From slow growth to rapid growth

Without a confirmation of the Dec PSA result, one cannot say with any kind of certainty that the cancer has morphed into a rapid growth mode. If you are concerned, please repeat the test ASAP and be sure to refrain from sex, biking and other activities that may make the PSA jump. Then, let's revisit the issue.

mcin777 said:

I wish I could do that but

I wish I could do that but the drug I am on will only render a score that reflects the effect of the drug on the cancer's growth.

Your suggestion is on target for those not on drugs. Thanks Old Salt

 

 

I had overlooked the fact that you already started hormone therapy. I guess one can say that your original question is of academic interest only, since you and your team have already outlined a treatment plan.

I hope that the bicalutamide (Casodex) will drive down your PSA and, more importantly, the cancer(s). Will another drug be added?

mcin,

It is my understanding that PCa cells can morph over time, and go from non-aggressive to aggressive. Think about this: every man who ever had extremely aggressive PCa at some point prior had no PCa at all.  Did he go straight from none to aggressive disease, or was there some point at which he had moderate disease ? 

I had a friend fight PCa almost 15 years. During his first 13 years, his PSA was never over around 10. He went through every known therapy: Surgical removal; IMRT; HT: chemo; various post-chemo drugs (Jevtana, Zytiga). About 18 months befor passing his PSA tested one afternoon at 66. A month before passing, it went over 1,000.

I am assuming that PCa at a PSA of 10 is less aggressive than PCa at a PSA of 1,000 (since it is 100 times higher). He went into hospice not long thereafter, and I don't think his PSA was ever checked again.  I read in an oncology Journal in my urologist's office one day about a man whom the magazine claimed at one time had a PSA of over 3,000, but got back into remission. Therefore, anything must be possible. But I can see as a logical possibility that the higher numbers might just reflect more widespread disease, not increased aggression. 

If anyone has a certain answer to this question it would be very interesting to hear.  I know that blood cancers morph and change a lot.  A Hodgkin's lymphoma can readily become a non-Hodgkin's, and any lymphoma can also become a leukemia, but the move seems to always be from indolent to aggressive, never the reverse.  The only exception I've ever heard to this is one form of Non-Hodgkin's, "Mantle Cell" (MCL) is noted for frequently going back-and-forth:  It will be indolent awhile, then aggressive, and then may go indolent again.

max

quedition about genomic testing ...how long does it take ..when the last dr I saw said he wanted genomic testing done and wants UCSF to look st the slides as well he said to come back and see him in a few weeks ..so I called after 2 weeks the case manager said it takes about 4-5 weeks fir genomic testing then another week fir UCSF To view the slides so I was seem march 4 and now have an app April 18th dors that seem like a long time to wait fir results of genomic testing thanks