PSA

Hello LizzyJ  A warm welcome to the online Prostate Community.

Yes, I am sorry to say from 0.2 to 0.328 your dad's PSA is on the rise - but it's a very small rise.

The side effects of HT (Hormone Therapy) aren't nice but we don't all get them all - we all get fatigue and with help - we can get people through most of the other side effects - some people also react to different hormone therapy drugs. 

If you want to share your dad's prostate cancer journey with us we may be able to offer some more help - we all react slightly differently to the cancer and treatment - but there is a wealth of advice on here.

(if it helps you can read my journey through HT/RT by clicking on my avatar).

No question is too trivial - so please feel to use the Community - it's here for you and dad.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Lizzy,

Welcome to the forum,

It's going up. Do you know your dads stats at diagnosis . Initial PSA, Gleason score etc?  Also there are other types HT Meds dad can have that may suit him better, it could worth him trying something else if it keeps going up and he decides to go back on medication. There maybe lot's of reasons to stop medication and it's a personal choice. Like,  If dad is in his late 70's he may just prefer to tick over watching his PSA and enjoying his life feeling fit and well.  Prostate cancer can be very slow growing,  as long as he is monitored every three months and his consultant is happy theres probably nothing to worry about. 0.3 is quite low and maybe there has been a conversation about taking a break and to wait till it gets to 2.(which is common and called "intermittent" HT treatment, something my partner will be considering later)  It could be possible dad has had this chat with the consultant and not told you, as not to worry you?

Try not to worry too much at this stage. Have an open conversation with dad about whats happening and why he want's a break.. 

Best wishes to you and family, I'm sure a few more people will answer soon and give you more reasurrance and their take on it, and you can always phone the Maclillan helpline and have a chat.

L

Thanks for the enlightenment but pls 0.2 and 0.328 which is higher? Before he started zoladex his PSA was 76.0

From 0.2 to 0.328 in three months, can we say it is rising too fast? 

Hi Lizzy,

It's a really hard question to answer because theres so many things involved here, like, what other treatment is your dad due to have or had, Radiotherapy?Chemo?  It is rising and if your dads initial PSA was 76 without any treatment it will eventually go up to that point at some stage. The Hormone treatment stops testosterone which feeds the cancer, but there are always side effects of the HT. It could be that your dad needs some time to think about what he can live with. I think you should have a chat with him and also the help line and if dad could take you to the next appointment, you could then ask what other treatments/HT are available. Dads PSA is low at the moment, certainly not as high as it has been. He has some time to think about what he wants to do. When did he start treatment?

L

He started treatment over a yr now. I think he's going back to hormone treatment. He just wanted to have a break from the side effect. 

Hi Lizzy

Am I right in thinking he has just had HT so far and nothing else, has the cancer spread outside the gland, sorry but the more info u can give us the better the advice can be

Steve 

Yes, only HT and no spread. I need to ask this quickly pls. With a PSA of 0.328 can it still spread? 

.328 is low so probably not.

So cancer is still within the gland, if correct good news.

Do u have a Gleeson score?

Do u know why they have carried out just HT with no further treatment IE Radiotherapy or surgery

Steve 

For his age 77yrs, surgery not advisable. Urologist suggested radio therapy in addition to HT but since HTcan prevent it from growing, we opted for this. We are still thinking radio therapy but again afraid of side effect. Relocating to France end of next month where we will seek the best advice and treatment.