Unexpected Increase in PSA

43C in Phoenix, AZ when we landed last Friday evening, cooled down to 39C now we're in Sedona. It's a dry heat though as they say here in the desert, the beer's nice and cold and aircon is everywhere.

It's difficult to know whether I'm having one of my (fortunately few) hot flushes or not at times!

Derek.

Hi Excavator, Are you driving around Arizona or staying put in one place? 

Hi moonrakerz, we're driving around. Only stayed in Phoenix 1 night, currently in Cottonwood (near Sedona), going on to Kingman tomorrow for a week then Tucson for a couple of weeks. Do you know the place?

Just wondered if you were doing the Grand Canyon/Monument Valley area. I found a place in that area which is well, well worth a visit. Most Americans have never heard of it, let alone people in the UK. It has everything the main tourist locations have, except one thing - people (and no facilities) !! I went there twice; the first time there was one car there, with no sign of the occupants. The second time we were shadowed by half a dozen curious horses. It is well documented on the web.......but, of course, if you have never heard of it, you wouldn't look it up anyway. If you are interested, it is called Coal Mine Canyon, the nearest habitation is Tuba City.........which has a quite acceptable hotel where we stayed. (NavajoLand hotel)

Sounds and looks very interesting, we could have reached it in a day from here but move on today so that puts it out of reach for this trip. We hope to be back here later in the year so will try to get there then.

We've found over the years that this country has many similar places which are off the tourists' beaten track and often surpass the popular destinations - especially when they are also deserted.

Just completed salvage radiation to the Pelvic Lymphatics in the form of 5 x 5Gy with the pathologic Lymph node having 5 x 7GY, no hormone therapy and a PSA test and meeting with oncologist in 3 months.

From requesting appointment with different Oncologist (previous posts explain) to completion of radiotherapy was 30 days.

Geoff

Sunny Cyprus

Some Good News

I have completed my profile for a better understanding of events

In May this year I was told I was on Hormone therapy for life due to recurrence in a Lymph Node and Prostate, but an unplanned change of Oncologist put me on a different path(profile explains)

Following salvage radiation to pelvic lymph nodes 3 months ago I had my latest Psa test today result was 1.110 from 2.8 in May. Nadir after the initial radiation was 1.09 in December 2020.

Meeting with oncologist on Monday to understand what this means but I appreciate it will need careful monitoring going into the future but whenever I can say "so far so good" i'm happy

Geoff

Oncologist happy with results and does not think recurrence is in the prostate just the one pelvic lymph node, he also explained that the chance of future recurrence does increase (but not inevitable) once its moved on from the prostate. No hormone therapy yet probably saving that for the future.  Next meeting in 6 months with interim psa at 3 months

On a more difficult subject its important to have faith in your medical team but I believe there may be times when you want to understand the reasoning behind the choice of treatment offered and to be able to discuss that with the medical team as I believe the change in treatment offered to me was beneficial.

Geoff

Hello Geoff (GeoffJ) 

Thanks for the update Geoff. An interesting part of your journey but with a good ending - do keep us posted.

I do have faith in my team and I do question everything. I am lucky to have a great team and even though my initial treatment didn't work - I still have faith in what they are doing.

Best wishes - Brian.

Latest PSA following salvage radiotherapy.  At three months post treatment it was 1.11 today's result at six months is 1.057 a new nadir (just) since completion of the original radiotherapy some six years ago. pleased with the result.

Geoff