Father with PSA of 251

FormerMember over 4 years ago

4 replies
162 subscribers
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My fathers PSA jumped from 66 to 251 which they state clearly indicates spread but he has no symptons except problems urinating (temp catheter atm) no idea of Gleason score

told they would start him on 50mg daily tablets of Bicalutamide for a month with injections starting after two weeks. Picked up prescription and it was 150mg for two weeks. Quick call to specialist nursing team and she confirmed I wasn’t going mad it was meant to be only 50mg. Five minutes later got a phone calling saying don’t worry if that what you’ve got at home he might as well take 150mg consultant said it won’t make any difference

Am I right to be confused ? I realise my father is old (89) but saying it won’t make any difference doesn’t help with feeling of dispair

Heinous over 4 years ago

I'm sorry to hear they're messing you about - I hope they apologised for their confusion!

It's hard to help with so little info;

How long ago was the cancer diagnosed?
Over what period did the PSA rise?
What stage is his cancer (TNM)? (Has it spread?)
What treatment has he had in the past?

Thanks.

As a very general reply, for a 'PSA' relapse with only 'local' symptoms (if that's what this is), treatment with hormones can add years. No exaggeration. Of course at 89 (?with other conditions), the number of years may be low. But a goodly while.

The Bicalutamide is there to prepare him for the injections to follow. I doubt the dose would make much difference, though the risk of side effects will be larger. There is research going on comparing the two doses at the moment.

- - -

Heinous

If I can't beat this, I'm going for the draw.

Meanwhile, my priority is to live while I have the option.

FormerMember over 4 years ago in reply to Heinous

Thank you

the rate has been rising over past few years with a rapid jump in the last year

No treatment because of his age just careful watching thing

6 months ago it hasn’t spread to his bones and they did mri of pelvic region which showed nothing but no other tests done recently apart from bloods

just had phone call from consultant saying keep on 150mg at his age with his PSA all they will offer us a hormone injection abd if needed he will do a turb op privately when they restart but atm private hospital full on nhs patients due to covid.

Can’t give timescale as don’t know where it has spread locally or widespread etc but as has no pain worth trying hormone treatment

tokd me not to get upset but as now 3 month wait for twoc that I’m not to get upset but he might have reached end of his natural lifespan before then so in February he could possibly do it privately

I don’t care how old someone is it’s absolute crass to say don’t get upset treatment going to be 12 weeks instead of 7 because chance he will be dead before then anyway as he’s in a really bad place

Rant over

Heinous over 4 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Ouch!

Some doctors need a little more education on how to communicate!

I think it's safe to translate that to "PCa is a slow moving disease, the MRI six months ago looked pretty clear, and the the hormones will control it for a decent spell."

And Ithought the days had gone that a doctor was allowed to sell you a private service in order to queue jump; if he needs it, there's absolutely no reason that he can't get it on the NHS. If he doesn't need it, then you are paying for an unnecessary procedure.

A highly appropriate rant, alas.