Dad 72 Prostate Cancer

Irish-Psychic
Irish-Psychic Member Posts: 61
in Prostate Cancer #1

Hi to everyone within this group - I had previous posts about my Dad and the help that everyone gave me and the support was unbelivable. My Mam 3 years ago also went for a routine check up regarding her eyes and she had a cataract that needed to be removed so she asked to be knocked out for it and they said no problem and an MRI was part of the testing and it showed up something allot more serious - Lung Cancer - I didnt know what to do but I didnt panic i kept positive and it was so early caught it was just unbelvable - she is flying it now she had part of her lung removed - no longer a smoker - and getting on with life as best as she can - she was recently diagnosed with Daibetes 2 and she is very slim so obviously its a special case as it is to do with her Pancreas also. The reason I am on here again is Dad is worried now as his PSA is rising but very slowly - 2 years ago it was 0.01 I think then it went to 0.2 and now today it is 0.45 I think but again it starts with 0 - he had his Prosectomy years ago but after that no radiation was given then approx 7-8 years ago he had a PSA test and it had risen which was confusing to him as his Prostate was removed but they sent him for further testing and that was when he had the Radiation treatment for 7-8 weeks on a daily basis. That then brings us up to date with where he is now 7-8 years past and again his PSA is rising every so slowly. The question I have is he has made an appointment to see the specialist again and just waiting on an appointment with them - but he thinks they may put him on hormone treatment or injections is this true? what is his best option and should he be worried and also me - is their more that can be done to bring now his PSA back to 0.0. He is a worryer so I would love to let him know not to be worrying himself and everything will be fine,

Thanks in advance and HELLO to all the fabulous Men in here who i had the pleasure of speaking to you the last time i remember one saying "Ill have a Guinness for your Dad" and its things like that youll never know how much it made me feel but I can honestly say you made it so much easier on me. Thank you!!!

Comments

  • VascodaGama
    VascodaGama Member Posts: 3,701 Member
    edited January 2018 #2

    Gary,

    I am sorry for knowing about the increase of the PSA. This occurrence may signify another recurrence, meaning that the RT of 2011 did not completely eradicate the bandit. Your dad will need additional treatment which in similar cases starts with hormonal manipulations. That is what his GP is suggesting when talking about injections. In any case, the hormonal treatment can start at any time so that I would recommend to firstly certifying that recurrence is evident. This status usually is considered when the PSA rises three times continuously from a nadir. From your info above I take the PSA of 2 years ago as the nadir PSA=0.01. The first rise is PSA=0.2 and the second (today) is PSA=0.45.

    Surely these increases already confirm the recurrence but a PSA of 0.45 is very small if one compares with the value of 4.5 he had before starting RT. The hormonal treatment will provide control even if the PSA rises further so that he can have the third test done before starting HT. Meanwhile I would suggest your dad to investigate about the side effects he will experience once he starts the therapy. I have been on hormonal treatment too and have experienced many side effects and survived. However, I think that I managed well when confronted with the symptons because I knew in advance what to expect, and what to do to counter the effects.

    Typically hormonal therapies start with a daily pill of Casodex (bicalutamide) taken during the initial two weeks, and then one gets a shot of leuprolide (Lupron, Eligard, etc) that will cause castration. This is not a permanent affair because the status returns to normalcy once the effect of the drug subsides. Castration equals to a very low level of testosterone in circulation in the body. Without testosterone the cancer dies or goes indolent. The lack of testosterone also disrupts the normal functioning of our systems which leads to the majority of symptoms one experiences from the treatment. It is like the symptoms experienced by women when in menaupose. Hotf lashes, fatigue, mood-changes, etc.

    I would recommend your dad to get a testosterone test done together with his next PSA. Urologists do not usually request the test. Your dad must insist. Hormonal treatments affect bone so that it is avisable that your dad get his bone health checked (bone densitometry also typical in menaupose conditions).

    Your initial thread with the complete story of your dad is here;

    https://csn.cancer.org/node/219769

    I was one of those at the Guinness party. I will join again once your dad manages control over the bandit one more time.

    Best wishes,

    VGama

  • Irish-Psychic
    Irish-Psychic Member Posts: 61
    #3
    VascodaGama said:

    Gary,

    I am sorry for knowing about the increase of the PSA. This occurrence may signify another recurrence, meaning that the RT of 2011 did not completely eradicate the bandit. Your dad will need additional treatment which in similar cases starts with hormonal manipulations. That is what his GP is suggesting when talking about injections. In any case, the hormonal treatment can start at any time so that I would recommend to firstly certifying that recurrence is evident. This status usually is considered when the PSA rises three times continuously from a nadir. From your info above I take the PSA of 2 years ago as the nadir PSA=0.01. The first rise is PSA=0.2 and the second (today) is PSA=0.45.

    Surely these increases already confirm the recurrence but a PSA of 0.45 is very small if one compares with the value of 4.5 he had before starting RT. The hormonal treatment will provide control even if the PSA rises further so that he can have the third test done before starting HT. Meanwhile I would suggest your dad to investigate about the side effects he will experience once he starts the therapy. I have been on hormonal treatment too and have experienced many side effects and survived. However, I think that I managed well when confronted with the symptons because I knew in advance what to expect, and what to do to counter the effects.

    Typically hormonal therapies start with a daily pill of Casodex (bicalutamide) taken during the initial two weeks, and then one gets a shot of leuprolide (Lupron, Eligard, etc) that will cause castration. This is not a permanent affair because the status returns to normalcy once the effect of the drug subsides. Castration equals to a very low level of testosterone in circulation in the body. Without testosterone the cancer dies or goes indolent. The lack of testosterone also disrupts the normal functioning of our systems which leads to the majority of symptoms one experiences from the treatment. It is like the symptoms experienced by women when in menaupose. Hotf lashes, fatigue, mood-changes, etc.

    I would recommend your dad to get a testosterone test done together with his next PSA. Urologists do not usually request the test. Your dad must insist. Hormonal treatments affect bone so that it is avisable that your dad get his bone health checked (bone densitometry also typical in menaupose conditions).

    Your initial thread with the complete story of your dad is here;

    https://csn.cancer.org/node/219769

    I was one of those at the Guinness party. I will join again once your dad manages control over the bandit one more time.

    Best wishes,

    VGama

    Thank you - VGama

    Thank you so much for that message and reply really appreciate it VGama. I have passed on this message to my Dad and he has said thanks so much, I will update you and let you know how he gets on - really appreicate this group its fantastic!

    Best wishes,

    Irish-Psychic. 

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