Rising PSA

sull
sull Member Posts: 4
edited March 2014 in Prostate Cancer #1
I amlooking for some advise from someone who may have experienced what I am going through.
I had Prostate Surgery in March of 2001. Clean Margins and no Lympth none involvement, but Gleason 8. My PSA has been 0.1 until this July when it rose to 0.3. My doctor told me to wait and test gain in 3 months. If still rising he will consider radiation.
Unsure what this all means for me. Have tried to read as much as I can, but would love to hear from people who ahve been through a rising PSA and what worked best for them and what can i expect long term.
Thanks,
Sull

Comments

  • sammy
    sammy Member Posts: 9
    #2
    Hi,

    I'm not in the same situation you are right now, but my Dad has prostate cancer and has a Gleason Score of 7, but his PSA was 75.5. His doctor didn't recommend surgery, only Hormone Therapy. My Dad is 74 years old. Would you mind sharing with me what your PSA was and if your doctor offered any other options for you other that surgery. Thanks for any info. Hope things things work out for you.

    Sammy
  • sidb
    sidb Member Posts: 3
    #3
    Hi Sull: I had a PSA of 9 and a Gleason from biopsys of 8. Did a radical and 6 weeks after the operation the PSA was still 9! My Gleason was a 10 when they checked it in the lab. My urologist, when the PSA was still 9 after 6 weeks, started me on Lupron, Eulexin and Proscar. He also said I should do radiation. I did not have any lymph involvement but there was seminal vesicle involvement. I went to Loma Linda University in California for Proton Beam Radiation. Now, three years later, my PSA is still holding at 0.1. I would recommend you talk to the folks at Loma Linda. They are extremely professional and the Proton Beam Radiation delivers it's power in a very controlled and accurate manner. Their telephone is 1-800-protons. Also ask your doctor about Proton Beam. He may no know about it or may say it is experimental. Talk to them and make your own decision. They may also advise you regarding hormone therapy. My complaint with continuing the Lupron and Eulexin is I seem to be tired a lot - but it may also be my natural laziness coming out. Now, what is keeping the PSA down? the Lupron and Eulexin or the Radiation? Probably both, and I am afraid to stop the Lupron and Eulexin. Any questions, please let me know.
  • rogermoore
    rogermoore Member Posts: 264 Member
    #4
    Hi Sull,

    I had a radical prostatectomy a year ago this past March 29. My PSA is running around 0.3 - 0.5 since. My surgeon explains the slight variation as the characteristic of the measuring device. Some may have a limit of 0.09 and some 0.01 or even 0.0001. If your doctor suggests waiting 3 months for another test, I would not be overly concerned.

    Roger
  • sull
    sull Member Posts: 4
    #5
    rogermoore said:

    Hi Sull,

    I had a radical prostatectomy a year ago this past March 29. My PSA is running around 0.3 - 0.5 since. My surgeon explains the slight variation as the characteristic of the measuring device. Some may have a limit of 0.09 and some 0.01 or even 0.0001. If your doctor suggests waiting 3 months for another test, I would not be overly concerned.

    Roger

    Thanks Roger. Was your PSA ever at 0.1 and then rose to 0.3-0.5?
    Sull
  • rogermoore
    rogermoore Member Posts: 264 Member
    #6
    sull said:

    Thanks Roger. Was your PSA ever at 0.1 and then rose to 0.3-0.5?
    Sull

    Hi Sull,

    Sorry it took so long to get back with you. I did not have my records here at the house so had to call Dr. to get my readings.

    Following my surgery in Mar. of 2001 my PSA three montths after was "less than" 0.05. Six months later it was also "less than" 0.05, and six months after that it was the same "less than" 0.05.

    Again, I would have to believe the Dr. is not too concerned or he would not be asking you to wait.

    Keep me posted.

    Roger
  • nutt
    nutt Member Posts: 140
    #7
    Although the support group can give you what their experience is, ... your best source is putting STRAIGHT AND BLUNT questions -- any question you have directly to your doctor and not let it be spun. Facts is typically what we are looking for from our doctor and support from family and friends.
    Good luck and hang in there.
    Joe
  • oaktree
    oaktree Member Posts: 2
    #8
    nutt said:

    Although the support group can give you what their experience is, ... your best source is putting STRAIGHT AND BLUNT questions -- any question you have directly to your doctor and not let it be spun. Facts is typically what we are looking for from our doctor and support from family and friends.
    Good luck and hang in there.
    Joe

    I am surprised that your Dr. didn't recommend radiation thearpy. My PSA is .5, my surgery was almost three years ago. Gleason score was 7. My Dr is recommending radiation trearpy. What is your PSA score now?
  • Cateydid
    Cateydid Member Posts: 1
    edited April 2019 #9
    (Slightly) Rising PSA

    Hello All:

    At the doctor's today, we learned that Joe's PSA has crept from .36 to .597.  The are very low numbers, indeed, but they're post-prostatechtomy (2009) and chemo in 2017. Lupron started then, too, every 6 months.

     

    When asked, "What's next", doc said there are lots of options when the time comes. 

    Do any of you have any idea what that time might look like, or when we should watch for it?

     

    Is there any "Best Place Ever" to deal with this stage V metastatic prostate cancer?

  • stanh
    stanh Member Posts: 2
    edited May 2019 #10
    Cateydid said:

    (Slightly) Rising PSA

    Hello All:

    At the doctor's today, we learned that Joe's PSA has crept from .36 to .597.  The are very low numbers, indeed, but they're post-prostatechtomy (2009) and chemo in 2017. Lupron started then, too, every 6 months.

     

    When asked, "What's next", doc said there are lots of options when the time comes. 

    Do any of you have any idea what that time might look like, or when we should watch for it?

     

    Is there any "Best Place Ever" to deal with this stage V metastatic prostate cancer?

    I'd be interested to hear

    I'd be interested to hear what the "lots of options" are, if you have any information on that.

  • Steve1961
    Steve1961 Member Posts: 618 Member
    #11
    18 years

     Well you would think after 18 years that you would be done with this. I am no expert but I’ve done a lot of research I would wait three months and see what happens I could go back down in fact I would not even wait three months to go for a repeat blood test right I would go right  away those tears are not always perfect you know that I don’t know how old you are but radiation is the next step and has another chance at cure 

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