How Long after treatment ends does it kick off again?

Hi Jnc - Well it's great that he's completed his Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy and all is looking good. I assume the hormone injections are as with all sufferers to keep the testosterone down and ensure the cancer can't grow.

However - I can't see how they can keep an eye on it with non secreting PC without doing any scans.

With normal PSA after RT you reach your nadir after 18 months and then if your PSA increases by 2 full points they look at you again. Surely with your husband they can't do this and he would need regular scans.

That's my take on it - but it's me not a medical opinion. I am sure someone more up to speed will pop by with a better answer.

Hope all goes well and best wishes for his journey onwards.

Kind Regards - Brian.

Both my brother and I have had prostate cancer treated with radiotherapy and hormone therapy. Neither of us has been offered scans after the radiotherapy. You would need to check this but my understanding is that scans would be inconclusive after radiotherapy and that we are now reliant on P.S.A. tests.

Hi Brian, thank you for your reply 

We did ask about scans as we were told at diagnosis that scans would be needed due ti non secreting nature, however when all treatment finished she then said that we can rely on the PSA as it’s dropped from 3 but that he would have a PSA every 3 months and if it goes up even a little or if he gets any symptoms then a scan would be performed asap.  she did say that any scans done at this point wouldn’t make any difference as he’s had all the treatment he needs for now but it would have been good to know that what he had gone through has helped him and to what extent.  
when my husband finished radio in March they did say at that time that scans wouldn’t show a true reading as tumour sites are  swollen for 2-3 months after it’s ended, again they were still thinking of scanning at that point.

we just feel a little in limbo land, although grateful for the treatment already received, and worry about how long we have before things take off again as we know there is no cure

very best wishes

J x

Hi, thank you for your reply.

we were told at diagnosis and whilst receiving radio that he would be scanned regularly because of non secreting nature but this seems to have changed.  They did say that scans wouldn’t be performed until around 2-3 months as no true reading as tumour sites and areas would be swollen.  

i guess we will need to see what happens at the next 3 month PSA and any change may warrant scans 

very best wishes 

J x

Hi J

It's a worry I know - and with the diagnosis your husband has, yes I can understand why you feel you are in "limbo land".

Hormone Therapy is great at what it does, the issue is at some point the cancer cells find a way to overcome the HT and start to grow again. This doesn't happen in every case but it's why they don't say HT for life, but as long as it's working great.

From the information I have once you have had Radiotherapy as a first treatment for PC the second line treatments suitable if the buggers come back are High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU); Cryotherapy; Brachytherapy and as a last resort they may well revert to surgery. Not all Urology/Oncology departments offer all of the treatments and if it does come back - you may have to shop around.

The Prostate Cancer UK webby page also has details of all clinical trials being run - I know you have looked in the past but it does get updated.

I hope this helps and lifts a little bit of the gloom I am sure there is in your household at present.

Kind regards

Brian.

Hi Jnc

Difficult I know.

Scans not normally done after treatment, PSA used instead. Your case is a bit different though because PSA not moving although for people on HT for a long time PSA probably wouldn't change much anyway.

Scans so soon after treatment probably meaningless as has already been said but good if they are prepared to do them in some months time.

Clinical trials, ok they haven't offered anything but you could look at cancerresearchuk.org and look under clinical trials as believe there are some especially for advanced cancers.

Good luck

Steve 

Hi Brian, the oncologist said HT will continue for at least 2.3 years and that he would be offered and other treatments again, including chemo.  
We did ask about trials when first diagnosed but because he had started treatment they wouldn’t do a PET scan, apparently this was needed pretty much straight after diagnosis, he still has never had this scan. 
Thank you for your input, it does help

J x

Hi Grundy, thank you for replying 

they did say no point in scanning as he’s had all the treatment for now but will watch for the slightest increase in PSA then scan.  it would have been good to know how much treatment has helped but we just have to hope and get on with life.

I will definitely look for new trials

all the best to you 

J x