PSA Finally Under 1

VascodaGama said:

Under One results

Good news indeed.

The fact is to be celebrated. How about a trip to Europe to keep the moment unforgetful ?

CONGRATULATIONS.

Note: Regarding your trouble with the Scroliliac joint, I have been reading about the influence that the spine could have in our health if affected by the cancer. In other words, what symptoms could we have that would related to the affected bone. So far I have identified two parts that could be due to spread in my case. The L2 and the L5.
Here is an interesting graphical of the symptoms; http://www.chiroone.net/interactive-spine

 

VG 

 

 

Thanks, Vasco!

Funny you mention Europe.  I "met" a woman on Match who lives in Bedar, Spain not far from where you live in Portugal.  Was thinking of visiting her there this fall until I actually met her and found her to be quite a pill but I am still interested in visiting that part of the world and perhaps we'll cross paths one of these days.

BTW, my S/I joint and back problems were caused by excessive weight that I attempted to "squat" while weight lifting.  However, when they CAT scanned the region, the spine specialist also found deformities in my L4/L5 which she may have also contributed to the pain.  So, when the S/I shot didn't do the job, she hit the L4/L5 vertebrae in my spine too and that actually seemed to do the job.  Fortunately, no indication of cancer there.

waldipup said:

PSA after C/K

Had C/K June 2012 , PSA 16 .

Jan. 2013 / 4.25 , Oct. 2013 / 4.61 . Concerned about both the rise and the still hi numbers . R/O said no problem , to just wait . Hoping he's right . 

Waldipup:

Like you, I was concerned about the slow rate of decline in my PSA numbers and it took "forever" for my PSA level to drop below 1.   My PSA has sinced dropped even lower and you can find a further discussion about that in this thread: http://csn.cancer.org/node/265310.

Based on my experience, the main thing to be concerned about is any consecutive increase in your PSA numbers.  An increase twice in a row (in any amount) is an indication of treatment failure and addtional testing should be done to determine if there's still cancer in your prostate or not.

In my case, I had 2 increases in March & June 2012 and had a combined MRI/MRSI (magnetic imaging AND magnetic spectroscopy), which is a very sophisticated test which uses a Tesla magnet inserted in the rectum in conjuction w/the regular MRI scan, to determine if there was still any cancer in my prostate.  The MRSI is able to measure the amount and location of choline, which is a marker for cancer, in the prostate.  No cancer specific amounts of choline were found in mine. And, after my PSA dropped following the test, the conclusion was that the rise was due to a classic 1-2 year post radiation treatment "bounce" and not an indicator of treatment failure.

Assuming there is no concern about treatment failure, it can take as long as 3-4 years for your PSA to drop to "acceptable" levels following radition treatment.  What's "acceptable" varies but it's generally agreed that a PSA below 1 is a good measure of success and that a PSA level below .5 greatly enhances your probablility of 5-10 year post treatment survival.

Best wishes and good luck!

lewvino said:

Congrats on reaching less

Congrats on reaching less then 1!

lewvino

Thanks, Lewvino:

If you missed it, here's the link to my 3rd Year status report, which reported an even lower PSA reading: http://csn.cancer.org/node/265310

Took another PSA test yesterday which came back at 0.319; about another 1/10th point drop from the test in June.  So, all's good!

I've been taking semi-annual tests for the past 2 years and just asked my doc when we can switch to annual testing instead.  The way I look at it, as soon as he says we can go "back" to annual testing, that'll mean he that he thinks that I'm essentially "cured."

Of course, we all know that no one can be confident of the cancer NEVER coming back but it will be reassuring to know (when the time comes) that my doc thinks that I'm over the hump.

UPDATE:  My doc just told me to do 2 more semi-annual tests next year and, if everything still looks good, go to annual testing after that.

VascodaGama said:

Congratulations

It is nice to read about your good results. Probably you could change now the title of the thread to PCa Finally Under control.

Unfortunately there are no other marker yet today that we could use to certify cure. Though, the continuous drops in PSA make your prospects for post-CK treatment survival very promising of a cure.

I wonder if you need still more results to certify your rates. Probably now you could be looking for a comprehensive “cautious programme” to follow up your health as a non cancer patient. My advice is to get a gene profile and the levels of DHT under vigilance.
Kongo stopped being around since his last update, indicating a PSA level under the zero two decimal places (PSA=0.0X ng/ml) but his starting level at CK-treatment was lower than yours.

Best wishes for continued success. Enjoy.

VG

 

Thanks for the suggestions, Vasco.

Not sure what a genetic profile and DHT measurement will do for me at this point but I'll consider it.  I've actually noticed that Kongo has been pretty silent about his progress and missed his report of a single digit PSA reading.  He had a much better post treatment PSA history than I did and I've posted the specific results just to let others (with a similar history) know that there's hope even if your PSA results are erradict and slow to decline.

I'll continue to post in this thread over time until it looks like I've reached my nadir.  Doing this to also give others who have received radiation treatment a longer term outlook on what needs to be done to monitor treatment outcomes.  Currently doing semi-annual testing and will probably go to annual testing in the next year or so. 

Just got my June 2015 PSA test result back -- 0.232 -- a drop of 0.087 from December 2014.  So, the declining trend is still in force. 

The next test will be in December 2015 which will mark my 5th year as a PCa "survivor" following my CK treatment in Sept 2010 based on the biopsy diagnosis in Jan 2010.  If the PSA result comes in lower again then, I my RO says I can go back to annual (instead of bi-annual) PSA testing.

The 5th year of PCa survival is touted as a significant benchmark and some would say that I'm "cured" but, as we all know, there is always the possibility of the recurrence of any cancer.  But my lower stage at time of diagnosis makes that less likely in my case, as it does for others like me.  Here's hoping that that's true.

As before, no noticeable side effects from the CK treatment -- no ED or incontience issues.  Still have some frequency and urgency urinary issues which were the original symptoms which prompted the biopsy that led to the PSA diagnosis over 5 years ago, which is being treated w/Flomax and oxybutynin.  So not changes in that regard.  But, otherwise, I'm living a normal and active life for a man who is about to turn 65 in October.  

Good luck and best wishes to all of you who are also still struggling to defeat this disease!!!