongo
    Kongo Member Posts: 1,166 Member
    #10
    Similar Symptoms
    Swing,

    I've had similar symptoms but not as severe as you describe. More like a tickling rather than a burning sensation. It went on about 9 months and my PSA bounced up in what my RO described as a classic bounce but I always countered with..."I think it has something to do with the prostatitis symptoms."

    In any event a course of Cipro had no effect and all tests were negative for UTI.

    About six weeks ago the symptoms diminished and one I realized I didn't have them any more. My last PSA was a big drop from 2.3 to 1.1 so I remain convinced it had something to do with the condition and wasn't a bounce.

    Before the condition PSA had dropped to 0.8 and was continuing to decline then the "bounce" which was coincident with the tickling sensation. It didn't affect urgency. It was just noticable.

    We both had CK treatment about the same time and the onset of this and the eventual drop in PSA seem roughly parallel but I haven't read anything about this phenom anywhere else.

    Hope your symptoms subside soon.

    Best,

    K
  • Kongo
    Kongo Member Posts: 1,166 Member
    #11
    Similar Symptoms
    Swing,

    I've had similar symptoms but not as severe as you describe. More like a tickling rather than a burning sensation. It went on about 9 months and my PSA bounced up in what my RO described as a classic bounce but I always countered with..."I think it has something to do with the prostatitis symptoms."

    In any event a course of Cipro had no effect and all tests were negative for UTI.

    About six weeks ago the symptoms diminished and one I realized I didn't have them any more. My last PSA was a big drop from 2.3 to 1.1 so I remain convinced it had something to do with the condition and wasn't a bounce.

    Before the condition PSA had dropped to 0.8 and was continuing to decline then the "bounce" which was coincident with the tickling sensation. It didn't affect urgency. It was just noticable.

    We both had CK treatment about the same time and the onset of this and the eventual drop in PSA seem roughly parallel but I haven't read anything about this phenom anywhere else.

    Hope your symptoms subside soon.

    Best,

    K
  • ralph.townsend1
    ralph.townsend1 Member Posts: 359 Member
    #12
    Kongo said:

    Similar Symptoms
    Swing,

    I've had similar symptoms but not as severe as you describe. More like a tickling rather than a burning sensation. It went on about 9 months and my PSA bounced up in what my RO described as a classic bounce but I always countered with..."I think it has something to do with the prostatitis symptoms."

    In any event a course of Cipro had no effect and all tests were negative for UTI.

    About six weeks ago the symptoms diminished and one I realized I didn't have them any more. My last PSA was a big drop from 2.3 to 1.1 so I remain convinced it had something to do with the condition and wasn't a bounce.

    Before the condition PSA had dropped to 0.8 and was continuing to decline then the "bounce" which was coincident with the tickling sensation. It didn't affect urgency. It was just noticable.

    We both had CK treatment about the same time and the onset of this and the eventual drop in PSA seem roughly parallel but I haven't read anything about this phenom anywhere else.

    Hope your symptoms subside soon.

    Best,

    K

    Happy
    Brother, It's a great day in the park.

    The day will be full of sunshine.

    God bless and remember Never Give Up!!!!!
  • prezmic
    prezmic Member Posts: 36
    #13
    ralph.townsend1 said:

    Happy
    Brother, It's a great day in the park.

    The day will be full of sunshine.

    God bless and remember Never Give Up!!!!!

    I had a similar occurrance.
    I had a similar occurrance. IMRT in Aug-Oct 2011. BRT in Nov 2011. Around May 2012 I started experiencing burning. Not severe but bothersome. SOme days worse than others. Doctor tested for infection - none. Also, measured for retention of fluid in bladder - I was voiding completely. Doubled my flomax dose. Frequency and burning continued for several months. Around Aug 2012 burning stopped - went back to regular does of flomax. Now Oct 2012 - no more flomax and no frequency or urgency issues - pretty much back to normal. Must be a radiation thing. BTW - Psa started at 9.6, then every 3 months dropped - 0.7, 0.4, and now 0.2. Still waiting for my bounce - hopefully not with more burning.
  • Swingshiftworker
    Swingshiftworker Member Posts: 1,017 Member
    #14
    Kongo said:

    Similar Symptoms
    Swing,

    I've had similar symptoms but not as severe as you describe. More like a tickling rather than a burning sensation. It went on about 9 months and my PSA bounced up in what my RO described as a classic bounce but I always countered with..."I think it has something to do with the prostatitis symptoms."

    In any event a course of Cipro had no effect and all tests were negative for UTI.

    About six weeks ago the symptoms diminished and one I realized I didn't have them any more. My last PSA was a big drop from 2.3 to 1.1 so I remain convinced it had something to do with the condition and wasn't a bounce.

    Before the condition PSA had dropped to 0.8 and was continuing to decline then the "bounce" which was coincident with the tickling sensation. It didn't affect urgency. It was just noticable.

    We both had CK treatment about the same time and the onset of this and the eventual drop in PSA seem roughly parallel but I haven't read anything about this phenom anywhere else.

    Hope your symptoms subside soon.

    Best,

    K

    Thanks!
    Thanks for the comparative info, Kongo. It's reassuring to know that you peaked at over 2 and then fell back to 1. Hopefully, that'll happen for me to in the next PSA test.

    In the meantime, I'm getting a urinalysis and blood tests in a couple of days to check for possible infections/STDs. Don't think I have any STDs (or infections, for that matter); just being thorough.

    I started taking pygeum (an OTC herbal remedy) a week ago, which is supposed to help w/the symptoms I have; kinda like saw palmetto which I've tried before w/no effect.

    Frequency and burning have dropped a bit since I started taking pygeum, but urgency is still an issue (when I gotta go, I GOTTA GO!). LOL!!!

    My RO has no clue why it's happening; not similar to other cases of his in the past, which is why I think he ok'd the E-MRI/MRSI scans.

    Glad he did, since it clearly rules out any latent cancer as well as BPH (volume 30cc which is w/in normal range).

    Hopefully, the symptoms will resolve themselves for me as they did for you.
  • Swingshiftworker
    Swingshiftworker Member Posts: 1,017 Member
    #15
    Update 11/02/12
    Just got word about the blood/urine tests that were done on the samples taken on 10/30 and it's more "Good news, but . . ."

    No indication of any urinary infection or STDs. Also no HIV. Had them test for everything just to be able to rule out as much as possible. So, no indication of any cancer or any urinary/STD infections.

    What does this mean? The only thing we can do is chalk up my current urinary problems to post radiation effects of undetermined cause (other than the radiation itself) and just ride it out.

    Hopefully, like it happened for Kongo and others, the problem will just resolve itself in time. The problems aren't earth shattering; just annoying and at times inconvenient and embarrassing.

    Can't go anywhere w/o my pee bottle in the car or my backpack along w/a jacket or towel to cover up what I'm doing in the backseat of the car,whenever I just can't hold it when I'm out driving around.

    Trips to the toiler (or behind trees) are still quite frequent but the burning/irritation seems less severe now that it was a couple of weeks ago.

    Hopefully, that's an indication that the problem may be waning. We'll see . . .
  • VascodaGama
    VascodaGama Member Posts: 3,701 Member
    #16
    Swingshiftworker said:

    Update 11/02/12
    Just got word about the blood/urine tests that were done on the samples taken on 10/30 and it's more "Good news, but . . ."

    No indication of any urinary infection or STDs. Also no HIV. Had them test for everything just to be able to rule out as much as possible. So, no indication of any cancer or any urinary/STD infections.

    What does this mean? The only thing we can do is chalk up my current urinary problems to post radiation effects of undetermined cause (other than the radiation itself) and just ride it out.

    Hopefully, like it happened for Kongo and others, the problem will just resolve itself in time. The problems aren't earth shattering; just annoying and at times inconvenient and embarrassing.

    Can't go anywhere w/o my pee bottle in the car or my backpack along w/a jacket or towel to cover up what I'm doing in the backseat of the car,whenever I just can't hold it when I'm out driving around.

    Trips to the toiler (or behind trees) are still quite frequent but the burning/irritation seems less severe now that it was a couple of weeks ago.

    Hopefully, that's an indication that the problem may be waning. We'll see . . .

    Lets congratulate
    Lets congratulate and drink for the best. Bring your pee bottle along and forget about embarrassements and enjoy the occasion of such wonderfull results.

    VG.

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