PSA rise after SRT things were going so well....

Hello Onestepforward 

Things don't look too bad to me. The SRT has brought the PSA down and your latest result only shows a rise of 0.02. Don't forget after radiotherapy there  can be a PSA "bounce" and it can take up to 18 months for the full RT effects to clear from your body. Don't worry and let's see what February 2025 brings.

For trusted information use Macmillan and Prostate Cancer UK - do keep away from Dr Google!!

Not too sure about the "full bladder" feeling, that's one for your oncology team I think if the feeling continues.

I do hope this helps - I think you are in a good place,

Best wishes - Brian.

Thanks Brian,

As always you are the voice of reason and never fail to respond and reach out to people's posts. I salute you sir!

Hi !

I agree with Millibob that PSA may fluctuate for some time until it reaches Nadir.

Are you on hormone therapy as well with the radiation treatment or was that something they felt was to much treatment and that it was enough with salvage radiation?

Best wishes - Ulf

Hi Ulf,

Many thanks for the reply. No I have never had any hormone therapy. My oncologist believed that this would only be recommended if the PSA was much higher

 Although I have seen many other threads where it was done along with the radiotherapy.

The nurse said my first drop was really healthy from 0.25 to 0.09. However, the nurse I spoke to this week didn't really offer any reassurance only to wait to Feb which is hard mentally.

Thank you!!

Hello Onestepforward 

Onestepforward said:

which is hard mentally.

Just to let you know we do offer free BUPA counselling and here's the link:-

www.macmillan.org.uk/.../bupa-counselling-and-emotional-well-being-support

We also have our "Buddy" service, again, here's the link:-

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/get-help/emotional-help/macmillan-buddies

Don't forget our support line on 0808 808 00 00 is open 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm.

Trust me - these services are not only free, they can help take the anguish away. I do hope the above helps.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Onestepforward . I agree with Brian, a 0.2 rise in PSA is small and it can bounce around. 

The full bladder feeling could be a side effect of the radiotherapy so keep an eye on your flow. The urethra travels through the prostate and the Prostatectomy along with the radiotherapy will have changed the structure of that part of your anatomy which can affect how elastic things are. Also a stricture can occur in the urethra which restricts the emptying of the bladder. Keep up with the pelvic floor exercises plus there are tablets which might help.

Just a minor correction to your informative post Alwayshope : the rise is only 0.02.  I agree that this minor increase is not unexpected (due to bounce), ESPECIALLY as Onestepforward is not on hormone therapy.  Really, a figure of 0.11 is very respectable after SRT to the prostate gland bed & surrounding area, post RARP.      AW

Thanks for the correction. Decimal point in the wrong place.

Hi Onestepforward in my view 0.11 is a fantastic result so soon after RT.  Others have mentioned the bounce but the tolerance of 0.02 is too low to consider to be a rise.  Best wishes, David

Hi Alwayshope,

Yes i agree ref bladder. Tbh I would go to toilet quite often, even before this all started. I've started to cut down and make the dreaded move to decaff coffee to see if that helps as ground fresh coffee is my weakness lol

I've also restarted pelvic floor exercises over the last few weeks and that may be affecting the feeling down below and the nerves?

Take care and thanks